In diplomatic circles, what is not said is sometimes as important — or more important — than what is said. That appears to be the case following a meeting between President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin in Washington on Tuesday. There were kind words about the current state of the U.S.-Israeli relationship and talk about Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip. Nothing was said publicly, however, about Israel’s response to the Palestinian demand for a freeze on settlement building in the West Bank and elsewhere. The omission is telling.
Indeed, both president and prime minister clearly avoided responding to a question about Israel’s plan to extend a limited halt on expanding settlements on the West Bank. Palestinians say a freeze on settlement building is a requirement to bring them into direct peace talks with Israel. Mr. Netanyahu’s refusal to embrace or promote a building freeze remains a contentious issue in U.S.-Israeli relations.
Mr. Obama has indicated that a freeze would be proper step to promote serious peace talks. Mr. Netanyahu and many, but not all, Israelis demur. They say the settlements are crucial to Israeli security and that a unilateral freeze without concessions and guarantees from the other side is not in the Jewish state’s best interest. The prime minister is adamant on the topic.
The Israeli prime minister reaffirmed his position in an interview on “Good Morning America’ on Wednesday. “The simplest way to advance peace is to put aside all the grievances and all the preconditions,” adding that he is “ready to sit down” with Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian leader, to talk about peace “without preconditions.” That sounds good, but it’s a clear rejection of Palestinian demands.
Compromise is needed. Israelis should consider the Palestinian proposal rather than summarily reject it. Direct talks, moderated by a skilled intermediary, could produce an agreement that satisfies both the Palestinians’ sensible demand for territorial integrity and Israel’s intelligible quest for domestic security. Such discussion holds the possibility of progress. Refusal to talk does not.