But U.S. has already started to tone down. During an interview with Fox News earlier this week, Obama reaffirmed U.S. commitment to Israel by saying "Israel's one of our closest allies and we and the Israeli people have a special bond that's not going to go away."
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Netanyahu talks with Clinton, proposing measures to advance peace
JERUSALEM, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on Thursday night with the United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on telephone, proposing "trust-building" measures to push forward the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, said Israeli prime minister's office.
As a response to the United States' demands concerning the peace process, Netanyahu promised during the phone call to make goodwill gestures to foster trust between Israel and the Palestinians in a bid to start the indirect talks as soon as possible. Full story
First high-ranking EU official tours Gaza as militants attack Israel with rocket
GAZA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Catherine Ashton, the new European Union (EU) Foreign Policy Chief, on Thursday visited the Gaza Strip for several hours, as a radical militant group fired a homemade rocket at southern Israel killing a foreign worker.
Ashton arrived in the blockaded strip before noon on Thursday through Erez border crossing point between northern Gaza Strip and Israel. She was escorted by UN vehicles. Full story
Israel, U.S. seek to ease tension with warm words
JERUSALEM, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Israel sought on Tuesday to ease up a strained relationship with the United States by welcoming U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's comment about the two nations' "close bond."
"The State of Israel appreciates and respects the warm words said by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton regarding the deep bond between the U.S. and Israel, and on the U.S. commitment to Israel' s security," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement. Full story
Palestinian officials urge Quartet to put pressure on Israel
RAMALLAH, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian officials said they hope the upcoming meeting of the Middle East Quartet would put pressure on Israel to resume the long-stalled peace talks.
The Quartet, which groups the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations, is to convene on Friday in Moscow to push forward Middle East peace process. Full story
