Posted on 12/30/2004 8:42:34 PM PST by cfhBAMA
LOS ANGELES We stand at a moment of rare opportunity for the United States in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Mahmoud Abbas, a moderate Palestinian leader, dominates the field for January's presidential election. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel has brought the Labor Party into his government, a move that frees him from being held hostage to his own Likud Party's right wing. A sudden warming of relations between Israel and Egypt accompanied a signing of a three-way trade agreement among Egypt, Israel and the United States. And to give wings to hopes for peace, the European Union, the United States and Arab donor states met in Oslo to discuss a large increase in aid to the Palestinians. What is missing now, and urgently needed, is the active hands-on involvement of the United States. America has always been the indispensable party for progress in the Middle East. The brilliant efforts of Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in 1974 and 1975 brought about Israel's withdrawal from the Sinai. President Jimmy Carter's legendary endeavors at Camp David in 1978 produced the Israel-Egypt peace treaty, which was supported by American financial assistance to both countries. And when Israel and Jordan negotiated a peace accord in July 1994, King Hussein, the present king's father, told me that the negotiations could not have succeeded without tangible support from the United States, which came in the form of debt forgiveness and military equipment. But meaningful American involvement at this critical time will require more than words and dollars. It must take the form of action. It will not be enough for President George W. Bush to make broad policy statements, however eloquent. It will also require something beyond telephone diplomacy by Secretary of State-designate Condoleezza Rice. Only two approaches have a chance to produce success.
(Excerpt) Read more at iht.com ...
I think Christopher's rosy picture of what is happening has a dark cloud behind it.
I'm afraid Abbas is a wolf in sheep's clothing, and I don't trust the Egyptians at all. If Abbas does anything positive it will be just a ploy unless he gets rid of Hamas and al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade and all of the other terrorist groups in the Gaza strip and elsewhere.
He also can't be very convincing about peace when the first thing he demands is that the security fence come down, OR ELSE. HM[
Zotted in another thread.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel has brought the Labor Party into his government, a move that frees him from being held hostage to his own Likud Party's right wing.Ariel Sharon ran on a platform that negotiations were pointless, and Israel had to disengage. The "left wing" is filled with stooges, stoolies, and stupidity.
A sudden warming of relations between Israel and Egypt accompanied a signing of a three-way trade agreement among Egypt, Israel and the United States.And there's opposition to thie trade deal in Egypt. Also, Egypt plans to go to war with Israel, abrogating all agreements.
And to give wings to hopes for peace, the European Union, the United States and Arab donor states met in Oslo to discuss a large increase in aid to the Palestinians.That isn't aid, that's military assistance. I don't believe that the writer of that op-ed takes this stupid "wings to hopes for peace" rhetoric seriously. IOW, the writer is a propagandist.
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