Signalling an end to the brief flirtation with the Palestinian cause, the US secretary of state
Hillary Clinton flew to Jerusalem to voice full American support for Israel and its prime minister, Benjamin
Netanyahu. In an effort to confirm US-Israeli relations, she heaped praise on Mr
Netanyahu and joined Israeli calls for an immediate
Palestinian return to the negotiating table without
preconditions. The Palestinian leadership immediately rejected Mrs Clinton's demand to return to negotiations without a resolution on the settlements issue.
Israeli government hailed US' climb down as a diplomatic
victory. They said that Israel's policy of refusing to give into US pressure had paid
off.
