U.S. warns of financial sanctions over security fence

Haaretz ^ | 8/3/2003 | Ze'ev Schiff

[Courier]

U.S. warns of financial sanctions over security fence

By Ze'ev Schiff

The U.S. State Department has prepared a proposal, awaiting the approval of President George W. Bush, that calls for cuts in loan guarantees to Israel matching its outlays for the construction of the security fence east of the Green Line.

The proposal also calls for cuts in the loan guarantees matching the sums spent by Israel on bypass roads in the West Bank, because the State Department views the roads as an effort at establishing facts on the ground while the two sides are negotiating within the parameters of the road map.

The State Department and Secretary of State Colin Powell, in particular, have emphasized that the opposition in Washington to the outlines of the security fence continues, contrary to the efforts of the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem to suggest that an understanding has been reached on the matter between Bush and Ariel Sharon.

In addition to a press conference after Sharon departed Washington, Powell also gave an interview to Maariv reporter in which he reiterated that the U.S. did not agree with Israel on the outline of the security fence.

The State Department's opposition to the Israeli security fence is based on the view that it may result in a worsening of relations with the Palestinians and endangers the fragile nature of the cease-fire and the continuation of negotiations.

The opposition to the fence is also a response to a disdain for Israel's tactic of establishing facts on the ground, a method used in the past following the Oslo Accords and also after the Mitchell Report in 2001.

Sources in Washington say that the proposal calls for cuts in the precise amounts that Israel expends on the construction of the security fence east of the Green Line, over Palestinian territory that is the subject of negotiations. In a sense, the formula is based on a dollar-for-dollar basis in the loan guarantees.

It is still not clear how the U.S. will make the calculation in relation to the outlays and the territory confiscated east of the Green Line.

It is also doubtful whether the American sanctions will include the fencing of individual settlements in the territories.

Sources in the State Department insist that now is the time for Washington to press Israel on about bypass roads, used to avoid concentrations of Palestinian populations in the territories, and in the process confiscate land in the West Bank.

Prior to his departure for Washington earlier last week, Sharon said that he would not agree to any changes in the outline of the fence. But he promised Bush that the Palestinians living by the fence would not suffer because of its construction.

Some sources here suggest the government should avoid further conflict with the U.S. on the fence and concentrate on fencing various settlements individually. In any case, the sources say, the budget for the completing the security fence is no where to be found.

[Courier]

The Bin Bush Administration's Jihad against Israel continues, Sheik Colin is getting his way.

Remember 9/11, the Israelis have experienced it for over 50 years.

Does it make you proud as an American that you support an Administration who would punish Israel for building a protective fence while at the same time they protect the Wahhabi beasts who attacked us?

[dark_lord]

What do you want to bet that the real reason is this: the Israeli security fence will work, will be proved to work, and a dollar per foot value can be attached to it. Then people will start to ask -- why can't we build a fence like this to stop the illegal immigration from Mexico? After all, Israel will have proved that it can be done, and done cost effectively.

[dennisw]

 

Good fences, safe neighbors (Israel and Palestinians) ^
			Posted by dennisw On News/Activism ^ 08/03/2003 1:05 PM EDT with 2 comments US NEWS WORLD REPORTS ^ | Editorial 8/11/03 | By Mortimer B. Zuckerman • Editor-in-Chief Editorial 8/11/03 By Mortimer B. Zuckerman • Editor-in-Chief Good fences, safe neighbors   Browse through an archive of columns by Mortimer B. Zuckerman.   Is George Bush about to fall into the trap that ended Bill Clinton's hopes of a permanent settlement in the Middle East? The trap is that men of goodwill presume there is at least an element of good faith and enlightened self-interest among all the parties--and that is not a prudent assumption with the Palestinian leadership. When Bush first made Middle East peace an issue, he brought to it the same moral clarity that informs...

[dennisw]

I say GW will put the kibosh on this. This will be a good test of his intentions.

Exactly why should Israel not secure it's border with a hostile and murderous neighbor?

[Lael]

Does it make you proud as an American that you support an Administration who would punish Israel for building a protective fence while at the same time they protect the Wahhabi beasts who attacked us?

RELAAXXXX!!!

Shrub is a one termer.

Clue...the head of steam brewing over "outsourcing".

[novacation]

Bin Bush? Sheik Powell? We are suppose to be ashamed to be Americans because of some adminstration policy, no matter how dumb.Well I'm proud to be an American and I don't waver regardless of what adminstration is screwing up.

[Courier]

Glad to hear. I too am proud to be an American.

That wasn't my question?

[steve50]

Shrub is a one termer.

Clue...the head of steam brewing over "outsourcing".

Think you may be correct. Outsourcing may be the card used to cause his defeat.

When they announced Poindexter was leaving made me think his time is over. Considering the heat they took from hiring one of the Contra dope boys this futures market thing was no reason for him to be tossed.

[novacation]

Your name calling of Bush and Powell make it clear where you are coming from.I agree with building a fence. For most Americans it is not an issue they will look twice at, so support for the president is not going to be affected.

[yonif]

The U.S. State Department has prepared a proposal, awaiting the approval of President George W. Bush, that calls for cuts in loan guarantees to Israel matching its outlays for the construction of the security fence east of the Green Line.

WHAT WILL IT TAKE THE US TO UNDERSTAND THAT ISRAEL'S FIGHT IS OUR FIGHT?

A massive terrorist attack or something in our country? Oh...we already had that.

[misterrob]

First of all, why are we spending soooooo much money every year for Israel? The are an independent state with a democratic process and should be allowed to determine their own destiny. If they want to build a wall, let them. If they don't want the Palestinians inside of Israel then that is their right. They have proven that they can take care of themselves in a fight, their intelligence service is good and they have made a go of the land. Yes, they may be allies but $3 billion a year in aid (last time I checked, may be wrong though) seems ridiculous.

Although in the US, talking about not supporting Israel gets the jewish lobby stirred up and you are accused of being anti-semitic.

[Napoleon Solo]

You hit the nail on the head! Anytime our "Great" State Department is shown up by some upstart nation, they get their short hairs up in a tither (although all with bureaurats combined I don't think the DOS really have any Ba11$, but that is another story).

The fence works now even though not yet completed, will work when it's completed and is the bane of the USDOS since they cannot pull the puppet strings of the hated Israeli's.

Eff the DOS and the Tank Colin Bowel rode in on!!

While never 100% effective, it is part of the PLAN. What is our plan for the illegals who enter this country every day from Mexico, Canada and all the Arabias???

[Courier]

That's right.

Where I am coming from is from disgust at the hypocrisy of Bush and Powell.

And from the sick feeling that after being disgusted for eight years by a Democrat and hungering for a Republican administration, I got this Bush Administration. It makes the disappointment that much greater and harder to take.

[wewereright]

I agree with you totally - but be careful as you will now be accused of being a Jew hating anti-semetic. Why should we subsidize a middleclass country? Three billion could buy alot of tutoring for urban kids who can't read. Also - if they want to build a fence - ok but Americans should not have to pay for it.

[agrace]

I say sanction the state dept.

[yonif]

Regarding the aid. Most is in the form of loans which have always been repaid. It creates jobs and the loans that Israel gets requires her generally to use them ONLY to buy from US companies.

What's more, US aid only makes up about 3% of Israel's spending.

In the end, I support stopping the aid to Israel, not because of what Israel does with it, but because it does not need it.

I hope a debate over this aid arises in Israel, but Now is not the time.

I strongly object using the aid to making Israel conceed to terrorists or to hurt its security.

[Nachum]

I said it before, and I'll ask it again. I want the people who told me that Bush was superior to Gore to defend him again for me. Tell me again why he was better. Tell me what would have been happening diferently now if Gore was there.

[Zeroisanumber]

why can't we build a fence like this to stop the illegal immigration from Mexico?

The manpower needed to patrol a fence that large would be staggering. There are more cost-effective ways of fighting illegial immigration.

[MatthewViti]

ping

[MatthewViti]

On that day, G-d made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I have given this land, from the Egyptian River as far as the great river, the Euphrates."

Genesis 15:18