Cord Byrd: “last week the Israeli leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, decided to authorize a politically volatile housing…”

“last week the Israeli leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, decided to authorize a politically volatile housing project for Israeli settlers in predominantly Arab East Jerusalem. This disappointing act has thrown into confusion the promising opening that was generated by the long and difficult, but successful negotiations last month, which culminated in an agreement returning control of the West Bank city of Hebron to the Palestinians. The United States invested very considerable efforts, negotiating talent and prestige to move the peace process along. The agreement over Hebron gave the world great hope that a long-term peaceful settlement of the outstanding issues between Israel and the Palestinians was on an upward track. Therefore, it is very unfortunate, in my view, that the reality of the substantial success over Hebron prompted the right wing of Israeli politics to pressure Prime Minister Netanyahu into this latest act on housing settlements. According to the New York Times of March 2, 1997, "a powerful group of Mr. Netanyahu's conservative colleagues" "leaned on him" to prove his commitment to Jerusalem by building Har Homa, threatening to bring down the government if he failed. With new territorial concessions to the Palestinians looming, Mr. Netanyahu told Americans and Palestinians privately that he had to "fill his right wing tank" on Har Homa if he was to keep on the peace route. This is a most disappointing situation.…”