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Compromise Is Achievable on Settlements

[Washington Post] Editorial - In the weeks before President Obama's Cairo address to the Muslim world, his administration opened a striking public breach with the Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu. What Mr. Netanyahu almost certainly will not do is abandon the position of previous Israeli governments - accepted in practice by both the Bush and Clinton administrations - that some "natural growth" must be allowed in existing settlements. No Israeli government - not Mr. Netanyahu's, not even one led by the current opposition - is likely to agree to a total construction ban. By insisting on one, the administration risks bogging itself down in a major dispute with its ally, while giving Arab governments and Palestinians a ready excuse not to make their own concessions. Meanwhile, the practical need for a total settlement freeze is debatable. Palestinian negotiators have already conceded that many of the towns will be annexed to Israel in any final deal; so did former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. A good compromise is achievable. Then Mr. Obama can turn to the equally important task of pressing Palestinian leaders and Arab states for measures that match Israel's actions.
2009-06-08 06:00:00
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