HILLARY CLINTON wrapped up her first visit to the Middle East as US secretary of state yesterday, vowing to remain personally engaged in peace efforts.
Speaking after talks in the West Bank city of Ramallah with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, Mrs Clinton criticised Israeli plans to demolish 80 Palestinian homes in east Jerusalem as “unhelpful” to peace efforts and promised to raise the issue with the new Israeli government.
Israel claimed the homes were built without valid permits, but Palestinians maintain that permits are almost impossible to obtain from the Israeli authorities.
In her joint press conference with Mr Abbas, the secretary of state said Middle East envoy George Mitchell will return to the region soon after Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu forms the next Israeli government.
“The Obama administration will be vigorously engaged in efforts to forge a lasting peace between Israel, Palestinians and all of the Arab neighbours. I will remain personally engaged,” she said. “This is a commitment that I carry in my heart, not just in my portfolio.”
Mrs Clinton promised to hold “very constructive talks” with the Netanyahu government. She said the US aimed to foster conditions in which a Palestinian state could be fully realised, adding that “time is of the essence”. However, she stressed that it was up to the sides to make peace, saying Washington will not impose solutions.
At the start of her visit to the West Bank Mrs Clinton met Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad and reiterated US support for Mr Abbas. She called his Palestinian Authority the “only legitimate government” of the Palestinian people.
President Abbas said he expected to hear from Mr Netanyahu after he forms his coalition, but said contacts must continue towards the establishment of a Palestinian state.
“The Israeli government has to respect its obligations under the road map and the two-state solution and completely stop all that is related to settlement and demolitions,” he said.
Mr Abbas also called on Iran to stop interfering in Palestinian affairs. He accused Tehran, which backs his Islamic rival Hamas, of trying to deepen the rift between Palestinians.
Mrs Clinton did not hold any meetings with representatives of Hamas, which Washington considers a terrorist organisation.
Hamas spokesman in Gaza Fawzi Barhoum said Mrs Clinton’s remarks throughout her trip were totally biased in favour of the “Zionist occupation and do not reflect any change in American foreign policy”.