Clinton optimistic of settlements deal as Israel-Palestinian peace talks resume (+ analysis); Japanese PM wins leadership vote; Iran struggles to sell oil as sanctions bite; Cuba lays off half a million workers, hinting at reform; and more
Top of the Agenda: Jewish Settlement Issue Looms
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she believed Israelis and Palestinians could reach an agreement on Jewish settlements (NYT) as peace talks resumed in Egypt. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested some flexibility on the issue Sunday, saying Israel would not extend the moratorium on settlement construction (AP) (scheduled to expire on September 26) but would also not build the tens of thousands of housing units planned. Palestinians reacted mildly to Netanyahu's suggestion, calling his many statements "confusing" and stressing that past compromises on the issue had turned out to be "cover-ups for an unlimited amount of expansions that is very difficult to assess and track."
Netanyahu faces growing pressure from the settlers' leaders, who have said continuing the freeze would result in severe political instability in Israel and a collapse of the current government. Clinton said gestures by Palestinians on security issues could give Netanyahu needed leverage to sell an extension at home. She said the Obama administration believes Israel should extend the moratorium, but efforts by both sides (JPost) would be needed to solve the problem.
Analysis:
In the Washington Post, Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite says what is needed in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a new concept of peacemaking that unifies Jewish, Christian, and Muslim perspectives, acknowledging that "each of the Abrahamic religions has within itself, and in its most sacred texts, explicit support for violence and for war."
Israeli and Palestinian leaders launched peace talks seriously and without theatrics, but the looming deadline on settlements involves a tight timeline for success, says CFR's Robert Danin.
Background:
The Daily Telegraph offers a summary of the key issues in the latest round of peace talks.
PACIFIC RIM: Japan's Kan Wins Election
Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan defeated powerful politician Ichiro Ozawa in a much anticipated vote for leadership (JapanTimes) of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan.
China: China postponed a senior official's visit (BBC) to Japan amid a diplomatic dispute over the arrest of a Chinese skipper after a collision in disputed waters.
On CFR's Asia Unbound blog, Sheila Smith reacts to the rising tensions between China and Japan following the Chinese fishing boat incident.
ELSEWHERE:
- Sanctions Choke Iranian Oil Exports
- Cuba Public-Sector Layoffs Signal Shift
This is an excerpt of the CFR.org Daily News Brief. The full version is available on CFR.org