Clinton to assess Mideast peace prospects
US secretary of state to make her first official visit to Israel on Tuesday in order to familiarize herself with Benjamin Netanyahu's diplomatic stands. Prime minister-designate to introduce concept of 'financial peace,' steer clear of two-state solution
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be arriving in Israel on Tuesday as part of her first official visit to the Middle East. Clinton is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu, who is expected to assure her that he will comply with the obligations agreed to by his predecessors.
Nevertheless, Netanyahu is unlikely to state he will strive to advance the two-state solution.
Clinton will arrive in Israel from Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, where she will be attending a meeting focused on the rebuilding of the Gaza Strip following Operation Cast Lead.
The main goal of the secretary of state's visit is to familiarize herself with Netanyahu's stands and the guidelines of his future government.
The prime minister-designate has expressed his willingness to push the peace talks with the moderate Palestinian side, headed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, stating that the Palestinians "have the right to self govern," but he has made it a point to steer clear of the two-state solution.
Speaking to the Washington Post, Netanyahu said he intended to head a government committee dedicated to boosting the Palestinian economy, as part of his plan to use "financial peace" as a catalyst to "diplomatic peace".
A similar sentiment was expressed by US President Barack Obama's special envoy to the Middle Easy, George Mitchell, who met with the Likud chairman on Thursday. Sources close to Netanyahu said that the meeting went well and that the US administration has shown no signs of pressuring Netanyahu, especially while his government is still under construction.
Nevertheless, state officials said that the US was expected to apply some pressure on the future government to adhere to the guidelines set by the Annapolis Peace Summit.
Clinton is also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, and Defense Minister Ehud Barak on the Israeli side, and with Abbas and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, on the Palestinian side. Clinton will not visit Gaza, although the humanitarian aid to the Strip is expected to be one of the key issues of her visit.
