Rice urges Israel to avoid unilateral steps on Jerusalem

Ha'aretz ^ | 6 February 2005 | Aluf Benn, Haaretz Staff, and Agencies

[Huntingtonian]

I can give you more than $4 billion reasons why the US should be able to tell the Israelis how to behave if it is US interest to see stability emerge in that portion of the middle east. IF you don't like it write us a refund check!

[SJackson]

BTW, this puts GWB's refusal to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem in a different light. It was a campaign promise in 2000. OK, the case can be made that he had zero foreign policy experience, and simply changed his mind in July, 2001. 9/11 may have changed things. But as a foreign policy veteran he made the same promise in the 2004 campaign, and reversed himself six weeks after the election. He may well have other things in mind for Jerusalem.

[SJackson]

I can give you more than $4 billion reasons why the US should be able to tell the Israelis how to behave if it is US interest to see stability emerge in that portion of the middle east. IF you don't like it write us a refund check!

If Israel gets the Sinai back, for a third time, I bet she'd write the check gladly.

[Luke21]

Israel should tell Condi and Bush to get lost. They're as wrong on this one as on our porous borders.

[Torie]

It takes two to cut a deal. Israel has to decide what is in its best long term interest. If Abbas gets reasonable, offering up something that takes into account Israel's physical and demographic security, and Israel says screw you however, it might undermine US support for Israel, and then the nation will be truly alone.

[Paperdoll]

Powell - Rice Both just a mouthpiece for the administration, only Condi wears stiletto heels to match her tongue.

[SJackson]

It takes two to cut a deal. Israel has to decide what is in its best long term interest. If Abbas gets reasonable, offering up something that takes into account Israel's physical and demographic security, and Israel says screw you however, it might undermine US support for Israel, and then the nation will be truly alone.

From what I can see, the only ones saying "screw you" here are the palestinians. Israel is bending over backwards. Mazen refused to disarm terrorists, his first obligation under the Road Map he speaks of so frequently.

[Sunsong]

It is not wise, imo, to be ungrateful to your major supporter - the good ol USA. If you don't want "advice" from us - then maybe you don't want assistance or support from us either?

Perhaps you don't want anymore American financial, military or politcal aid?

I have been a big supporter of Israel. But I found your post offensive.

[Torie]

Correct, for now. Right now, Israel still has space. But if Abbas can tame the militants, or be viewed as making the best effort he can, and offers up some peace plan that is not DOA for anyone who views Israels continued existence over time as a litmus test, than the dynamic changes. Israel effectively bouncing out most of the Arabs in Jerusalem is not something that will fly in any peace deal.

[Annie03]

"He may well have other things in mind for Jerusalem."

What do you think that could be? Do you think it entails turning our backs on Israel? During the last 4 years, I have come to the conclusion that a palestian state cannot work-because the "palestinians" won't settle for that. Why are the concessions not being demanded from them-IMO, Israel has conceded plenty.

[adam_az]

"If Israel wants our money, it will dance to our tune. If it wants to be independent, we wouldn't stop it from walking away."

Yes, just like Egypt dances our tune, right?

Oh, they don't?

When's the list time we criticized them for it?

Never?

[ichabod1]

We expect a lot more Arab lip-flapping while we make Israelis die less secure...

[notigar]

Get lost and take their money with them?

[Torie]

The Palestinians need basically to accept the Barak deal, less a bit of land here and there perhaps near the 1967 border. That is the end game.

[SJackson]

Israel effectively bouncing out most of the Arabs in Jerusalem is not something that will fly in any peace deal.

Who has suggested "bouncing most of the Arabs" out of Jerusalem? They're Israeli citizens. The only bouncing that would happen is Jews out of the free and democratic Palestinian State, including a Palestinian Jerusalem, which of course will be Jew free. East Jerusalem was offered and turned down.

[ichabod1]

Yep, as soon as they get in there the diplomats start telling them you can't say this and you can't say that...

[ichabod1]

It may come to that. And then all bets on restraint are off.

[Huntingtonian]

Get real. The Israeli economy is nowhere near the size it would need to be to sustain their current level of military spending. You could give them the Sinai (if the Egyptians and their 80+ million population didn't come pouring over the canal), but without US aid Israel would be in big trouble, bankrupt or gone. The US has leverage to ask Sharon to do the Macarena with Abbas if we want to. Right now we NEED stability in the region its time for the Israelis to toe the line.

[Torie]

The bouncing was implied by taking Arab homesteads in Jerusalem. The Arabs are being squeezed in Jerusalem. And yes, it was offered in the Barak deal as you say, but then Arafat was Arafat. In some sense, I think team Sharon appreciated Arafat.

[Thinkin' Gal]

my fear that the Bush administration is turning on Israel.

You are much too generous. In order to turn, the administration must have had a previous viewpoint. More like a previous, friendly visage.