(Jpost).Obama administration officials praised Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for steps he has taken to ease the conditions of Palestinians, as a way of continuing efforts to retool its message so that the onus for progress in the peace process isn't perceived as lying disproportionately with Jerusalem.
White House and State Department officials stressed Friday to The Jerusalem Post that they were pleased by measures that Netanyahu had taken to lift checkpoints in the West Bank and foster economic growth, as reports from the region mentioned improved economic and living conditions among Palestinians. The Israeli government has carried out several such actions in recent weeks but has felt they have been overlooked by the international community.
"We welcome the steps that Prime Minister Netanyahu has taken to increase access and movement for Palestinians in the West Bank," a State Department official told the Post. "While more remains to be done, these are important steps that will help improve the situation on the ground and help create the context for the early resumption of negotiations towards a final-status agreement."