Obama: No 'grand peace plan' during Israel trip

March 8, 2013 @ 1:15 am


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WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama is playing down expectations for a Mideast peace breakthrough during his upcoming trip to Israel, telling American Jewish leaders that he won't be carrying a "grand peace plan" when he arrives in the region later this month.

Obama, in an hourlong private meeting at the White House on Thursday, acknowledged that near-term prospects for peace are bleak, according to a person who attended the discussion. But the president said a deal with the Palestinians remains the only way for Israel to achieve long-term security.

Israel's political climate makes the prospects for jumpstarting peace talks all the more unlikely during Obama's trip. Elections in January weakened Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who since then has struggled to form a coalition government.

In his meeting Thursday, Obama said pursuing sweeping peace talks now would be premature, given that Israel is still working to form a new government. But he added that doesn't preclude him from launching a peace effort in six months or a year, according to the person in attendance, who was not authorized to discuss the gathering publicly and requested anonymity.

Netanyahu recently asked Israeli President Shimon Peres for a two-week extension to build the coalition, putting his new deadline just ahead of Obama's expected arrival in Israel.

The White House has not announced the dates for the president's trip, although Israeli news media have reported he will arrive on March 20. Obama will also make stops in the West Bank town of Ramallah, and Jordan.

The president sought to restart peace talks in 2011, but the effort collapsed within weeks. Palestinians refuse to resume negotiations unless Israel stops building settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Netanyahu says talks should resume without any preconditions, and he has allowed stepped-up construction in the territories since the United Nations moved to recognize a de facto state of Palestine in November.

The White House did not put the meeting with Jewish leaders on the president's public schedule. A White House official later said Obama sought input from the leaders on his trip and underscored that it would be an opportunity for him to speak directly to the Israeli people.

Marc Stanley, chairman of the National Jewish Democratic Council, was among those who attended Thursday's meeting. He said Obama reiterated his "unshakeable support for Israel and explained that his upcoming trip will be focused on discussing with his Israeli counterparts the critical issues facing the Jewish state, including Iran, the peace process and Syria."

In addition to his meetings with Netanyahu, Obama will hold talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. He told the Jewish leaders Thursday that he would emphasize to Abbas that peace remains possible, though very difficult given the current climate in the region.

While in Israel, Obama is also expected to note that Israelis live in an increasingly dangerous region, given the instability in Syria and the potential nuclear threat from Iran. He'll likely reiterate that all options, including military force, remain on the table for the U.S. when it comes to dealing with Iran, while also touting the impact of strict economic sanctions.

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Follow Julie Pace on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jpaceDC


(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Comments (7)


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  • cigarfan wrote...
    Israel's NPT avoidance, apartheid, ethnic cleansing of Palestine....
    January 14, 2013 5:51 am
    provides plenty of criticism by the global community. Netanyahu has pretty much done everything possible he could to favor Romney, pressure Obama into starting a war with Iran and keeps stealing Palestinian's land by building settlements, then feigns puzzlement when called out. What a schmuck!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    No "Bad Blood" exist between the Allies of Netanyahu, Israel and the American people.
    January 14, 2013 6:35 am
    All this is between the Dear Leader and all those loyal to the regime and who hate Israel and the US!

    Those loyal. Guess who that is Parrots!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Fuego wrote...
    I guess he's
    February 5, 2013 12:00 pm
    run out of excuses for not visiting the only US friendly country in the middle-east.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    Get OFF the Netanyahu tourist path............
    February 5, 2013 1:22 pm
    Let's hope he visits East Jerusalem and the West Bank and see's first hand what Military Occupation is doing to people who live there.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • longwayhome wrote...
    its the moron
    March 7, 2013 8:13 pm
    Bought some bad drugs again, totally incoherent. Saw your face again in my "head" swirling around when I pushed the silver handle on the white porcelain fixture.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rangerhawk wrote...
    Obama is also expected to note that Israelis live in an increasingly dangerous region
    March 8, 2013 12:37 am
    As he attempts to explain this to those assembled for the live promptercast, he will feel as though they are all staring at his forehead as if some sort of appendage has grown there.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SickofSeattleite wrote...
    What about Iran?
    March 8, 2013 5:41 am
    No country takes our foolish dictator seriously....Iran vows to attack Israel and gets closer and closer every year....Obama just tells them to "stop" and Biden tells them "we are not bluffing" ohhhh....they are really taking this administration seriously.... they want Iran to stop and they are not bluffing....That will show them!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }