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| Obama praises Israeli PM Netanyahu for accepting Egyptian ceasefire plan | Obama praises Israeli PM Netanyahu for accepting Egyptian ceasefire plan |
| (5 months later) | |
| Barack Obama heaped praise on Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu for agreeing to the Egyptian ceasefire plan and offered increased US funding to beef up Israel's air defence batteries. | Barack Obama heaped praise on Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu for agreeing to the Egyptian ceasefire plan and offered increased US funding to beef up Israel's air defence batteries. |
| The White House, in an unusual twist, highlighted that Netanyahu had followed Obama's advice, which was to accept the ceasefire deal. | The White House, in an unusual twist, highlighted that Netanyahu had followed Obama's advice, which was to accept the ceasefire deal. |
| The statement from the White House was couched in extremely supportive terms for Israel, which the Obama administration views as necessary if it is to hold out hopes of persuading Netanyahu further down the line to engage in broader peace negotiations. | The statement from the White House was couched in extremely supportive terms for Israel, which the Obama administration views as necessary if it is to hold out hopes of persuading Netanyahu further down the line to engage in broader peace negotiations. |
| The president spoke to Netanyahu on Wednesday to express US support for Israel and committed the US to providing extra funding for the Iron Dome, a US-Israeli anti-missile defence system that proved largely successful in combating rockets fired from Gaza. | The president spoke to Netanyahu on Wednesday to express US support for Israel and committed the US to providing extra funding for the Iron Dome, a US-Israeli anti-missile defence system that proved largely successful in combating rockets fired from Gaza. |
| Obama, in spite of wanting to shift the strategic balance of the US from Europe and the Middle East to Asia and the Pacific, may yet use his second presidential term to try to broker a lasting peace settlement. | Obama, in spite of wanting to shift the strategic balance of the US from Europe and the Middle East to Asia and the Pacific, may yet use his second presidential term to try to broker a lasting peace settlement. |
| Welcoming the ceasefire, the White House said: "The president said that the United States would use the opportunity offered by a ceasefire to intensify efforts to help Israel address its security needs, especially the issue of the smuggling of weapons and explosives into Gaza." | Welcoming the ceasefire, the White House said: "The president said that the United States would use the opportunity offered by a ceasefire to intensify efforts to help Israel address its security needs, especially the issue of the smuggling of weapons and explosives into Gaza." |
| It added: "The president expressed his appreciation for the prime minister's efforts to work with the new Egyptian government to achieve a sustainable ceasefire and a more durable solution to this problem." | It added: "The president expressed his appreciation for the prime minister's efforts to work with the new Egyptian government to achieve a sustainable ceasefire and a more durable solution to this problem." |
| It publicly stressed the fact that Netanyahu had taken Obama's advice. "The president commended the prime minister for agreeing to the Egyptian ceasefire proposal – which the president recommended the prime minster do – while reiterating that Israel maintains the right to defend itself," the White House said. | It publicly stressed the fact that Netanyahu had taken Obama's advice. "The president commended the prime minister for agreeing to the Egyptian ceasefire proposal – which the president recommended the prime minster do – while reiterating that Israel maintains the right to defend itself," the White House said. |
| Relations between Obama and Netanyahu have long been strained, with the prime minister suggesting that the president was not being supportive enough of Israel. Netanyahu has several times undercut attempts by Obama to reduce tensions in the Middle East, particularly the president's opposition to the expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank. | Relations between Obama and Netanyahu have long been strained, with the prime minister suggesting that the president was not being supportive enough of Israel. Netanyahu has several times undercut attempts by Obama to reduce tensions in the Middle East, particularly the president's opposition to the expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank. |
| But Netanyahu, facing an election in January, is now, potentially, in a more vulnerable position, and more reliant on a good relationship with Obama. | But Netanyahu, facing an election in January, is now, potentially, in a more vulnerable position, and more reliant on a good relationship with Obama. |
| The president also put in a call to Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi thanking him for "his efforts to achieve a sustainable ceasefire and for his personal leadership in negotiating a ceasefire proposal". | The president also put in a call to Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi thanking him for "his efforts to achieve a sustainable ceasefire and for his personal leadership in negotiating a ceasefire proposal". |
| In further evidence of the White House wanting to take some credit for the deal, the White House added: "President Morsi expressed appreciation for president Obama's efforts in this regard." | In further evidence of the White House wanting to take some credit for the deal, the White House added: "President Morsi expressed appreciation for president Obama's efforts in this regard." |
| The statement said the two agreed on the importance of working for "a more durable solution to the situation in Gaza". | The statement said the two agreed on the importance of working for "a more durable solution to the situation in Gaza". |
| There had been concern in the US when Morsi was elected, because of his background in the Muslim Brotherhood. However, Obama reaffirmed the close partnership that existed between the US and Egypt. | There had been concern in the US when Morsi was elected, because of his background in the Muslim Brotherhood. However, Obama reaffirmed the close partnership that existed between the US and Egypt. |
| When the fighting first started, the Obama administration maintained a low profile, leaving it mainly to the Egyptian government to try to broker a deal. | When the fighting first started, the Obama administration maintained a low profile, leaving it mainly to the Egyptian government to try to broker a deal. |
| Obama headed off on Sunday on a tour of Thailand, Burma and Cambodia, only returning to Washington at lunchtime Wednesday. | Obama headed off on Sunday on a tour of Thailand, Burma and Cambodia, only returning to Washington at lunchtime Wednesday. |
| But by Tuesday the hands-off approach was not working and Clinton was dispatched to the region breaking away from an east Asia summit. | But by Tuesday the hands-off approach was not working and Clinton was dispatched to the region breaking away from an east Asia summit. |
| There is a division among diplomats and analysts in Washington over what Obama will do about Israel-Palestine in his second term, with some predicting he will be "brave", viewing the Israel-Palestine conflict as one of the causes of anti-western sentiment in the Muslim world. Sending Clinton to the region adds credence to this prediction of greater US involvement. | There is a division among diplomats and analysts in Washington over what Obama will do about Israel-Palestine in his second term, with some predicting he will be "brave", viewing the Israel-Palestine conflict as one of the causes of anti-western sentiment in the Muslim world. Sending Clinton to the region adds credence to this prediction of greater US involvement. |
| Others predict Obama will be too preoccupied with the economy, immigration reform and other domestic issues to invest in a Middle East peace process. | Others predict Obama will be too preoccupied with the economy, immigration reform and other domestic issues to invest in a Middle East peace process. |
| In one of the first reactions from Congress, three Republican senators – John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Kelly Ayotte – called in a joint statement for the Obama administration to play a pivotal role. | In one of the first reactions from Congress, three Republican senators – John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Kelly Ayotte – called in a joint statement for the Obama administration to play a pivotal role. |
| "Above all, the recent fighting in Gaza underscores that this is a moment in history when the future of the Middle East has never been less certain – and when the actions or inaction of the United States will be critical to determining what path this vital region takes," the senators said. | "Above all, the recent fighting in Gaza underscores that this is a moment in history when the future of the Middle East has never been less certain – and when the actions or inaction of the United States will be critical to determining what path this vital region takes," the senators said. |
| "From the worsening civil war in Syria to the security vacuum in Libya, and from Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons to heightened tensions in Iraq, what happens in the Middle East will impact America's vital national security interests for the foreseeable future, and stronger, smarter American leadership is desperately needed. There is no pivoting away from that fact." | "From the worsening civil war in Syria to the security vacuum in Libya, and from Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons to heightened tensions in Iraq, what happens in the Middle East will impact America's vital national security interests for the foreseeable future, and stronger, smarter American leadership is desperately needed. There is no pivoting away from that fact." |
| Bill Clinton, in the latter part of his presidency, made a determined effort to broker a lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace deal but failed. George W Bush made an effort too, but his was a half-hearted affair. | Bill Clinton, in the latter part of his presidency, made a determined effort to broker a lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace deal but failed. George W Bush made an effort too, but his was a half-hearted affair. |
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