By NNN-KUNA
Washington : US Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns asked the Israeli government to halt the expansion of settlement in the Palestinian territories and reduce its forces in the West Bank.
“The Israeli government should stop expansion of settlement and reduce its footprints in the West Bank,” said Burns who was the keynote speaker in the second annual gala dinner of the American Task Force for Palestine (ATFP) here in Washington.
Burns said that an independent Palestinian state “deserves to come to creation” and is now the highest priority of the US administration.
“We do this for our own country, for our interest and we do it because it is the right thing,” he added.
Burns praised President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad describing them as “real partners of peace who have the interests of the Palestinians in their mind.” He said that reaching a deal between Palestinians and Israelis ahead of the meeting next month in Indianapolis, Maryland requires “hard work”.
Burns added that this awaited meeting is consistent with the road map, based on the concept of land for peace, the Arab League Peace Initiative, and United Nations resolutions, and considered the international quartet and the Arab follow-up committee as “natural participants” in this effort.
He said that the United States is committed to see progress and that the purpose of the November meeting is to bridge differences between both parties and rally international support for this process.
Burns also highlighted the need for a comprehensive peace in the Middle East with a Palestinian state at its core, referring to the just settlement of the issue of Palestinian refugees perhaps for the first time by a top US official.
He said that the three main priorities now are to seek political progress between the two parties as Abbas and Olmert are meeting twice a week to narrow their differences and asked both leaders “to meet the promise of the moment and commit to peace.” The other two priorities are the capacity building of Palestinian institutions and achieving “tangible steps” on the ground.
Burns noted that Palestinians are living under harsh conditions referring to Israeli checkpoints and security barriers in West Bank.
He added that International Quartets envoy former prime minister Toni Blair is coordinating international efforts so the Palestinians can have a functional economy, an effective judiciary system, and a sound financial system.
Burns pointed out that it is crucial to deal with short term economic problems facing the Palestinians, mentioning that the US will allocate around USD 144 millions this year in food, assistance, and education in the West Bank.
“We want to see job creation as part of the peace process,” he added.
On a personal note, Burns mentioned that his sister-in-law is of Palestinian origin and lived her life as a refugee before settling in the United States.
He praised ATFP for “overcoming the stereotype” towards Palestinian Americans, recalling his days when he served in the US consulate in Jerusalem where he witnessed first-hand how Palestinians live “under occupation with dignity”.