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Clinton: US Support for Israel 'Unshakeable'

by Rachel Nixon | March 3, 2009 at 11:37 am

89 views | 14 Recommendations | 3 comments

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has restated America's "unshakeable" support for Israel on her first visit to the region since becoming a part of Barack Obama's administration.

Coalition talks are taking place in Israel, where right-winger Benjamin Netanyahu - an opponent of some US policies - has been asked to form the next government.

Mrs Clinton met Israeli President Shimon Peres and was also due to meet Mr Netanyahu and caretaker PM Ehud Olmert.

After meeting Mr Peres, Mrs Clinton said it was important to underscore the "unshakeable, durable and fundamental" US support for the state of Israel… [and] our "unrelenting commitment to Israel's security".

"We will work with the government of Israel that represents the democratic will of the people of Israel," Mrs Clinton said.

The US secretary of state also said that two senior US officials would be sent for talks to Syria, a long-time enemy of the Jewish state, with which US relations have been strained for some years.

During her visit, Mrs Clinton also underlined the US commitment to the creation of a viable Palestinian state.

"It is our assessment ... that eventually, the inevitability of working toward a two-state solution is inescapable."

"The first step right now ... is a durable ceasefire," Clinton said. "But that can only be achieved if Hamas ceases the rocket attacks."

Her comments were rejected as "the height of bias" by Hamas, the Islamist rulers of Gaza.

Mrs Clinton arrived in Israel from Egypt where she participated in a donor conference aimed at raising billions of dollars in aid to rebuild Gaza after the conflict with Israel earlier this year.

On Wednesday she will go to the West Bank for talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

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happybrunette23

at 12:00 on March 3rd, 2009

Israel has the US and UK under their armpits but Gaza has the rest of the world under their wings.

Paschen

at 16:57 on March 3rd, 2009

Hum, Well, no one expects the US to change any longer even though hopes where high before the election all are facing the reality that Washington is still doing as it has always done, may it be Bush or Obama at the helm, it matters little.

What does this mean for the middle east? I think this was the last straw pulled making such a statement and can only put the middle east on fire anew.

Israel will have a fewer chance of making it true this century with its present politics and the US present politics then had it be willing to reform and compromise. Peace can no longer be achieved now. This is going to turn into a genocide.

gerrypopplestone

at 03:28 on March 4th, 2009

I hope Paschen is wrong this time! It could be that Clinton is just being diplomatic! After all, she has always been friendly with them. It would be stupid to go there, all guns blazing, and ruin Mitchel's chances of getting anywhere by patience, stealth and his usual skills which are impressive. Ok, the omens arebad but the body language between Livni and Hillary - well - neither of them are lesbians as far as I know, so it was political, not sexual! Lets wait and see what happens next. Yes, it's outrageous that the US govt always sides with Israel and yes its disgusting the way the Israelis continue to build settlements on thew West Bank, now housing half a million Israelis. And yes its disgusting the way the Israelis close off the gates to Gaza, and yes its stupid of Hamas to keep firing the rockets and yes the West should of course be talking with Hamas. But things can change if the right negotiations occur, even with die hard stubborn people like Netanyahou! :Look at what in Ireland! Be patient people and wait and see! Hold on to the fact that many Americans don't really see why the US has been such a strong supporter of Israeli follies in the past!