US moves to scuttle Arab plan for international peace conference

[bemildred]

The US is trying to block attempts by Arab countries to turn the UN Security Council into a key player in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict during the upcoming General Assembly opening next week.

In discussions among Israeli and US officials over the past few days, it was agreed that the US will use its diplomatic power to sideline the Arab League initiative, which intends to use the Security Council as the main vehicle for convening an international peace conference to deal with the conflict.

Instead, US diplomats are working to convince the Arab members of the UN to agree to a presidential statement instead of a UN resolution. The wording of such a statement is now in the works and it will be finalized in a meeting of the Quartet next Wednesday, a day before the Security Council takes on the issue.

US President George W. Bush, who will address the UN General Assembly next week, is expected to repeat in his speech the US commitment for the idea of a two-state solution for the Middle East conflict.

Jpost

[LynnTheDem]

1. Yeah that'll show the world how "even-handed" the US is towards Israel!

That'll show OBL and his followers how wrong they are to keep saying the US always sides 100% no matter what with Israel over everyone else!


:eyes:

[bemildred]

2. My interpretation was different.

They let the UN foot in the door with 1701; now various other fellows are trying to run with that ball, and the US finds itself in the position of struggling to retain it's tenuous position of "leadership" in the Middle East. Of course there is always the veto.

[breakaleg]

3. I can't think of any rational reason why the US would not support

the UN taking a major role in the Israeli/Palestinian peace talks. Except of course, that the UN would be even handed and the US clearly comes down on the side of Israel. Based on that alone, the US should realize the UN needs to be there.