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WASHINGTON It was just a phrase at the end of President Obamas news conference on Tuesday, but it was a stark reminder of a far-reaching shift in how the United States views the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and how aggressively it might push for a peace agreeme
Times Topics: Palestinians | IsraelWhen Mr. Obama declared that resolving the long-running Middle East dispute was a vital national security interest of the United States, he was highlighting a change that has resulted from a lengthy debate among his top officials over how best to balance support for Israel against other American interests.
This shift, described by administration officials who did not want to be quoted by name when discussing internal discussions, is driving the White Houses urgency to help broker a Middle East peace deal. It increases the likelihood that Mr. Obama, frustrated by the inability of the Israelis and the Palestinians to come to terms, will offer his own proposed parameters for an eventual Palestinian state.
Mr. Obama said conflicts like the one in the Middle East ended up costing us significantly in terms of both blood and treasure drawing an explicit link between the Israeli-Palestinian strife and the safety of American soldiers as they battle Islamic extremism and terrorism in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.
News Analysis - Obama Speech Signals a U.S. Shift on Middle East - NYTimes.com
Times Topics: Palestinians | IsraelWhen Mr. Obama declared that resolving the long-running Middle East dispute was a vital national security interest of the United States, he was highlighting a change that has resulted from a lengthy debate among his top officials over how best to balance support for Israel against other American interests.
This shift, described by administration officials who did not want to be quoted by name when discussing internal discussions, is driving the White Houses urgency to help broker a Middle East peace deal. It increases the likelihood that Mr. Obama, frustrated by the inability of the Israelis and the Palestinians to come to terms, will offer his own proposed parameters for an eventual Palestinian state.
Mr. Obama said conflicts like the one in the Middle East ended up costing us significantly in terms of both blood and treasure drawing an explicit link between the Israeli-Palestinian strife and the safety of American soldiers as they battle Islamic extremism and terrorism in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.
News Analysis - Obama Speech Signals a U.S. Shift on Middle East - NYTimes.com