US to ‘vigorously’ promote peace

JERUSALEM – Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said yesterday the new US administration will vigorously pursue the creation of a Palestinian state, stressing that movement toward Palestinian independence seems ‘inescapable.’

Clinton also said the US would soon send two envoys to Syria for ‘preliminary conversations.’ It was the most significant sign yet that the Obama administration is ready to mend relations with the Damascus regime. The US withdrew its ambassador in 2005, accusing Syria of supporting terrorism.
‘We have no way to predict what the future with our relations concerning Syria might be,’ she told a Jerusalem news conference. ‘There has to be some perceived benefit of doing so for the United States and our allies and our shared values. But I think it is a worthwhile effort to go and begin these preliminary conversations.’
Clinton, making her first visit to the region as secretary of state, made her comments ahead of a meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister designate. Netanyahu’s past criticism of peace talks and opposition to full Palestinian independence has raised concerns that his incoming government could clash with the US
When asked about Netanyahu, she acknowledged the possibility of disagreements with the hawkish Israeli politician and made clear the US will push forward with its efforts to forge a peace deal that includes the creation of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.
‘The United States will be vigorously engaged in the pursuit of a two-state solution every step of the way,’ she said. ‘The inevitability of working toward a two state-solution is inescapable.’
Ahead of their meeting, Netanyahu showed signs of backing off his previous pledges to abandon the current round of peace talks, launched in November 2007 at a US-hosted summit.
That message would mark a change in the Likud leader’s long-stated position that peace talks are a waste of time because of the weakness of the Palestinian leadership. He has suggested in the past he would instead invest in the Palestinian economy while continuing Israel’s military occupation of the West Bank indefinitely.
And Clinton signalled that open confrontation with Israel is unlikely, stressing the close relationship between the two countries and saying Israel must ultimately decide what is in its best interests.
‘We happen to believe that moving toward the two-state solution, step by step, is in Israel’s best interests. But obviously it’s up to the people and the government of Israel to decide how to define your interests,’ she said.
– Nampa-AP