US Mideast envoy George Mitchell is seeking to play down media reports that he threatened Israel by cutting or freezing US aid in retaliation for Jerusalem’s failure to adhere to dictates from the White House regarding negotiations with the PA (Palestinian Authority). The comments resulted in sharp criticism from the Prime Minister’s Office and government officials.
Mitchell is now denying that his remarks aired on America’s PBS Broadcasting were either a “threat” or an “implied threat” ahead of his expected arrival in Jerusalem this week in yet another effort to pressure Israel into additional concessions to lure PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) back to the negotiating table.
Mitchell tried to explain he was responding to a question posed to him, explaining that reducing aid to Israel was indeed an option, seeking to indicate this is not currently on the White House’s agenda. He told PBS host Charlie Rose that America has this right, to use aid to foreign countries as an incentive of alternatively as a sanction in an effort to promote the administration’s agenda.
Mitchell is now trying to signal this is not the case here, adding the White House is seeking to encourage both sides.
Minister of Finance Dr. Yuval Steinitz released a statement on Sunday that if America opts to freeze loan guarantees, is will survive stating “we don’t have to use the loan guarantees. We are doing well without them”. He was joined by Education Minister Gideon Saar who stated Israel will continue to act in her best interests.
In his statements last week, the special envoy added that he wishes to set a two-year deadline on talks between Israel and the PA to hammer out the core issues, a move that is rejected by Israel, Mitchell also stated he believes simultaneous talks can be conducted between Israel and the PA as well as between Jerusalem and Damascus.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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4 Responses
Oys Getrachte Bubbe Maase!
First time Israel is standing up against his make believe benefactor.
Make this a rule. Stand up for what is right.
There are too many liberals running Israel to rally give Obama the brush off, he deserves (at least to keep it up for long).
It’s not just the idea of doing something right but it’s also sustaining such ideas over the long term, that really makes the difference.
With so much diplomatic hot air around, I’m surprised that we are having such a cold winter. We should remembers that diplomatic talk is just that. Until there is some type of action, it means nothing. Many US politicians have subtly or even overtly threatened Israel with various “punishments” for not doing what the US demanded. None have ever been carried out.