Sen. Evan Bayh writes on the mideast conflict

office of Sen. Evan Bayh | June 19, 2002 | office of Sen. Evan Bayh

[68skylark]

I wrote both my Senators and my Representative about the mideast conflict, strongly supporting Israel.

Here's the full text of the letter I received today from Sen. Bayh's office. (I apologize for any typos, which are my fault and not the fault of anyone in the Senator's office.):

Dear Mr. ____:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the ongoing problems between the Palestinians and the Israelis. I appreciate your concerns -- a peaceful resolution through peaceful negotiations must be the primary goal.

As you may know, the series of negotiations between the Israel and the Palestinian Authority has gone through many stages, starting with the Oslo Accords and continuing most recently with the Wye Memorandum. At every stage, one particular concept has been affirmed and reaffirmed – “neither side shall initiate or take any step that will change the status of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.” The U. S. has tried to be objective, urging both sides to avoid unilateral acts, and condemning both sides when they don’t.

The U. S. has had a critical role in these negotiations, pushing the peace process forward while offering new and constructive approaches. With the U. S. as an objective mediator, the Palestinians and the Israelis have finally started to engage in an honest and open dialogue. I believe that this dialogue will continue now that the Israeli elections are complete.

Such progress does not come easily, however. The U. S. must continue to do whatever it can to cajole the process into motion, making it clear that unilateral actions by either side are unacceptable.

Again, thank you for contacting me. I value your input and hope you will continue to keep me informed of issues that are important to you.

Best Wishes,

Evan Bayh,United States Senator

[68skylark]

I guess I should be glad to get a letter from Sen. Bayh's office -- it's a rare occasion.

But a couple of things strike me as odd about this letter.

Does anyone recall when the last Israeli elections were complete?

[Eroteme]

The last election was in 2001, but it looks like Bayh's boilerplate letter isn't even that current. It makes sense only if it had been drafted immediately following the 1999 elections.

The "recent" Wye Memorandum Bayh cites was, if I recall correctly, a 1998 document. The Oslo Accords were declared dead by the current Prime Minister, due to Palestinian action. Moreover, what current U.S. mediated peace process could Bayh possibly be referring to in his hopeful phrasing? ("With the U. S. as an objective mediator, the Palestinians and the Israelis have finally started to engage in an honest and open dialogue. I believe that this dialogue will continue now that the Israeli elections are complete.")

Perhaps "honest and open dialogue" is his unique euphemism for suicide bombers and tanks rolling through the street. More likely, Bayh's staff simply recycled their clinton era yadda yadda.