CMEP Bulletin: Diplomatic Pressures, Fiscal Progress, Holy Week, and More
US-Israeli-Palestinian Diplomacy Heats Up
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced on Tuesday that President Barack Obama will give a speech in the next few weeks on the Arab-Israeli conflict. “The status quo between Palestinians and Israelis is no more sustainable than the political systems that have crumbled in recent months,” Clinton told the audience at the U.S. – Islamic World Forum.
A speech on the conflict in the next few weeks will allow the president to frame the debate ahead of an expected speech by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in late May. Speaker of the House John Boehner (OH-8) has invited the Prime Minister to address a joint session of the Congress, possibly at the time of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference May 22-24.
CMEP’s Advocacy Conference this year coincides with the AIPAC Conference.
Speaking before the U.S. Congress, where Israel’s influence is significant puts the Prime Minister in a position to counter political pressures from the U.S. president. Sources from within the Israeli government have indicated that the Prime Minister will likely unveil limited “interim measures” addressing the conflict that are likely to fall short of creating a viable Palestinian state or of resolving final status issues.
Senator John Kerry (MA), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said on April 12 that, “Prime Minister Netanyahu has a trip planned to come over here. I believe he is going to address the Congress. I hope he will make a proposal there that will have a credible foundation to it.”
Click here to continue reading this CMEP Bulletin, including the follwoing items:
- Global Pressures
- Progress (according to the IMP and World Bank)
- Gaza and UN OCHA-oPt
- Christian Access to Holy Sites during Easter
- CMEP Conference Countdown