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WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton accused Israel
of undermining U.S. credibility as a Mideast peacemaker Monday on the
eve of critical talks between President Barack Obama and Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel recently announced new housing plans
for east Jerusalem, an expansion that the Obama administration has
strongly criticized. Clinton renewed that disapproval, telling a
pro-Israel audience that provocative Israeli land policies in areas
claimed by the Palestinians are not in Israel's long-term interests.

Nonetheless,
Netanyahu planned to take a firm stand regarding Jerusalem, stressing
in a speech Monday night that the city is Israel's capital, "not a
settlement," government spokesman Mark Regev said.

At the same
time both sides appeared to be indicating that while differences may
remain, the recent spat — unique in recent memory for its harsh rhetoric
and public nature — was behind them.

In her speech, Clinton
assured Israel that the U.S. administration's commitment to its security
and future is "rock solid." And after she met the Israeli leader later
Monday, Israeli officials termed the talks "friendly" and said both the
U.S. and Israel were interested in leaving the rift behind and getting
Israeli-Palestinian peace talks started quickly.

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