White House wants to talk ‘quietly’ about settlements

The White House wants to work through its differences with Israel over settlements "quietly, professionally, and without rancor or ultimatums."

That’s according to an e-mail from an unnamed White House official to Jewish Council for Public Affairs Washington director Hadar Susskind, reports Politico. Susskind told the publication he could share the e-mail as long as it was not attributable to a named official.

"While we may have some differences of view with Israel at the moment over settlements, we are trying to work through them quietly, professionally, and without rancor or ultimatums, as befits a strong relationship with an important ally," said the e-mail. "We are confident we can do that."

The e-mail states that the president "does believe Israel has an obligation to stop settlements – that is clearly what Israel agreed to in the Roadmap."

It adds that the president "also believes (and said when he met with President Abbas) that the Palestinians have obligations to end incitement and continue improving their security capabilities to confront terrorism."

"He also has talked about the Arab states’ responsibilities to make serious gestures of normalization under the Arab peace initiative now, not at the end of the process," it states.

Similarly, Israeli defense minister Ehud Barak said this morning that Israel and the U.S. have agreed to "lower the volume on disagreements."

"It’s very important to have a direct conversation behind closed doors and not to do it through the media," Barak said.

Ron’s full brief on Barak’s remarks can be read here. The full White House e-mail can be read after the jump:[[READMORE]]

The President has been very clear that he believes all parties have obligations and responsibilities to live up to if peace efforts are to have a chance to succeed.

He does believe Israel has an obligation to stop settlements – that is clearly what Israel agreed to in the Roadmap.

He also believes (and said when he met with President Abbas) that the Palestinians have obligations to end incitement and continue improving their security capabilities to confront terrorism.

 He also has talked about the Arab states’ responsibilities to make serious gestures of normalization under the Arab peace initiative now, not at the end of the process.

While we may have some differences of view with Israel at the moment over settlements, we are trying to work through them quietly, professionally, and without rancor or ultimatums, as befits a strong relationship with an important ally. We are confident we can do that.

The President’s commitment to Israel’s security is as firm as ever, which he has emphasized many times. In fact, his belief in pushing for two states and stopping settlements is significantly motivated my his concern for Israel’s future as a secure, democratic, Jewish state, which he strongly believes is in the United States’ interests.