White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said today that the issue of Israeli settlements should not become a roadblock to peace talks between Israel and Palestine.
“No one should allow the issue of settlements to distract from the goal of a lasting peace between Israel, the Palestinians and the Arab world,” Emanuel told a conference of the Jewish Federations of North America, CNN reports.
President Obama was scheduled to address the conference. He sent Emanuel in his place in order to attend the memorial service at Fort Hood, Texas.
Emanuel also countered critics who claim the administration’s policy of engaging Arab nations means less support of Israel.
“It is only through dialogue that we can achieve lasting peace that Israel seeks,” he said. “As this administration has sought to engage the region, there are some who suggest this implies a diminished level of support for Israel. … That is not the intent and that is not the case and never will be.”
