{"id":6158,"date":"2010-04-18T06:27:21","date_gmt":"2010-04-18T06:27:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/?p=6158"},"modified":"2010-04-18T06:27:21","modified_gmt":"2010-04-18T06:27:21","slug":"news-round-up-18-april-2010","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/news-round-up-18-april-2010\/","title":{"rendered":"News Round Up (18 April 2010)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Analysis: Israel fears US wants to impose peace<\/a>
\nBy STEVEN GUTKIN (AP)<\/p>\n

JERUSALEM \u2014 Israel’s hardline government is deeply worried that the U.S. will try to impose a Mideast peace deal, that the Palestinians might declare statehood unilaterally and that Washington could be moving to end tensions with Syria.<\/p>\n

These fears underscore how the current differences between the U.S. and Israel go far beyond a still unresolved diplomatic row over Israeli settlement building. Instead, there is a deepening chasm between the visions of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Barack Obama, raising questions about the strength of the U.S.-Israeli alliance despite mutual pronouncements that the bond is unshakable. JRL117<\/p>\n

Netanyahu fears Israel could be forced into unwanted concessions and its enemies’ hands will be strengthened. His government is pushing to keep the focus firmly on threats from Hezbollah, Hamas and \u2014 particularly \u2014 Iran and its disputed nuclear program.<\/p>\n

Obama, in contrast, is speaking about the promises of peace and has taken a new unusual step, publicly characterizing Israeli-Arab strife as harmful to U.S. interests \u2014 which many interpreted as a prelude to taking action to push through a peace.<\/p>\n

A forum of Israel’s top seven ministers met three times this week to try to find ways to warm the chilly relationship with the Obama administration, but failed to agree on any specific measures, such as stopping Jewish construction in east Jerusalem, officials said on condition of anonymity because the meetings were closed.<\/p>\n

Israeli officials have been phoning U.S. congress members for help in repairing the ties that were damaged last month when Israel announced a massive new Jewish housing project in east Jerusalem during a visit by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden. Palestinians hope to make that part of the city their future capital.<\/p>\n

Israel still has not given its response to a series of demands Obama reportedly made in a tense meeting with Netanyahu in Washington on March 23. This has led to speculation that Netanyahu might be seeking to buy time in the hope that Obama would be less inclined to pressure Israel in the run-up to November’s U.S. congressional elections, in which Jewish American support is key.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

US sources say unclear if Syria sent Scuds to Lebanon<\/a> YNET<\/p>\n

WASHINGTON – The United States does not believe Syria transferred long-range Scud missiles to Hezbollah, but has no doubt that Damascus had the intention to deliver missiles to the terror organization, US officials told the Reuters news agency on Saturday. “We think the intent is there,” a senior US official said. But the official and two others briefed on the case said it was unclear whether the missiles, which could hit deep inside Israel, were actually handed over in full to the group. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.<\/p>\n

Another official said doubts were growing that Syria had delivered the Scuds in full and allowed them to transit to Lebanese territory: “We don’t believe it happened.”\u00a0 “It’s unclear at this point that a transfer has occurred … and the United States has no indications that the rockets have moved across the border,” a third US official said.<\/p>\n

Such comments come in contrast with remarks made by White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs on Wednesday, who said the US administration was “deeply concerned” with the alleged weapons transfer, which he said could undermine stability in the Middle East.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Obama to Sarkozy: I’ll keep up pressure on Israel, Palestinians<\/a>
\nBy Barak Ravid
\nHaaretz, April 16, 2010<\/p>\n

U.S. President Barack Obama has told French President Nicolas Sarkozy that he is determined to keep the pressure on Israel and the Palestinians to renew peace talks and implement confidence-building measures. Obama made his comments despite potential political damage at home ahead of the mid-term congressional elections in November.<\/p>\n

According to a Western diplomat familiar with the details of the Sarkozy-Obama meeting two weeks ago in Washington, Obama said the administration’s latest moves were not meant to cause a crisis with Israel, but to create an atmosphere that would allow the peace process to proceed. Obama made clear that he was pressuring both Israel and the Palestinians.<\/p>\n

However, Obama said he was skeptical about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ability and willingness to advance the peace process. The source said the U.S. president was disappointed that Netanyahu was unwilling to distance himself from his right-wing governing coalition.<\/p>\n

Obama said he was aware that he was paying a political price domestically for pressuring Israel, especially in relations with the Jewish community. But he added that he was willing to do so.<\/p>\n

Republicans have criticized Obama for pressuring Israel since Netanyahu’s visit to Washington a few weeks ago. Evidence of political pressure on Obama includes a letter signed by 76 Republican and Democratic senators sent Tuesday to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Times (GB): Israel warns Syria over Hezbollah attacks<\/a>
\n2010-04-17<\/p>\n

Israel has delivered a secret warning to Syrian President Bashar Assad that it will respond to missile attacks from Hezbollah, the militant Lebanese-based Islamist group, by launching immediate retaliation against Syria itself. In a message, sent …<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The following three news items from Abdalnour’s all4syria website are<\/strong>:<\/p>\n