US welcomes Arab League's show of support

Washington officials pleased with Arab League's statement allotting United States with one month to pressure Israel into halting settlement construction, returning parties to negotiating table

Yitzhak Benhorin|Published: 10.09.10 , 08:30

WASHINGTON – The US administration is pleased with the Arab League's decision to endorse American efforts to reignite direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians. "We appreciate the Arab League's statement of support for our efforts to create conditions that will allow direct talks to move forward," State Department Spokesman Phillip Crowley said Saturday.

As far as the Obama administration is concerned, the Arab League's statement provides his envoys with more time to pressure Israel into extending the settlement construction moratorium.

In practical terms, it means that US special envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, aided by Denis Ross, will continue to pressure Israel and the Palestinians to compromise and reach a formula allowing Israel to avoid construction in West Bank settlements for an additional 60 days.

The US has stressed that it shall continue working with all parties and international partners to "advance negotiations toward a two-state solution and encourage the parties to take constructive actions toward that end."

The US statement was issued late on Friday Washington time after American spokesmen refused to address the Arab League's convention in Tripoli throughout the day before matters became clear.

Arab states announced Friday that they endorsed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's refusal to continue the talks unless Israel extends its moratorium on Jewish settlement building in the West Bank. The Arab leaders said they are giving the US one month to pressure Israel into halting settlement building and returning the parties to the negotiating table.