Azerbaijan, Baku, June 11 / Trend , U.Sadikhova/
The main purpose of the foreign policy of any Israeli government is to maintain a strong relationship with the United States, so the government of Benjamin Netanyahu would find compromises on the issue of Jewish settlements with the U.S. administration, head of the Begin-Sadat Centre for strategic studies at Israeli Bar-Illan University Efraim Inbar said.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu will make a political speech at the Begin-Sadat, one of the major political centers of Israel, where he will reveal next steps of Israel in the peace process with the Palestinians and the policy of "two states for two peoples," Haaretz reported.
Netanyahu also intends to talk about the possibilities of alternative solution to the problem of Jewish settlements in the West Bank, a matter in which the positions of Israel and the United States differ, Haaretz reported.
U.S. President Barack Obama met with Israeli prime minister in Washington in late May, and called on Israel to freeze construction of Jewish settlements in the Palestinian territories. He reiterated his position during a speech in Cairo last week.
"I do not know what to tell the Prime Minister, but I think that compromise is always possible. Americans have never welcomed the expansion of Jewish settlements, and Israel will try to find a compromise on this issue," Prof. Inbar told Trend by telephone.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak told about the possibility of finding an alternative way to solve the problem of settlements a meeting with U.S. counterpart Robert Gates in Washington, Haaretz reported. Israel halted the expansion of settlements at the request of the U.S., but considering other ways, not infringing upon anybody's interests, Barak said.
Inbar believes that Israel is a sovereign state, and will always defend its interests. The issue of settlements was never top in the peace process, the Americans opposed this in the past, but the construction still continued, he added.
Over 280,000 Israelis live in more than 120 settlements of the West Bank used during war of 1967. Other 200,000 live in Eastern Jerusalem that also referred to occupied territories from the point of view of international law, RIA Novosti said.
Total number of settlers in the West Bank, including Eastern Jerusalem, reaches half a million. According to Israeli media outlets, ruling coalition of Israel intends to expand settlements by 40 percent.
U.S special envoy in the Middle East George Mitchell stated about U.S demand to immediate resume Arabic-Israeli peace talks at the meeting with prime Minister of Israel and the President. He added that freezing of construction in the west bank is one of major terms of Washington.
But the Israeli government refuses by explaining it as increase of natality.
Palestinian administration and Arabic countries refuse from negotiating with Israel until construction at Palestinian territories stopped. According to Road Map plan, independent Palestinian state must be created at these territories.
However Inbar excludes that Jewish settlements are major problem in peace process with Palestinians given political split in autonomy, in spite of that Netanyahu's government will try to preserve old cooperation with the USA.
"The USA is important side in peace process. But I think that major obstacle (in talks) is split of Palestinians who can create united government," he said.
The government divided in two camps in autonomy as a result of military clashes in the Gaza strip between ruling party of Palestinian administration and members of Palestinian resistance movement HAMAS. FATAH office head Mahmoud Abbas having moderate position in talks with Israel rule in the west bank. HAMAS controlling the Gaza strip requires ceasing Israeli occupation and withdrawing of Gaza's blockade. Afterwards, it will be possible to hold talks.
Despite several rounds of national talks of FATAH and HAMAS under mediation of Egypt, Palestinian parties failed to agree upon creation of national government.
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