Clinton: Israel "Needs to do Much More"

Top U.S. Diplomat Clarifies after Arab Backlash over Comments Viewed as Backing Down on Settlement Expansion

(CBS/AP)  Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton again praised Israel's offer to restrict its building of settlements in Palestinian areas, but said Monday that it falls well short of the U.S. desire for a full halt to building.

Clinton spoke to reporters as she sat down for a meeting with her Moroccan counterpart in the North African country's capital.

She was asked about negative Arab reaction to comments she made Saturday in Jerusalem that were widely interpreted as a softening of the U.S. position on Israeli settlement activity.

CBS News State Department correspondent Charles Wolfson reports that Clinton said Israel had put some limitations on itself which, if acted upon, would be "unprecedented."

"Israel has done a few things, but needs to do much more," she told reporters

Clinton said her approach is to offer what she called "positive reinforcement" whenever either the Israelis or the Palestinians make a move that the U.S. sees as a step forward in the peace process.

CBS News correspondent Robert Berger in Jerusalem reports that after Clinton's failed attempt to restart talks between the Israelis and Palestinians over the weekend, the Obama administration has decided to extend the visit of its top envoy to the region.

President Obama's special Middle East envoy George Mitchell will remain in the region to try and bring the parties back to the negotiating table.

During a photo-taking session with her Moroccan counterpart, Clinton was asked by a reporter about the Arab reaction, and she responded by reading from a written statement that appeared designed to counter the skepticism about the Obama administration's views on settlements.

"Successive American administrations of both parties have opposed Israel's settlement policy," she said. "That is absolutely a fact, and the Obama administration's position on settlements is clear, unequivocal and it has not changed. As the president has said on many occasions, the United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements."

She also called on the Israelis to do more to improve "movement and access" for Palestinians and on Israeli security arrangements.

She added, however, that Israel deserved praise for moving in the right direction.

"This offer falls short of what we would characterize as our position or what our preference would be," she added. "But if it is acted upon it will be an unprecedented restriction on settlements and would have a significant and meaningful effect on restraining their growth."

Clinton was flying later Monday to the southern-central city of Ouarzazate for an audience with King Mohammed VI. Later she was returning to Marrakech for talks with foreign ministers of several Persian Gulf nations.

Clinton also was expected to meet separately with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, who has rejected U.S. appeals for improved Arab relations with Israel as a way to help restart Middle East peace talks, saying the Jewish state is not interested in a deal.

After taking office in January, President Barack Obama buoyed Palestinian hopes for progress toward establishing a Palestinian state with his outreach to the Muslim world and an initially tough stance urging a full freeze to all settlement construction.

But after making little headway with the Israelis in recent months, Clinton urged Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in a face-to-face meeting in Abu Dhabi on Saturday to renew talks, which broke down late last year, without conditions. Abbas said no, insisting that Israel first halt all settlement activity in the West Bank and east Jerusalem - lands the Palestinians claim for a future state.

Then, at a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu late Saturday in Jerusalem, Clinton praised Netanyahu's offer to curb some settlement construction, saying it was an unprecedented gesture.

"I believe that the U.S. condones continued settlement expansion," Palestinian government spokesman Ghassan Khatib said Sunday in a rare public chiding of Washington.

"Calling for a resumption of negotiations despite continued settlement construction doesn't help because we have tried this way many times," Khatib added. "Negotiations are about ending the occupation and settlement expansion is about entrenching the occupation."

Palestinians expressed deep disappointment and frustration at Clinton's words, which signaled a softening of the past U.S. call for a complete freeze on settlement activity.

Jordan and Egypt also issued statements Sunday critical of the latest U.S. approach to the settlements issue. Clinton spoke by telephone with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit.

Clinton was in Marrakech to attend a regional conference called Forum for the Future, with representatives of nations of the Middle East and North Africa, as well as advanced industrialized countries. It is the final stop on a weeklong journey that began Wednesday in Pakistan.

[U_S_Drug_Addict]

Double DOH!!

[U_S_Drug_Addict]

DOH!

[thesevenveils]

Israel needs to be treated like any other country that ignores UN rulings. It is time to threaten and if necessary take economic sanctions against this nation.

[U_S_Drug_Addict]

if you do that, we wont be able to stand all the wailing and the photos of WW2, along with the boo hoo hooo.....

[Sloughfoot]

Everytime ol' Hillary opens her mouth you can better understand why Poor Bill turned to Monica. I wonder how many times Hillary said to Bill, "that it falls well short".

[U_S_Drug_Addict]

google NAKBA

[ajayvee]

My goodness, what crap! You know what I think is happening? I think that the need for defensive misinformation has increased so much since the war crimes in Gaza that the Hasbaras Fellowships are unleashing their mouthpieces too early, before they are properly prepared and trained like they used to be in days gone by. Now as soon as a Fellowship student can add to ten and spell "We are the victims" he/she is released on the networks. Most unfortunate, I think, but humorous nonetheless.

[lovenpeace1]

Folks,
On May 15, 1948, the American President advocated the creation of the State of Israel in the heart of the Muslim Middle-East. 2 years later, 4.5 millions Palestinians were forced out of their homes and lands without compensation.

I am not going to say that this is the 1st act of Terrorism but I will say America is bleeding Treasury and blood because of one religious decision 60 years ago. This bleeding keeps exploding with our continue UnConditional Support to Israel. Its unbelievable that Americans care much more about Israel than of America.

2 weeks after 9/11, Osama Bin Ladin released his 1st video. In the video, he clearly listed the top 3 reasons for bombing the twin towers. The 1st reason was the US military base 60 miles from their Muslim''s holy Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The 2nd reason was the Palestine crisis. Now, Ex-President George W. Bush and President Obama wants a State of Palestine. Big victory for Osama.

On Osama Bin Ladin 2nd released video, Osama states that they will destroy America Economically and not Militarily. So far, Big victory for Osama.

According to our US State Department, Anti-Semitics is exploding around the world:
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN1334791720080314?feedType=RSSfeedName=topNews&rpc=22&sp=true

Soon, the world will be indifferent to the Jews just like Nazy Germany was before WWII. Just keep it up Zionists.

[joule3]

Israel got 1/10th the land originally promised. The land the settlements are on is land that was won after fighting several wars the Arabs started. Jews were expelled from all the Arab lands where they had homes without compensation, yet that fact is overlooked. Israel is home to 1 million Arabs. How many Arab nations allow even 1 Israeli or one Jew?

[lovenpeace1]

Here is a partial list of UN resolutions that Israel has not complied. Israel has ignored every single resolution. Israel''s defiance goes back to its very beginnings. This collection of resolutions criticizing Israel is unmatched by the record of any other nation.

* 1955-1992:
* * Resolution 106: " . . . ''condemns'' Israel for Gaza raid".
* * Resolution 111: " . . . ''condemns'' Israel for raid on Syria that killed fifty-six people".
* * Resolution 127: " . . . ''recommends'' Israel suspends it''s ''no-man''s zone'' in Jerusalem".
* * Resolution 162: " . . . ''urges'' Israel to comply with UN decisions".
* * Resolution 171: " . . . determines flagrant violations'' by Israel in its attack on Syria".
* * Resolution 228: " . . . ''censures'' Israel for its attack on Samu in the West Bank, then under Jordanian control".
* * Resolution 237: " . . . ''urges'' Israel to allow return of new 1967 Palestinian refugees".
* * Resolution 248: " . . . ''condemns'' Israel for its massive attack on Karameh in Jordan".
* * Resolution 250: " . . . ''calls'' on Israel to refrain from holding military parade in Jerusalem".
Jerusalem as Jewish capital".

[lovenpeace1]

UnAmericans are those that 1st protect and defend the State of Israel and then maybe USA if not Greed.

America is winning the war in Iraq and Afghanistan with Low-Tech and No-Tech. All the Hi-Tech military and Nuclear Warheads in Israel's arsenal is useless. Israel lost to Hezbollah 3 years ago.

Having 23 friends and 1 enemy is much better than having 1 friend and 23 enemies.

[anti-anti-semite]

Can't believe the lack of intelligence on this post.
Truth: take weapons away from arabs and you have peace. Take weapons away from Israel, there will be no more Israel.
Arabs can blow up airplanes and buildings, but they couldn't build a bicycle. Israel responds to terror attacks, and the world attacks Israel for being aggressive.
What would YOU do if someone was lobbing rockets at your house - kiss them???

[ajayvee]

What would YOU do if someone was lobbing rockets at your house - kiss them???
=====
By the same token, what would you do if someone was cooking your babies in white phosphorus? Kiss them?

[jade84116]

If it's not one thing, then, the Muslims will make it another until they've driven Israel into the sea. Refusing to acknowledge that is moronic and nonsensical. Appeasing Hitler got Europe World War II after all. In the end, negotiating with an enemy that wants you driven into the sea is inherently dangerous and stupid.

[presjfk]

Why must the USA be involved? Stop funding Israel, the Palestinians, Egypt, Jordan and all the others and pull the f*&^ out now.

[ibsteve2u]

If we keep getting common sense out of the Obama Administration, it is going to put a crimp in the righties' apparent desire to usurp god and bring about armageddon themselves.

That'll make 'em mad....

[mjlewis6]

A unilateral attack by Israel upon Iran should be intercepted and destroyed.

Likewise, such an attack with nuclear materials upon Israel should be intercepted and destroyed.

For any attack on either party, there should be a combined military operation including the Russians and Chinese and French as well as the US to insure no nuclear threats exist to the Jewish State or to the Muslim world. That is a message that should be conveyed to the government of both nations that the aggressor will be suppressed.

[cbsblogger]

I agree 100%

[worldcitizen1]

That would be fair! A good way to possibly avoid war would be to make this decision public and binding.

[mjlewis6]

President Obama can give a deadline for the Israeli and Palestinian talks, and privately concede to both parties that should an agreement not be forthcoming, the UN would take up the Geneva Plan and create a Palestinian State on a set date two years later with funding and rebuilding from each of the Arab States and impose the Right of Return for millions of Palestinians in the Arab world since the 1948 creation of Israel and the subsequent war that caused arabs to flee.

BET you there would be an end to settlment building and a more flexible approach to negotiating with Palestinian leaders.

[melchg07]

How about we just cut our Israeli funding until they stop building settlements?

Seems logical to me.

[cbsblogger]

Speaking as one who has been influenced by everything that has been going on in recent years in the ME, I agree that there is a backlash developing within the USA and outside of the USA against our blind support of Israel. It has been forced upon us by the Israel Lobby which has somehow developed undue control over our government. You can't treat people with racist impunity and expect worldwide support.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uZtlEBmbHQ&NR=1

[pickaguitar1]

Clinton is doing a great job! Israel needs to get over itself.

[lovenpeace1]

Folks,

Soon the entire world will be Indifferent to the Jews just like Nazy Germany was to them. Soon, there will be another 2nd and final Jews Holocaust!

According to our US State Department, Anti-Semitics is exploding around the world:
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN1334791720080314?feedType=RSSfeedName=topNews&rpc=22&sp=true

The State of Israel is nothing without the USA. The Super Empires Russia, China and India already hate the Jews. Just review all their voting records on Resolutions at the United Nations relating to the State of Israel in the last 60 years.

Keep up the great work Zionists!

[slownewsday-05]

"Now proceed with your name calling as that is about all you have in the face of facts."


Funny that you'd try to quote a book of morality tales as "fact".

You've been brainwashed.

[YerStillWrong]

The Near East has been in decline for centuries. No one's fault but their own, but their equals in the West are too damaged to see it.

[lovenpeace1]

Folks,

Soon the entire world will be Indifferent to the Jews just like Nazy Germany was to them. Soon, there will be another 2nd and final Jews Holocaust!

According to our US State Department, Anti-Semitics is exploding around the world:
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN1334791720080314?feedType=RSSfeedName=topNews&rpc=22&sp=true

The State of Israel is nothing without the USA. The Super Empires Russia, China and India already hate the Jews. Just review all their voting records on Resolutions at the United Nations relating to the State of Israel in the last 60 years.

Keep up the good work Zionists!

[rocketjl]

"Clinton: Israel "Needs to do Much More"

Why???

Palestinians want what is clearly Israeli land. They use terrorism and murder to further their goals. Anyone who thinks giving in to the Palestinians will stop all the rockets and terror, is sadly mistaken.

[slownewsday-05]

You've got it backwards.