Jerusalem: Israel must come up with a clear strategy for negotiations with the Palestinians and Syria in order to avoid a collision course with main ally Washington, a report said on Wednesday.
Recent conditional acceptance by Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu to the creation of a Palestinian state and
understandings with the US on Iran "will not suffice to steer
the two countries off a collision course," said a report by
the Institute for the National Security Studies (INSS).
This will not happen "unless Israel substantiates its
desire to settle its conflicts with the Arab world with
practical measures," it said.
"Israel must first and foremost formulate a strategy for
negotiations with the Palestinians and with Syria and build a
means of constructive exchange with the United States on the
Iranian issue."
"Israel should develop its own initiatives and forestall
a situation whereby it merely responds to initiatives of
others" insofar as the stalled Middle East peace process goes,
it said.
One of the report`s authors, Shlomo Brom, told agency that
"the possibility of a collision with Washington is very
worrying. State department officials have already raised the
possibility of economic sanctions."
A State Department spokesman on Tuesday said it was
"premature" to talk about the possibility of US financial
sanctions on Israel to force it to freeze settlement activity.
Bureau Report
