White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said in an interview on Monday that the time has not come yet for a new U.S. Mideast peace proposal.In an interview with Charlie Rose on Bloomberg Television, Emanuel emphasized that a new U.S. plan isn't the correct move at this time.
"A number of people have advocated that. That time is not now. The time now is to get back to the proximity talks [and] have those conversations that eventually will lead to direct negotiations, start to make the hard decisions to bring a balance between the aspirations of the Israelis for security and make that blend with the aspirations of the Palestinian people for their sovereignty,".
"Our bond with Israel is unshakable and unbreakable both as it relates to security, as it relates to a common set of values and also as a common strategic vision because the threats to Israel are similar to some of the threats the United States faces," he said.
Emanuel also expressed strong faith in the relationship between U.S. President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. When asked whether the relationship is cordial and constructive, Emanuel answered that "it's a constructive, honest relationship amongst not only friends, but two people who also have responsibilities to their respective countries: total honest, very constructive working relationship," said Emanuel.
Regarding Iran, he said that "Iran, as Israel describes, is an existential threat to them. The United States has seen Iran's desire to get a nuclear weapon as its own sense of threat, which is why it organized the P5+1," said Emanuel, speaking of the meeting of the United Nations Security Council and Germany on Iran.
"A number of people have advocated that. That time is not now. The time now is to get back to the proximity talks [and] have those conversations that eventually will lead to direct negotiations, start to make the hard decisions to bring a balance between the aspirations of the Israelis for security and make that blend with the aspirations of the Palestinian people for their sovereignty,".
"Our bond with Israel is unshakable and unbreakable both as it relates to security, as it relates to a common set of values and also as a common strategic vision because the threats to Israel are similar to some of the threats the United States faces," he said.
Emanuel also expressed strong faith in the relationship between U.S. President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. When asked whether the relationship is cordial and constructive, Emanuel answered that "it's a constructive, honest relationship amongst not only friends, but two people who also have responsibilities to their respective countries: total honest, very constructive working relationship," said Emanuel.
Regarding Iran, he said that "Iran, as Israel describes, is an existential threat to them. The United States has seen Iran's desire to get a nuclear weapon as its own sense of threat, which is why it organized the P5+1," said Emanuel, speaking of the meeting of the United Nations Security Council and Germany on Iran.