Posted on 11/14/2005 10:07:22 AM PST by Nachum
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Monday morning – and was urged on behalf of U.S. President Bush to enable the opening of crossings for Gaza’s Arabs.
Rice said that although the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and northern Samaria was a positive and important step, Israel must continue to empower the Palestinian Authority and assist in establishing a Palestinian state.
"I expect to continue to work with you and your camp,” Rice told Sharon a the start of the meeting, “and to progress toward the two-state solution in which Israel and the Palestinian state can live in peace, free and free of terror."
She went on to apply intense pressure upon PM Sharon to relax Israel’s security requirements in order to open the Rafiach border between Gaza and Egypt. Israel has insisted on closed circuit cameras being installed in the Rafiach Crossing, but the PA refuses to allow such a move. PA sources later announced that a deal had been reached that would enable the opening of the border.
Prior to Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, Rafiach was a major point for weapons smuggling, with hundreds of arms-smuggling tunnels uncovered and destroyed in recent years in extensive IDF operations. Following the withdrawal, despite PA and Egyptian guarantees, the border was left wide open for over a week, enabling the transport of unknown amounts of heavy weaponry into Gaza.
Rice also conveyed the U.S. perspective with regard to the Hamas terror group taking part in PA elections. She said that she believes that if Hamas participates in the elections, it will actually be easier to compel Hamas to disarm because the pressure will come from the entire international community. She said that this was what had happened in northern Ireland and Angola, but assured Sharon that the U.S. would never hold contacts with Hamas or Islamic Jihad even if they are in the administration.
Rice also demanded that Israel expand the exports and granting of work-permits to PA residents at the Karni Crossing from Gaza to Israel – a reality difficult to implement due to PA refusal to accede to Israeli security needs. Quartet envoy James Wolfensohn has also been applying pressure upon Israeli to relinquish its security demands in favor of enabling free passage to residents of the PA. Wolfensohn told reporters that Israel is “entrenching itself in security considerations, transforming the Gaza Strip into an enormous prison.”
One of the arguments made prior to the withdrawal from Gaza and northern Samaria by pro-Disengagement politicians was that a Gaza withdrawal would create separation between Israelis and PA residents. Opponents, on the other hand, predicted that the pressure to open the crossings would make such a claim incorrect, pointing out that most terror attacks emanating from Gaza were the result of Arabs taking advantage of the crossings. The crossings have remained operational following the withdrawal, with scaled-back Israeli security infrastructure and growing international pressure to allow Gaza’s Arabs and their exports increased access to Israel.
"We are currently in the midst of a complex and difficult diplomatic campaign. I turn to the western democracies, first and foremost the leader of the free world, the United States. Do not repeat the dreadful mistake of 1938, when the enlightened democracies of Europe decided to sacrifice Czechoslovakia for the sake of a temporary, convenient solution. Don't try to appease the Arabs at our expense. We will not accept this. Israel will not be Czechoslovakia. Israel will fight terror. There's no difference between 'good terror' and 'bad terror' just as there is no difference between 'good murder' and 'bad murder.'
He also needs to remind himself how Prime Minister Shamir reacted to a previous President Bush who demanded Israel act against its own interests.
(President) Bush is on an "open border" kick and no matter where on the planet he's stuck the idea...it's one of the stupidest ideas I've heard come from a politician.
....and you want her to be president!!!!
She (and "W") are forgetting the PA wants all streaming video of Palestinians crossing the border to be delayed 24 hours so their "security" can review the faces to see if any terrorists have gone into Israel, and then call the Israelis to warn them. Israelis are watching real-time and turning these rats back or immediately over to security forces.
Problem is that, just like in the 1930's, western civilization has no leadership willing to speak the truth.
There will be a WWIII, and some here already know our enemy. Unfortunately, it seems that no one in power does.
The more she pushes against the legitimate security interests of Israel, the more she loses credability as a true world leader in my eyes.
This woman, as you refer to her, is doing precisely what the President wants. After four years of Abu Powell and now Dr. Rice it should be obvious that the James Baker/Brent Scowcroft view of the Middle East holds sway in this administration.
Liberal friends told me Kerry would be better for Israel than Bush. I hate to say it but they were 100% right.
If it's good enough for our southern borders than buy gum
it's good enough for the Israelis....yeee haw!
-Foggy Minded Bottom Feeders Bluegrass Sister Sold'ya Band
Really! And this from Israel's "friends"! Israel might do better just to bite the bullet, go it alone, and deal with the enemies that state flat out they want to exerminate her; and deal with those enemies in whatever way is needed to ensure survival in a very nasty neighborhood! James Baker, his Fraudi Masters, and all the various Jihadstinians must be laughing all the way to the bank with our Administration making these kinds of statements and policies! Good grief, it's like watching 1938 all over again!
Not only NO but Hell NO, Condi.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
A fact conveniently overlooked by many.
Never.
There is only one peace plan worthy of the name, and that is to choose a border they are prepared to live and die by, and then seal it. There should be no access to Israel by road anywhere. Any arab having business in Israel should come by air, by way of Amman or Cairo.
I do agree that Israel should abandon the border posts between Gaza and Egypt; eventually (despite what anyone says) Gaza must either be cleared and absorbed by Israel or else re-absorbed back into Egypt. If Israel is not prepared at this time to seize and clear Gaza, then the obvious alternative is to open the road into Egypt.
The same holds true in the West Bank. Israel must seal its border there; the arab lands will eventually be reabsorbed back into Jordan, despite what anyone says.
There will never be an independent arab territory in either the West Bank or Jordan, and Rice and her deputy are making my case for me. The territories, separate from Israel and Jordan and Egypt simply are not viable. They have no market, no source of employment, no economy. If Israel seals her border, and Israel must seal it, she must never back down on that issue, then the territories have no choice but to look to Amman and Cairo for their markets.
..................
Misleading headline. We're supposed to pretend this is about access to the outside world for the imprisoned palestinians, not the clearly unreasonable Israeli demand that the border be monitored for terrorists and arms.
FYI, James "*uck the American Jews" Baker was the head of this mission to Israel.
The Presidency that committed Hari Kari.
The Presidental could be that will never be.
But ehn, Bush II's strong points never were border issues.
The Bush Administration simply doesn't get it. They are ENCOURAGING Republican office holders to distance themselves from the administration, they are alientaing the people who supported and elected them, they are undermining the chances of the Repubs to reatin a COngressional majority and they are screwing up any Repub's chance to win in 2008.
If the Bush advisors were on Hillery's payroll, they couldn't possible be doing a better job - even if they tried.
I know. I don't know what makes me more ill, this or the latest proposal put forward by Labour leader Peretz. (Article just posted.)
{Rice also conveyed the U.S. perspective with regard to the Hamas terror group taking part in PA elections. She said that she believes that if Hamas participates in the elections, it will actually be easier to compel Hamas to disarm because the pressure will come from the entire international community. She said that this was what had happened in northern Ireland and Angola, but assured Sharon that the U.S. would never hold contacts with Hamas or Islamic Jihad even if they are in the administration.}
at best laughable.... i suppose this international pressure would be equal to the international pressure that was applied to the dirt bag arafat and has been applied to the PA to stop attacks against Israel. where are the adults who are supposed to supervise these people?
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