Washington: Holding a strong view that there would be no change in ground realities in the Middle East even if the UN passed a resolution backing a Palestinian state, the US has said the Palestinians must be willing to negotiate with the Israelis to achieve their goal.
“If the United Nations passes a resolution which says we want to see Palestinians become a state and may be we upgrade their status or may be we recognise them, the next day nothing changes in Ramallah, and I want things to change,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in an interview to Al-Hayat TV of Egypt.
“I want the Palestinians to have their own state; I want them to govern themselves; I want them to continue developing economically to be a real example, to work with Egypt for the betterment of people in the region, and we know that won’t happen,” she said in response to a question.
So, what the US has said is “very straightforward”, she said. “We want to see both sides back at the table, and we criticise and make absolutely clear we don’t want to see provocative actions.
“We’ve said that about the recent announcements from the Israeli Government, but we also know that the Palestinians have to be willing to negotiate.”
“It’s hard for them because they feel like they’ve been at this for a while and nothing has happened. Both sides have their case to be made. Make it at the negotiating table. And that’s what we’re pushing for,” Clinton said.
The Secretary of State said both she and President Barack Obama are in favour of a Palestine State.
“Let me reiterate that President Obama and I very much want to see a Palestinian state, and I have been publicly on record in favour of that since the 1990s. I was the first person associated with the United States government to do that. And President Obama is also very committed,” she said.
“But we, I think, are realists that no matter what happens or doesn’t happen in the United Nations, unless we can get the Palestinians and the Israelis to negotiate over the boundaries of the state, the security provisions, what happens in Jerusalem, what happens with refugees, water, all of the issues we know so well have to be resolved, we’re going to raise expectations without being able to deliver,” Clinton said.
Iranian supreme leader criticises US support for Israel
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Saturday criticised what he called US President Barack Obama’s support for Israel, a media report said.
Khamenei made the remarks during a conference aimed at offering support for the Palestinians which opened in Tehran Saturday, Xinhua reported.
“The US president says that Israel’s security is his red line,” said the Iranian leader, adding that Obama makes such remarks because he is in need of money and support from Israel’s companies to secure his second term in office.
Obama’s red line would be crossed by the Muslim nations, Khamenei was quoted as saying by the Press TV.
US president has reiterated that for any peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians the security of Israel is a pre-condition and should be guaranteed in advance.
Khamenei also urged Muslim countries to end all their ties with Israel. (Agencies)