(Ynet).US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says Israel must prove it is committed to the Mideast peace process with actions but brushed aside suggestions that US-Israeli relations are in crisis.
Clinton said Tuesday that United States and Israeli officials are in intense talks "over steps that we think would demonstrate the requisite commitment to the process."
She said the Obama administration was awaiting a response from Israel to suggestions on how to repair damage caused by last week's Israeli announcement of new Jewish housing in east Jerusalem.
At the same time, Clinton said she did not think ties between the US and its top Middle East ally are in danger. She said the United States remains committed to Israel's security and to restarting stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
"We have an absolute commitment to Israel's security. We have a close, unshakable bond between the United States and Israel," Clinton told a news briefing, markedly softening the rhetoric after several days of sharp diplomatic exchanges over Israel's announcement of new settlement construction.
Clinton said Tuesday that United States and Israeli officials are in intense talks "over steps that we think would demonstrate the requisite commitment to the process."
She said the Obama administration was awaiting a response from Israel to suggestions on how to repair damage caused by last week's Israeli announcement of new Jewish housing in east Jerusalem.
At the same time, Clinton said she did not think ties between the US and its top Middle East ally are in danger. She said the United States remains committed to Israel's security and to restarting stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
"We have an absolute commitment to Israel's security. We have a close, unshakable bond between the United States and Israel," Clinton told a news briefing, markedly softening the rhetoric after several days of sharp diplomatic exchanges over Israel's announcement of new settlement construction.