U.S. tactic worries some Israelis

JERUSALEM, March 29 (UPI) -- Israeli sources tell Haaretz they are concerned the Obama administration is pursuing a strategy to impose a permanent settlement on Israel and the Palestinians.

The Israeli newspaper reported Monday its political sources in Jerusalem say U.S. President Barack Obama's desire to move the settlement negotiations along through indirect talks is a sign of his intention to put more pressure on Israel to accept a deal within two years.

Obama, who met with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in the White House last week, has also discussed the situation with Israel's supporters in Europe. Haaretz reported Israeli officials see that as an effort to intensify the pressure on Israel by isolating it and emboldening the Palestinians.

The new direction contradicts traditional U.S. commitments and threatens to undermine the peace process, the senior Israeli officials told Haaretz. It also will serve to weaken other nations' trust in the United States, they say.