Clinton changes tone on Israeli settlements

In a sign of US eagerness to calm Arab concerns about the US position on settlements, Clinton is extending her trip by one day to fly to Cairo to meet with President Hosni Mubarak tomorrow, her staff announced. She had been scheduled to return to Washington today.

Clinton’s comments appeared to reflect a realization within the Obama administration that Netanyahu’s government will not accept a full-on settlement freeze and that a partial halt may be the best lesser option. Her appeal on Saturday seemed designed to make the Israeli position more palatable to the Palestinians and Arab states.

“We have to work with what we’ve got,’’ said one US official, adding: “We need to press both sides not to miss this opportunity.’’

Clinton had traveled to the region only reluctantly, concerned her visit might be seen as a failure, according to several US officials. She agreed to meet Israeli and Palestinian leaders after pressure from the White House, according to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal administration thinking.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

During a photo-taking session yesterday with her Moroccan counterpart, Clinton was asked by a reporter about the Arab reaction, and she responded by reading from a written statement that appeared designed to counter the skepticism about the Obama administration’s views on the Israeli settlements.

“Successive American administrations of both parties have opposed Israel’s settlement policy,’’ she said. “That is absolutely a fact, and the Obama administration’s position on settlements is clear, unequivocal, and it has not changed. As the president has said on many occasions, the United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements.’’

Clinton’s tweaking of her earlier remarks appeared to satisfy at least some of the Morocco meeting attendees.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki said yesterday that “we are happy that such a position was highlighted and brought back to the right line and right now we will see how things will go.’’

In her recalibrated comments, Clinton also called on the Israelis to do more to improve “movement and access’’ for Palestinians restricted by Israeli security arrangements. She added, however, that Israel deserved praise for moving in the right direction.

“I will offer positive reinforcement to either of the parties when I believe they are taking steps that support the objective of reaching a two-state solution,’’ Clinton said.

“This offer falls far short of what we would characterize as our position or what our preference would be,’’ she added.