Clinton visits Middle East to talk peace

Per BBC, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Israel to begin the Obama administration's peace efforts. Clinton first attended a conference in Egypt where U.S. and world donors pledged almost $4.5 billion to rebuild Gaza. The U.N. has identified at least 1,008 buildings destroyed or damaged in Israel's recent incursion there (BBC map).

Clinton will meet with Israel's newly-chosen Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and majority leader Tzipi Livni. As previously reported by Breaking Tweets, Netanyahu is charged with forming a new coalition government which Livni's Kadima party has as yet refused to join.

Clinton has said the new U.S. administration is committed to the creation of a Palestinian state, though Netanyahu has refused to commit to the idea.

A few Twitter users cited anger directed at Clinton when her office reportedly said Israel is not doing enough to improve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

@crazycatkid (New York): @jaredremington What else is new? Hillary selling out Israel/Americn Jews? http://www.cbsnews.com/stor... Remember her kiss w/Mrs Arafat?

@jaredremington (NY/CT): Hillary selling out Israel / American Jews? http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/27/national/main4833133.shtml #tcot



Some conservatives in the Twitterersphere questioned why the U.S. plans to give aid to Palestinians at all.

@desertrat0073: Why is H. Clinton promising $900M to Gaza through the Palestinian Authority when terror group Hamas will benefit? THEY ARE ISRAEL'S ENEMY!

@Rightwoman: #Israel Debka reporting US $ pledged aid will be "strengthening Hamas and paying Iran for arming the Palestinian Islamist terrorists."#TCOT

Others commented on the U.S. administration's plans to actively pursue peace.

@TheySayNothing: Tiny steps - Clinton says Israel should show Palestinians the benefits to negotiating. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0309/19494.html

@shayalerner: Clinton asks Israel to help create "viable" Palestinian state - http://tinyurl.com/apn84s (expand)

A Twitter feed tracking Clinton followed her into the Middle East with updates and photos.

@ClintonNews (Washington, D.C.): A Perspective From the Press Filing Center http://twurl.nl/tp2ai6

@ClintonNews (Washington, D.C.): Secretary Clinton Arrives in Egypt http://twurl.nl/zx8k3q

One Twitterer posted a link to a blog post containing text of Clinton's remarks at the Gaza aid conference.

@Jinjirrie: RT @EANewsFeed: New blog post: Text: Hillary Clinton Speech to #Gaza Donors Conference http://tinyurl.com/dmchoa (expand)

Clinton visits Middle East to talk peace