Posted on 06/24/2002 8:30:40 PM PDT by Cinnamon Girl
US President George W. Bush's address was greeted with satisfaction in Jerusalem last night, and a feeling that the country's diplomatic policy and intense lobbying efforts had borne fruit.
Less than 30 minutes after Bush completed his speech, the Prime Minister's Office issued a statement saying, "Israel is a country that desires peace. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has said on numerous occasions that when there is a complete cessation of terror, violence, and incitement and when the Palestinian Authority enacts genuine reforms, including new leadership at the top, such that a different Authority is created, then it will be possible to discuss how to make progress on the political track."
Officials in the Prime Minister's Office said Bush accepted Israel's two primary demands: that there be a total cessation of terrorism, and that the PA undergo a total reformation, before any progress can be made. The officals pointed out that Bush did not call for an immediate withdrawal, a return to the 1967 borders, or a firm timetable.
Minister-without-Portfolio Dan Naveh said the speech represents "the end of the Arafat era and the victory of Israel's position."
Palestinian reaction was less enthusiastic, though the official response was cooly receptive.
PA Chairman Arafat said Bush had made "a serious contribution" to Middle East peace, and an official statement said "President Arafat and the Palestinian leadership have welcomed the ideas presented by President Bush. The president [Arafat] and the cabinet view the ideas as a serious contribution to pushing the peace process forward."
"The leadership hopes to discuss the necessary details to secure the success of these ideas through direct and bilateral meetings with the American administration, and with the consultation of the quartet [US, European Union, Russia, and United Nations representatives] and the Arab brothers."
But Mahmoud Zahar, a prominent Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, described Bush's speech as and adaptation of Sharon's attitudes.
"We see the speech as Hebrew words that were translated into English and spoken by Bush on behalf of Sharon," Zahar said.
Palestinian Legislative Council member Husam Khader said the speech "is very bad. It did not offer anything new, and claims the Palestinian people bear the responsibility of what's going on."
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said only Palestinians can choose their leadership and they already have chosen Arafat.
"Palestinian leaders don't come from parachutes from Washington or anywhere else. Palestinian leaders are elected directly by the Palestinian people. President Yasser Arafat was directly elected in a free and fair election... The world and President Bush must respect the democratic choice of the Palestinian people," Erekat told CNN.
Shinui Party head Yosef "Tommy" Lapid called Bush's speech the most favorable to Israel ever delivered by an American president addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He said Bush clearly called for Palestinians to replace Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat, without even mentioning his name.
Lapid said Bush did not try to "balance" between Israel and the Palestinians, because what interests him is the war against terrorism, and that in this regard there is no doubt where the president stands.
Meretz leader MK Yossi Sarid said Bush's speech was not in tune with reality. "The goals that Bush set out are worthy and proper, but he apparently has no idea how to implement them."
National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman praised the speech, saying it was constructive in its recommendations to change the Palestinian leadership as a first step.
Former prime minister Ehud Barak said the Bush speech was "very good." In an interview with CNN, Barak said he hopes Arafat now understands that this may be his last chance, and will not try to oppose Bush's proposals.
American Jewish leaders breathed a sigh of relief that the president's vision of a Palestinian state is preconditioned on the eradication of terrorism and the building of democratic institutions.
"None of the anxieties that some of us had, listening and reading the analysis and pre-analysis, were realized," said Abraham Foxman, the national director of the Anti-Defamation League.
"I think it's a very powerful address, and puts the onus where we always said it was, which is the inability of the current [Palestinian] leadership," said Malcolm Hoenlein, the executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
Hoenlein lauded Bush for calling on Syria to halt terrorism and urging the Palestinians to "choose life," a marked contrast to some Palestinian leaders' calls for "martyrdom," or suicide attacks against Israelis, he noted.
"The real key now is the implementation and sustaining it over time," he said.
American Jewish Committee president Harold Tanner and executive director David Harris issued a congratulatory statement to Bush on his "superb speech." It was "courageous, comprehensive, and visionary," they wrote.
Bush's continued support for Israel throughout its war on Palestinian terrorism was also praised.
"The president on this issue has been very good since day one," said Foxman. "And all those who are saying it's a passing moment of fancy, I think, are wrong. He was very clear where his moral compass is on this issue."
Apparently Arafat's handlers understood what President Bush said.
I would amend that, if you don't mind, to one "formerly" unlikely source (American Jewish Committee). The support from Israel is very logical. Heck, I have been a rather vocal critic (here) of the Administration's Israel/Palestinian territories policy, and I too am pleased with the President's pronouncement of policy today. Today he demonstrated the moral clarity he showed on September 17, 2001 and in the State of the Union address. If the follow-through in the [likely] circumstance of future violent rejection of his policy by the Palestinians is as clear in moral terms, then there is nothing more that hard enemies of Islamic terror can reasonably ask for.
And wailing and gnashing of teeth from some very likely ones.
This is a vitally important speech. I have not seen any comment from Jimmy Carter on it, but I guarantee you that he will hate it. The Carter philosophy insists that the foundation for peace is that all points of view must be considered equally valid. Today's speech from the President announces that they are not.
Apparently, then, they are neither Jews nor Americans.
They have exactly what they want in place right now, a leadership wholly committed to driving Israel into the sea at any cost. If they replace Arafat at all--which is itself very doubtful--his replacement will work toward that same exact goal. A Palestinian state alongside Israel has never been their goal for one moment.
MM
Is Meretz some sort of ultra-left party??
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