British newspaper the Guardian reported Wednesday that US President Barack Obama is close to resuming Israeli-Palestinian peace talks by persuading Israel to implement a limited settlement freeze in exchange for a tougher US stance on the alleged Iranian nuclear program.
One negotiation official told the Guardian, “The message is: Iran is an existential threat to Israel; settlements are not.”
In exchange for a temporary or partial settlement freeze, Britain, France and the US would “lead a UN security council push to expand sanctions, expected to target Iran’s dependence on imports of refined petroleum products and its reliance on foreign technology to develop its oil and gas industry.”
According to the report, Obama is expected to announce the development either in late September at the meeting of the UN General Assembly in New York or at the G20 summit in Pittsburgh shortly after. Russia and China, however, are expected to object to any further sanctions.
