Palestinian election may backfire on Bush - Annan

Reuters | 6/25/02 | Bill Rigby

[kattracks]

UNITED NATIONS, June 25 (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General 
Kofi Annan warned on Tuesday that President George W. Bush's 
call for Palestinian elections could backfire by producing a 
more hard-line leadership than was now in charge. 
    Annan said there were also key gaps in the Bush plan that 
Washington's international partners must now help fill in, 
including what to do while awaiting the new Palestinian 
leadership that Bush has demanded. 
    "There's been a call for a new Palestinian leadership. What 
happens between now and until a new leadership exists? Do we 
work with the government that we have, or do we create a 
vacuum?" Annan told reporters as he entered U.N. headquarters. 
    The secretary-general, who has played a key role in Middle 
East diplomacy in recent months, said now was not the best time 
for Palestinian elections. 
    If they went ahead, newly elected leaders would not 
necessarily ease the way to a realization of Bush's vision of a 
Palestinian state living side by side with a secure Israel, he 
cautioned. 
    "The time for the elections is not optimal. You could find 
yourself in a situation that the radicals are the ones that get 
elected, and it would be the result of a democratic process, 
and we have to accept that," he said. 
    Bush, setting out his long-awaited vision of a path to a 
Middle East peace on Monday, made it clear he had written off 
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat as part of any peace 
accord, saying Palestinians must pick new leaders "not 
compromised by terror" to attain their cherished goal of 
statehood alongside a secure Israel. 
    Annan reiterated his view that the choice of Palestinian 
leaders was solely for the Palestinian people to decide. "They 
elected Arafat," he said. "They are planning new elections and 
let them elect their own leaders." 

POLITICAL REFORMS Arafat has promised political reforms and new elections, but has set no timetable. Annan cited several gaps in the Bush plan "that one would need to think through and to clarify" and said he expected these matters to be addressed soon at a meeting of the so-called Quartet of Middle East mediators -- the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations. "We need to sit down and see how one can implement this plan, how one can operationalize it with specific steps and timelines as to how this can be done," Annan said. The Quartet has been meeting on a regular basis to coordinate international policy on the volatile region, but Annan did not say when it next planned to meet. Annan reeled off a series of questions he said the plan had left unanswered. "How do we operationalize it? Which comes first? Under what circumstances can one hold elections in the West Bank?" he asked. "Will Israel's withdrawal to the 2000 lines be prerequisite for elections? Can you hold elections in the current atmosphere?" Bush had said that, "as we make progress towards security, Israeli forces need to withdraw fully to positions they held prior to September 28, 2000" -- the start of a Palestinian uprising that has killed at least 1,425 Palestinians and 548 Israelis over the past 21 months. The U.S. president also called for an end to Israeli settlement activity in the occupied territories, although he did not say when this should take effect. Annan said he had not spoken to Arafat since Bush's speech, so did not know how he had reacted to Bush's call for him to be dumped. But he expected Arafat to be of the view that only the Palestinians could pick their leaders, he said. Arafat said on Tuesday that the Palestinians themselves would decide who would lead them. ((United Nations bureau +1 212 355 6053, fax 1 212 355 0143))

25 JUN 2002 17:04:10 Palestinian election may backfire on Bush -Annan

© 1999 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.

[kattracks]

OK, let's do it the UN way, which is what? What has the UN done to alleviate the problems in Israel, other that spew inane remarks?

The "Bush" plan at least starts out with an end to terrorism, which the UN has never done. How's that for a start?

[goldstategop]

The U.N is the biggest obstacle to peace in the Middle East alongside the Arabs' unwillingness to accept Israel's existence.

[kattracks]

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan warned on Tuesday that President George W. Bush's call for Palestinian elections could backfire by producing a more hard-line leadership than was now in charge.

And then Israel will respond in kind. If it's an escalation the hard liner Palestinians want, I'd bet Israel would be more that able to oblige. And there would still be no Palestinian state.

[Semper Paratus]

When Koffee finishes cleaning up the African mess I'll listen to him.

[billbears]

And there would still be no Palestinian state.

And there shouldn't be either. The land belongs to Israel. If the 'Palestinian people' can't live there in peace I suggest they go to their homelands already in existence such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, etc.

[Constantine XIII]

Perhaps he's giving them more rope...

[Chi-townChief]

'"There's been a call for a new Palestinian leadership. What happens between now and until a new leadership exists? Do we work with the government that we have, or do we create a vacuum?" Annan told reporters as he entered U.N. headquarters.'

What do you mean "WE", Kofi?

[CecilRhodesGhost]

Regardless of one's views of the United Nations, Annan is a respected voice in terms of global politics. Annan is saying in essence... that an election could create more turmoil instead of less in the region. Just as a jury will sometimes send a verdict that is unpopular, an election could send a message that is dangerous to the peace plan for the Middle East. There is such a thing as "too much freedom" in the world today, and democracy, elections and "Western-style" politics only benefit this region if they produce rational outcomes that align with the global community's expectations.

[Psalm 73]

And a good time for Jordan and Egypt to "step up to the plate" and show a little leadership and concern for thier Arab brothers.
Pre-1967 the West Bank was Jordans responsibility and Gaza was Egypts.
Bush sounds like he was kind of challenging them to step up or shut up, along with directing a little invective at Syria.
Too bad he left out the Saudi's, but maybe that will be for another day...

[fogarty]

Kooki Anan needs to go back to passing out condoms in Africa. He is a blatant terrorist supporter.

[dawn53]

Bush covered Kofi's concerns. Kofi must not have been listening.

From the President's speech:

I call on the Palestinian people to elect new leaders, leaders not compromised by terror. I call upon them to build a practicing democracy, based on tolerance and liberty. If the Palestinian people actively pursue these goals, America and the world will actively support their efforts.

So if they decide elect leaders "compromised by terror", then all deals are off.

.

[Coop]

The secretary-general, who has played a key role in Middle East diplomacy in recent months

Well sure, if your definition of "key role" is sniping and whining from the sidelines.

[ex-snook]

"Bush, setting out his long-awaited vision of a path to a Middle East peace on Monday, made it clear he had written off Palestinian President Yasser Arafat as part of any peace accord, saying Palestinians must pick new leaders "not compromised by terror" to attain their cherished goal of statehood alongside a secure Israel. "

Assuming this is Texas straight talk (not political slickness), President Bush has set forth a three year plan with attainable goals for a Palestine state and mideast peace. However, if the goal posts keep moving so as to never be attainable, then the Palestines will feel shafted so expect a suicide bomber in a mall near you. The ball is in Arafat's court and soon will be in ours.

[NilesJo]

This is just Annan's subtle way of criticizing Bush because he doesn't bow & genuflect to the UN. The fact is that Bush's proposal recognizes that there will be no peace until the Palestinians themselves genuinely desire it and are willing to make the HARD choices to achieve it.

If they, by democratic election, choose a hard-liner who is just as bad or worse than Arrafat then they will have tacitly admitted that they really want the Israel's demise NOT peace.

No Palestinian leader will pursue peace without a mandate from the Palestinian people. The people now have to make that choice. They will reap what they sow.

[CecilRhodesGhost]

I like your point, very good! However, if a democratic majority in Palestine elect a hard-line ultra-nationalists a la Le Pen, then Annan and the global community will be pressured by many to correct the election's outcome with peace-keeping troops, monitors, etc. So perhaps your premise that 'an election and democracy will put the Palestinians in a box' is not so tight... when viewed on a global stage. Bush is great to announce this plan, but keep in mind that EU, Asia and others also hold opinions.

[ZeitgeistSurfer]

No one should have any doubts whatsoever that the Palestinians of this generation have no interest at all in peace with Israel. There is only one solution. Decapitate the Palestinian leadership, install a direct occupation government and immediately deal with any terror threats in the most brutal way possible. However, always hold out the possibility to the Palestinians that a better life is possible if they give up on their madness. It will take at least an entire generation for this to happen (if at all).

[lilylangtree]

Kofi Annan, Arab stooge.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Is it my imagination, or is Kofi's global ego in a snit?

[monday]

"Annan is a respected voice in terms of global politics. "

LOL....please he is an total moron. Only idiots respect him.

"Annan is saying in essence... that an election could create more turmoil instead of less in the region. "

How exactly could there be more turmoil than there already is? If the Palies vote Hamas into office at least it will clarify exactly what it is they want. Arafat promotes only confusion. With Hamas in office the Israelis would finally know what they have to do for security.

"There is such a thing as "too much freedom" in the world today, and democracy, elections and "Western-style" politics only benefit this region if they produce rational outcomes that align with the global community's expectations. "

Yeah right, keep them under your thumb. Don't allow them to live as they please, force them to live as you wish. After all you know whats best right?</sarcasm

sheesh..... with defenders like you no wonder the Palies are so *issed? "too much freedom" huh? Dude you are hopeless.

[monday]

"However, if a democratic majority in Palestine elect a hard-line ultra-nationalists a la Le Pen, then Annan and the global community will be pressured by many to correct the election's outcome with peace-keeping troops, monitors, etc. "

Two quick points. Where is the UN's mandate to correct a democratic elections outcome. Wouldn't that un-democratic?

Second, the UN is never going to put peace-keeping troops in with out consent from both sides. Israel will never consent so you can forget it. Israel is not Serbia, and the US will never side with the UN or the EU against Israel.