As Israel celebrated its 62nd independence day, U.S. President Barack Obama sent a goodwill message across. In the statement, Obama pledged his commitment to have strong ties between the two countries. However, that seems to be a fragile promise in light of current events.
Obama has been pushing Israel’s administration to stop the West Bank settlements. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doesn’t appear to be giving into the demands. As a result relations have become somewhat estranged prompting Defense Minister Ehud Barak to comment on it during the address to the nation via Israel Radio. “The growing alienation between us and the United States is not good for the state of Israel” he said.
The only concession that Netanyahu has made is to offer to slow down construction in other areas. However, he is not willing to do anything about Jerusalem as it is considered to be Israel’s capitol. The Palestinians want East Jerusalem so that they can establish their own Capitol city and Netanyahu is having none of that.
Back in 2000 when Ehud Barak was Prime Minister, he offered the Palestinians the West Bank and East Jerusalem in a deal brokered by President Bill Clinton. However, Yasser Arafat the late Palestinian leader declined the offer saying that he wanted more. Arafat wanted land returned to those who held it 1948 but left the country due to the formation of Israel. Although that is unlikely to happen, a different sort of compromise will have to be reached soon in order for U.S.-Israeli relations to become healthy again.