Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said Sunday that the PA had betrayed their commitment to the peace process by bringing Hamas back into the Authority's leadership, and because of their refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish state. Speaking on Israel Radio, Steinitz said that the PA had adopted a “shameful” policy, hoping to wrench concessions out of Israel without giving up anything themselves.
Steinitz also said that the description of the differences between Israel and the U.S. as a “serious difference” were “exaggerated.” He aded that U.S. President Barack H. Obama was “a friend of Israel,” and that there were “many positive aspects” to Obama's speech Thursday, although Israel disagreed with Obama's desire to see the 1947 armistice lines as the basis of discussions between Israel and the PA on borders.
Steinitz also said that the description of the differences between Israel and the U.S. as a “serious difference” were “exaggerated.” He aded that U.S. President Barack H. Obama was “a friend of Israel,” and that there were “many positive aspects” to Obama's speech Thursday, although Israel disagreed with Obama's desire to see the 1947 armistice lines as the basis of discussions between Israel and the PA on borders.