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Last update - 08:43 02/06/2009
Obama: U.S. will be 'honest' with Israel on settlements
By Barak Ravid and Natasha Mozgovaya, Haaretz Correspondents
Tags: Israel News 

The United States will be more blunt in raising objections to Israel's settlement policies in the Palestinian territories than previous administrations, President Barack Obama told a U.S. radio network in an interview on Monday.

"Part of being a good friend is being honest," Obama told National Public Radio. "And I think there have been times where we are not as honest as we should be about the fact that the current direction, the current trajectory, in the region is profoundly negative, not only for Israeli interests but also U.S. interests.

"We do have to retain a constant belief in the possibilities of negotiations that will lead to peace," he added. "I've said that a freeze on settlements is part of that."
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When asked about Israel's refusal to commit to a complete settlement freeze, the president told NPR it was still too early to determine what measures the administration could take to pressure Jerusalem.

"It's still early in the process," Obama said. "They've [Israel] formed a government, what, a month ago?"

"We're going to have a series of conversations," the president told NPR. "I believe that strategically, the status quo is unsustainable when it comes to Israel's security," Obama said. "Over time, in the absence of peace with Palestinians, Israel will continue to be threatened militarily and will have enormous problems on its borders."

Tensions between the Obama administration and Benjamin Netanyahu's government are nearing crisis levels after senior American officials harshly criticized the prime minister and his settlements policies on Monday.

"The Israelis apparently wanted to check if we are serious on settlements, and they found out that we are," a senior official told Haaretz. "This has nothing to do with the speech in Cairo, and it's going to be our position after the speech in Cairo, because we believe it's in Israel's long-term security interests."

Last night Defense Minister Ehud Barak met in New York with the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell. The American told Barak that the U.S. was no longer willing to return to the understandings between the Sharon and Olmert governments and the Bush administration, which allowed continued settlement construction.

Mitchell said the administration was particularly unhappy about the Netanyahu government's unwillingness to recognize the principle of two states for two peoples.

Mitchell also emphasized that the U.S. does not accept the concept of "natural growth" for the settlements.

"We did not hear from the Bush administration about any of these so-called understandings with Israel on the settlements - all of which were supposedly oral understandings between different people every time," said one senior American official.

"But we've never heard a thing about them - they certainly weren't formal agreements between our governments. "The Israelis want us to commit to oral understandings we have never heard about, but at the same time they are not willing to commit to written agreements their government has signed, like the road map and commitment to the two-state solution."

The disagreement over the understandings concerning the settlements produced an embarrassing encounter in London last week during a meeting between Mitchell, Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor and a number of Netanyahu's advisers.

At the meeting, the Israelis claimed there was a letter between former president George W. Bush and former prime minister Ariel Sharon stating that the settlement blocs would remain in Israeli hands, so construction is permitted there. Mitchell showed the Israelis that one of the letter's sections discusses the principle of two states for two peoples. "That is also written in the letter - do you agree to that?" he asked.

Despite the growing American pressure, which also came out in the leak to the New York Times that the U.S. intended to end its support for Israel in UN debates, Netanyahu continues to say he will not agree to a total freeze of construction in the settlements.

In a meeting of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Monday, Netanyahu said that "we will agree not to take any new territory, but we will not agree to freeze life in the settlements."

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      1.   What`s all the fuss? 09:04  |  Michael N 02/06/09
      2.   Zionist Humanism demands the Settler`s evacuation.. 09:31  |  Wedi Mendefera 02/06/09
      3.   Israel?s interest to stop building settlements 09:46  |  thomas 02/06/09
      4.   The end of the beginning... 09:53  |  Shtarka 02/06/09
      5.   sometimes things are just so...oh SO sweet! 09:53  |  eric 02/06/09
      6.   Untrue 09:55  |  Baruch Gold 02/06/09
      7.   Israel`s claims of previous "understandings" are pathetic! 10:19  |  S 02/06/09
      8.   Excellent US position: Peace and Settlements are incompatible 10:22  |  Ivar 02/06/09
      9.   O Honesty is 2 faced 10:37  |  Lance 02/06/09
      10.   not freeze life in the settlements 10:44  |  moonen 02/06/09
      11.   disproportionate concern over setlements 10:45  |  david 02/06/09
      12.   U.S. Must Pressure and Sanction Israel 10:56  |  Adam 02/06/09
      13.   Whats a bit of straight talking between freinds 10:58  |  Ola 02/06/09
      14.   Obama is delusional 11:05  |  michael 02/06/09
      15.   Israel will capitulate 11:28  |  Matty Groves 02/06/09
      16.   What will happen if Israel does not comply 11:28  |  Matty Groves 02/06/09
      17.   Obama only wants to be "honest" with Israelis 11:30  |  Serge 02/06/09
      18.   So-called `oral` understandings are important 11:34  |  Roo 02/06/09
      19.   US less independent 11:59  |  Gershon 02/06/09
      20.   see youtube.com/muslim demographics 12:04  |  me 02/06/09
      21.   Obama is being very kind. It is time Israel noticed! 12:21  |  Rod 02/06/09
      22.   Shall we freeze Palestinian building activity in Israel too? 13:05  |  Petr 02/06/09
      23.   Mr. Obama is going to wake up soon and talk 13:14  |  MR 02/06/09
      24.   MATTY GROVES 13:16  |  bar kochva 02/06/09
      25.   Obama to be honest 13:28  |  Gully Foyle 02/06/09
      26.   "The satus quo is unsustainable " The President ! 13:39  |  Akram Zekaria 02/06/09
      27.   Great for Israel 13:43  |  Wmr 02/06/09
      28.   Serge #17 writes 13:50  |  Rod 02/06/09
      29.   Netannayhu must continue with settlelments 13:52  |  UK 02/06/09
      30.   Adam # 12 That Would Require A Border First 13:54  |  Jeff Northridge 02/06/09
      31.   friendship 13:56  |  oz 02/06/09
      32.   The US is a disaster, and is yesterday`s leader 14:10  |  redbourn 02/06/09
      33.   Mr. Honest Obama 14:12  |  sz 02/06/09
      34.   Obama since when are Jews stupid? 14:13  |  A Jew 02/06/09
      35.   We should both be honest with each other 14:15  |  Don Lary 02/06/09
      36.   Rod 28 you are like a piece of glass 14:19  |  A Jew 02/06/09
      37.   Michael from Encino Cal. 14:26  |  john and the truth 02/06/09
      38.   28 - UK " Natennayhu must continue with settlements". 14:30  |  Akram Zekaria 02/06/09
      39.   #6 - You live in a dream. 14:42  |  Razi 02/06/09
      40.   rod 14:42  |  ehud 02/06/09
      41.   It was an intersting interview 14:43  |  Mark Lincoln 02/06/09
      42.   Even most lousy HR boss won`t say in public " There`s no easy wa 14:44  |  Absolute Sweden 02/06/09
      43.   "History" is a fickle mistress, Akram #26 14:45  |  Rod 02/06/09
      44.   Being `"Honest" 14:54  |  Sarah 02/06/09
      45.   33 since when are Jews stupid? 14:58  |  john and the truth 02/06/09
      46.   Bar Kochva - "regime change" 15:02  |  Matty Groves 02/06/09
      47.   proof beyond shadow of a doubt 15:07  |  ita 02/06/09
      48.   settlements? 15:14  |  Chaphari 02/06/09
      49.   Ivar 15:15  |  Freddy 02/06/09
      50.   give and take 15:16  |  oz 02/06/09
      51.   Give Texas back to Mexico 15:18  |  Yehiel 02/06/09
      52.   To oz@31 ,...Friendship?? Let us see how it works 15:27  |  Whiskey/Bravo 02/06/09
      53.   Mr. Gold of Hebron:What Is Your Source? 15:27  |  Yaakov Sullivan 02/06/09
      54.   Netanyahu to be honest with U.S. on settlements 15:29  |  Walter 02/06/09
      55.   Just Do it Obama`s Way 15:31  |  MIKE 02/06/09
      56.   we will agree not to take any new territory 15:35  |  Tupac 02/06/09
      57.   "Israel`s" interests? Bull! It`s U.S. appeasement interests 15:36  |  IW 02/06/09
      58.   to "A Jew" #32 and ehud #36 15:47  |  Rod 02/06/09
      59.   Regime change? 15:48  |  steve from raleigh 02/06/09
      60.   Honest on settlements? 15:54  |  Frank 02/06/09
      61.   Obama: "part of being a good friend is being honest" 15:56  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 02/06/09
      62.   Sullivan:"netanyahu spits in the face" 15:58  |  Christopher 02/06/09
      63.   To obama it`s all about politics 16:05  |  Arie 02/06/09
      64.   Zionist fantasy 16:06  |  Meir Mahore 02/06/09
      65.   #32 Redbourn is the world champion in 16:08  |  Ardi 02/06/09
      66.   Honest with Obama: you are not the new Pharoah 16:08  |  Realist 02/06/09
      67.   The Fog Is Clearing Up. 16:20  |  Cool B 02/06/09
      68.   #7, S 16:31  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 02/06/09
      69.   American in NY 16:36  |  Reza 02/06/09
      70.   Obama wants to trust dictators 16:40  |  DavidC 02/06/09
      71.   Obama turns over a rock and shines a light 16:43  |  Natallie Durson 02/06/09
      72.   Natenyau be honest with the U.S President ! 16:45  |  Akram Zekaria 02/06/09
      73.   # 46 MATTY GROVES 16:45  |  BAR KOCHVA 02/06/09
      74.   Excellent U.S. position 16:50  |  American 02/06/09
      75.   thank you president of the united states 16:51  |  Arab 02/06/09
      76.   news for isi: we dont need you 16:52  |  USA forever 02/06/09
      77.   obama-us will be honest with israel on settlements 16:56  |  jankel 02/06/09
      78.   Best for America and Israel 16:56  |  Mike 02/06/09
      79.   is the Irani bomb stronger than the Nagasaki bomb? 16:56  |  worried citizen 02/06/09
      80.   #61 Cipora Julianna Kohn awwww boo hoo! 16:57  |  bam bam 02/06/09
      81.   To CJK @67..Obama is only for himself plus: 16:57  |  Whiskey/Bravo 02/06/09
      82.   Obama -honest on setlements 16:58  |  yankel 02/06/09
      83.   OBAMA OBAMA RULES 17:03  |  PALESTINE FREE 02/06/09
      84.   Matty Groves` Boycott 17:04  |  Jasper 02/06/09
      85.   #59 Steve is someone who Sees The Light!!! 17:12  |  Johnboy 02/06/09
      86.   #22 Pter - stop Palestinian settlements in Israel? 17:15  |  David 02/06/09
      87.   #77 Let`s hope not, worried citizen 17:16  |  Johnboy 02/06/09
      88.   #19, Gershon 17:18  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 02/06/09
      89.   note to izzi: what dont you get? 17:24  |  USA 02/06/09
      90.   Israel sends Little Ehud, and Obama returns the favour 17:29  |  Johnboy 02/06/09
      91.   Be honest 17:33  |  Brod 02/06/09
      92.   Better still - Let`s Boycott USA ! its go`in down anyway 17:41  |  world observer 02/06/09
      93.   Christopher and His References 17:46  |  Yaakov Sullivan 02/06/09
      94.   #80, baby talk 17:50  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 02/06/09
      95.   Rod # 58 I See. That`s Nice 17:52  |  Jeff Northridge 02/06/09
      96.   johnboy, all of your manic posts 17:55  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 02/06/09
      97.   oye, Cipora #61:"...obama cannot be trusted." 17:56  |  Esther 02/06/09
      98.   Israel needs nothing from the US... except... 17:58  |  atrick 02/06/09
      99.   Hi, S #7... liked your last paragraph best... 17:59  |  Esther 02/06/09
      100.   To Palestine Free.......Obama is Realistic and Courageous !! 18:01  |  Antonio da Silva 02/06/09
      101.   to @2 ......All settlers must return to Israel 18:05  |  Antonio da Silva 02/06/09
      102.   Don`t be Lured In Mr. PM 18:05  |  Yehudit 02/06/09
      103.   Natanyahu himself is the true enemy of Israel !! 18:09  |  Antonio da Silva 02/06/09
      104.   the british 18:14  |  bar kochva 02/06/09
      105.   To CJK @61 ..The Speech that Obama may give In Cairo. 18:14  |  KATHY 02/06/09
      106.   #64 - your post is not clear, but I will attempt to answer it .. 18:15  |  redbourn 02/06/09
      107.   The Honest Broker from Chicago...? 18:15  |  Stephen. 02/06/09
      108.   to Johnboy.......Time is changing.Natanyahu is a DREAMER ! 18:15  |  Antonio da Silva 02/06/09
      109.   to steve from raleigh...................OBAMA IS REALISTIC !! 18:20  |  Antonio da Silva 02/06/09
      110.   Cipora Julianna Kohn #88 awww boo hoo 2 18:23  |  bam bam 02/06/09
      111.   Actually steve(from raleigh) Netanyahu had tried. 18:26  |  Whiskey/Bravo 02/06/09
      112.   Jasper - Boycott Israel 18:27  |  Matty Groves 02/06/09
      113.   Cipora Julianna Kohn #91 the fact the fact the fact 18:28  |  bam bam 02/06/09
      114.   O bama 18:29  |  Akiva P 02/06/09
      115.   PM should play boldly instead of provincial whinning. 18:30  |  17 02/06/09
      116.   Obamas is REALISTIC and Honest man 18:45  |  Antonio da Silva 02/06/09
      117.   But will Israel be 18:46  |  Mark Lincoln 02/06/09
      118.   honesty w/ iran? 18:52  |  bashar 02/06/09
      119.   Now who baby talking..To CJK,Obama`s visit to cairo.Worth Reading 18:52  |  Whiskey/Bravo 02/06/09
      120.   Its about freeze not a complete pull back 18:56  |  Billy 02/06/09
      121.   Obama, the world`s new would-be policman .. 18:56  |  redbourn 02/06/09
      122.   Bar Kochva 18:58  |  Matty Groves 02/06/09
      123.   Cipora #68 We are separating more and more... 18:59  |  S 02/06/09
      124.   "honest with Israel" but lie to us 18:59  |  Christopher 02/06/09
      125.   #91 Brod Be honest .. to yourself 19:11  |  American 02/06/09
      126.   Johnboy # 85 In Your Dreams 19:12  |  Jeff Northridge 02/06/09
      127.   To Antonio Who falsely thinks@105 That 19:20  |  Whiskey/Bravo 02/06/09
      128.   Kathy plagurisnig "Again" . This time u chose Gafney. 19:27  |  Labhras 02/06/09
      129.   Oye vey, S #119:"We are separating more and more..." 19:38  |  Esther 02/06/09
      130.   Christopher on the Obama "Plot" 19:38  |  Yaakov Sullivan 02/06/09
      131.   As usual Obama worries about the wrong thing 19:51  |  Shepherd 02/06/09
      132.   Arabs ceded the land long ago 19:51  |  T. Traub 02/06/09
      133.   to Natalie Durson (your antisemitism) 19:54  |  onimo 02/06/09
      134.   ISRAEL:THE SETTLERS WILL BE HONEST WITH OBAMA AND USA. 20:03  |  J LASHAK-KOROGODSKY 02/06/09
      135.   Kathy@105 plagiarizing 20:05  |  thomas 02/06/09
      136.   Neither Pharaoh nor Messiah nor Mahdi 20:32  |  Mark of Lewiston 02/06/09
      137.   # 122 MATTY GROVE 20:35  |  BAR KOCHVA 02/06/09
      138.   Most settlements will be evacuated 20:36  |  Harold 02/06/09
      139.   Hey Thomas#132..YOU SILLY FOOL. DID NOT SAY "THE ARTICLE"? 20:37  |  KATHY 02/06/09
      140.   "understandings" with Bush 20:38  |  Harold 02/06/09
      141.   bam bam # 110 You Confuse Production With Exportation 20:44  |  Jeff Northridge 02/06/09
      142.   All-in-all, Kathy #105, 139...there is too much article... 21:53  |  Esther 02/06/09
      143.   Hey S re:Cipora.Briefly Put:YOU CANNOT SWIM AGAINST THE "TIDE" 21:58  |  Whiskey/Bravo 02/06/09
      144.   #123, S 22:08  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 02/06/09
      145.   The US will impose sanctions on Israel 22:10  |  American in DC 02/06/09
      146.   Will Rahm Emanuel & David Axelrod be sitting on their hands,while 22:11  |  Sarah 02/06/09
      147.   U.S. trying to determine Israel`s borders !!! 04:33  |  Free Gilad Shalit 03/06/09
      148.   Obama=Carter or worse 04:45  |  Alan 03/06/09
      149.   #87 Johnboy knows not of what he speaks 08:14  |  The Prophet 03/06/09
      150.   Honest 08:24  |  Taylor 03/06/09
      151.   Jeff Northridge #141 -- US Exports Oil alright— 09:40  |  bam bam 03/06/09
      152.   # 144 my my cipora, "the muslim world and its new champion"? 10:00  |  eric 03/06/09
      153.   to ERIC #152 10:46  |  david dick 03/06/09
      154.   #149 My, my, you really are an ignorant little Prophet. 11:00  |  Johnboy 03/06/09
      155.   Learn the truth 11:03  |  California Lady 03/06/09
      156.   #146 Better not rely on Emanual to ride to the rescue, Sarah 11:05  |  Johnboy 03/06/09
      157.   #126 Keep on ignoring what`s happening, Jeff 11:16  |  Johnboy 03/06/09
      158.   US Jews to blame 14:16  |  Gully Foyle 03/06/09
      159.   to Sarah #146 03:06  |  zeev 04/06/09
      160.   to S #123 03:30  |  zeev 04/06/09
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