Jerusalem delighted, Palestinians distraught:"We see speech as Hebrew words translated into English"

Jerusalem Post ^ | Jun. 25, 2002 | By HERB KEINON

[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."

[Semper Paratus]

Now all Bush has to do is hold firm because the Arabists and terror supporters in the State Dept will fight at every step to undermine it.

Front page in the Boston Globe featured 'unamed' State Dept. weenies soiling their diapers over how this will play in the 'arab world'.
Looks like Rumsfeld and Wolfie won out over Powell and Armitrage.
Now on to Baghdad!

[GraniteStateConservative]

What is it with Democrats and Jewish American Princesses of doctors anyway? Condit-Levy and Clinton-Lewinsky...

: )

[GraniteStateConservative]

If this makes New York competitive in 2004, Karl Rove is laughing his ass off right now imagining the look on Terry McAwful's face as he reads how groups like the ADL responded to the President's speech.

[Texas Mom]

They don't understand that Bush isn't Clinton.

I think they are starting to get the picture.

[Catspaw]

msnbc has a video report saying the opposite. But not to worry. Bush's track record is that the whole speech will flip on its head by the weekend.

Dream on.

[Lent]

CNN, Barak said he hopes Arafat now understands that this may be his last chance,

LOL! "Last chance" has been qualified and stated more times in the context of Arafat that it's meaningless.

[cake_crumb]

Isn't it great? <G>

Did you catch that article further down on the JPost's front page about Syria censoring the part of Bush's speech saying Syria "must choose the right side in the war on terror by closing terrorist camps and expelling terrorist organizations"?

[Leto]

Re #51 you are right the goal of the Arabs (all of them) is to destroy Israel, nothing more nothing less. THe US and Israeli's know the Pali's can't/won't comply with the US demands. This gives Sharon a stronger hand to play and let's the US place the blame with the Pali's when dealing with the other Arabs.

This will expose (again) the fact that Arafat doesn't want peace, and will put Bush in a position of not having to deal with this murderous thug anymore.

This is why the Israelis are happy and the Arabs and mad.

[cake_crumb]

"With the exception of the change of leadership issue, the Palestinians were surprisingly for it and the Israelis had their heels dug in, grudgingly voicing minimal support."

LOL....gee...I had the impression the Yasser regime was a little green around the gills over his speech, while the Israelis are, in general, rather ECSTATIC.

Why don't you join us win wishing the Palestinian people success in their quest to define and impliment a free, INDEPENDANT, democratic society?? The OFFER IS RIGHT THERE. How about you and yours un-embitter yourselves long enough to think about how to go about building it? While allowing Iasael a right to exist, of course.

[dennisw]

Lovely photo of the IDF maintaining their tank.... most likely Merkeva made in Israel.

[dennisw]

 

 

TANKS A LOT IDF!!!!

 

 

Israeli soldiers adjust the 105mm cannon barrel of a tank in the outskirts of Bethlehem June 24, 2002. Israeli armored units rumbled into Ramallah on Monday and surrounded the headquarters of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and the army said it was calling up a brigade of reservists under emergency mobilization orders as part of what it was described as a war against terrorism. REUTERS/Yannis Behrakis

An Israeli soldier unloads a machine gun from a tank on the outskirts of the West Bank town of Qalqilya Tuesday June 25, 2002. (AP Photo/ Eitan Hess-Ashkenazi)

Palestinian boys watch an Israeli tank patrolling a street in Nablus June 25, 2002 in the West Bank. A day after U.S. President George W. Bush called for new leadership of the Palestinian Authority, Israeli forces stormed the Palestinian headquarters in Hebron killing four policemen while Israel Prime Minister Ariel Sharon promised a massive campaign against the Islamic group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini

 

[dennisw]

I think Bush is on the right path only I believe the Sharon will bail. Remember, the Israelis voted no Palestinian state?

I don't remember this at all. This another hallucination of yours?