Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., February 15, 2009 Shvat 21, 5769 | | Israel Time: 01:41 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File

Sources: Clinton likely to make first official Israel visit in March By Barak Ravid Tags: U.S., cairo, clinton  The new U.S. administration will begin engaging its Israeli counterpart in the next few weeks. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is due to arrive in Israel on March 3. National Security Adviser General James Jones will arrive in Israel on February 24. Meanwhile the European Union has decided to freeze a planned upgrade in its relationship with Israel until a new government is established and resumes the peace process with the Palestinians. The EU is also demanding that the new government freezes settlement construction. Clinton is expected to be in Cairo on March 2 to attend an international conference on rehabilitating the Gaza Strip convened by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Both an Israeli government source and Western diplomats said Thursday that Clinton is likely to use the occasion to visit Israel and the Palestinian Authority. This would be her first visit here since entering her new job. Advertisement The sources noted that no formal announcement of the visit has yet been received from Washington, but the idea has been discussed informally with Israel's embassy in Washington. Clinton's advisors are still not certain that a trip to Israel in early March would be worthwhile, as Israel may still be in the midst of coalition negotiations to form a new government. However, proponents of the idea argue that this would be a chance for Washington to clarify its expectations of whatever new government is ultimately formed, and thereby perhaps even influence the composition of the coalition. George Mitchell, the new U.S. envoy to the Middle East, is already slated to arrive in the last week of February. This coming Sunday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is due to visit Israel. The EU, meanwhile, made its decision to freeze the upgrade in relations out of fear that Likud chairman Benjamin Netanyahu would set up a rightist government that would freeze talks with the PA. The upgrade, which was approved a few months ago, carries significant economic benefits, such as removing trade barriers and encouraging foreign investment. It is therefore potentially a compelling pressure tactic. The Czech Republic, which currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, has even unofficially decided to cancel a summit between Israel's prime minister and EU leaders that was slated to take place in June. "We want to see how the new Israeli government acts with regard to the peace process with the Palestinians," a European diplomat explained. "If the diplomatic negotiations resume, it will be possible to continue upgrading the relationship." On Wednesday, the ambassadors of the EU, the Czech Republic and Sweden submitted formal complaints to the Foreign Ministry about two settlement-related issues: a plan to evacuate the Migron outpost by relocating its residents to a new neighborhood of another West Bank settlement, Adam, and construction in the E1 corridor between Ma'aleh Adumim and Jerusalem. "Construction in the settlements violates international law, and we demand that Israel honors the commitment to stop settlement construction that it undertook at the Annapolis conference," said Czech ambassador Michael Zantovsky. Related articles: White House: Obama to push peace process, regardless of Israel leader Clinton: Hamas must abide by preconditions to be included in talks Clinton: Israel has right to respond to Gaza rocket attacks Bookmark to del.icio.us   A scared Arab in Israel Sayed Kashua reflects on 'no loyalty, no citizenship'. Aid convoy Report: Nine arrested in England by terror police en route to Gaza.   1.   EU, Clinton 04:59  |  Sharbano 13/02/09   2.   Tell Clinton to stay home! She just wants to cause trouble. 05:39  |  Israeli 13/02/09   3.   Smart Power 07:04  |  Shimon Cleopas 13/02/09   4.   Europe`s reaction was previsible. Next comes Obama. 10:24  |  S 13/02/09   5.   Beware the appeasers Obama and the EU 11:01  |  Joe 13/02/09   6.   EU freeze 17:58  |  Realist 13/02/09   7.   # realist 13:41  |  Axel 14/02/09

Read & React Jimmy Carter: Include Hamas in Mideast peace talks Responses: 131 Israel: Two-thirds of Palestinians killed in Gaza fighting were terrorists Responses: 97 U.S., EU indicate they prefer Kadima-Likud unity government in Israel Responses: 94 Amira Hass / Ibrahim Joha was shot by an IDF sniper while waving a white flag Responses: 61 Robert Rozett: Israel's offensive on Gaza was not 'Nazi-like' Responses: 43 Dutch lawmaker banned from U.K. to take anti-Koran film on 'world tour' Responses: 50 More Headlines 00:39 Olmert to consult with Netanyahu before agreeing on Shalit deal 22:51 IDF: Officer's criticism of Turkey does not represent official view 18:49 Turkey PM: Israel election results paint 'very dark picture' 08:33 Top 33 most embarrassing moments in Knesset history 22:30 Report: Nine arrested in England by terror police en route to Gaza 16:39 U.S., EU indicate they prefer Kadima-Likud unity government in Israel 19:51 Sayed Kashua / I'm a scared Arab in Irsael 07:31 Yossi Verter / A decade later, Netanyahu is Israel's latest king of comeback 23:19 MK Amir Peretz: I will run for Labor Party chairman 04:41 Two Israelis, 9/11 widow among dead in plane crash near Buffalo 20:15 Explosive device detonates while IDF soldiers patrol Gaza border 07:07 Israel, Iran liable to clash in 2009 over nukes, says U.S. intel chief 13:13 Austrian Muslim teacher loses license over alleged anti-Semitic pamphlets 17:37 Under a white flag, darkly 07:30 U.K. anti-Semitism on the rise after Israel's Gaza operation 00:09 ADL chief: Pope Bendedict's condemnation of Holocaust denial not enough Previous Editions Select Day 13 feb 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb 09 feb 08 feb 06 feb 05 feb 04 feb 03 feb 02 feb 01 feb

Special Offers Advertisement Spring Specials-Dan Hotels Jerusalem from 179$. Tel-Aviv from 223$. Herzliya from 336$ Summer in Israel Israeli style - Tzofim Chetz V'Keshet 2009 Passover Vacations The BEST Passover Vacations around ? Mexico, Arizona and Florida SURF RAMBAM Keep current about new-wave medical care, education and research. Camp Kimama Israel 2009 The best place for your children this summer Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | | Israel 2009 election results

Site rules | Makom: Engaging on Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved