You still don't get it, do you??
EARTH TO ISRAEL:
Friday, October 26, 2001 Cheshvan 9, 5762
Israel Time: 05:01 (GMT+2)
U.S. delivers a clear message to a host of Israeli visitors
By Aluf Benn
Foreign Minister Shimon Peres returned yesterday from a trip to the United States with many impressions. "The Americans have moved from one era to another," concluded Peres. "We haven't even begun to understand what happened there. They aren't thinking about how to defend Israel, but how to defend themselves in a crazy war."
Peres was the most senior of Israeli visitors to hold meetings with U.S. officials in Washington this past week. Among others were Minister without Portfolio Dan Meridor, envoy Zalman Shoval, national security adviser Uzi Dayan, director-general of Israel's Atomic Energy Commission Gideon Frank and about a dozen other officials and senior officers.
The U.S. administration was prepared for the air convoy from Israel and formulated a political message that was relayed to Jerusalem in numerous ways. The Israelis were told that America has changed. It is under attack from the anthrax bacteria and is busy attacking Afghanistan so it does not have time to deal with localized problems between Israel and the Palestinians. The administration is convinced Osama bin Laden is planning another big attack in the United States, and it is preparing to absorb the blow. The main parts of the three-pronged message are:
l Calmness. At this moment, U.S. President George W. Bush supports Israel, and the U.S. government has no intention to harm Israel or to "pay the Arabs with Israel." Bush promised Peres: "Even if you want to, you won't be able to ruin our relations." U.S. officials said they know Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat and do not consider him trustworthy. They also don't plan to give him any special breaks. Bush also will not meet with Arafat before the PA leader takes some tangible steps against terrorism and changes his ways. Washington had hoped that Arafat would improve his behavior after the June terrorist attack at the Dolphinarium in Tel Aviv, which led to the declaration of a cease-fire.
The United States expects to win the war against terrorism and impose a new international order, from which Israel can benefit. America has no illusions that the accomplices of terrorism in the Arab world have turned over a new leaf. Washington is continuing to carefully monitor Syria and Iran, and in coming days, new names will be added to the list of terrorist organizations and wanted terrorists. Among the newly listed will be those fighting against Israel, such as members of Hezbollah.
U.S. officials tried to calm Israeli fears that a new diplomatic plan will be released,
with guidelines for a final status agreement, a move that would put Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon in a corner. What the Americans are thinking about is not a detailed plan
but only general ideas, such as the vision of a Palestinian state.
l Concern: All senior U.S. officials expressed concern of an escalation in
Israeli-Palestinian violence and worry that Israel is trying to cause the PA to
collapse. Jerusalem was sent a strong warning that the United States would not
support such a move, which it believes would endanger the region's stability. That is
America's "red line" vis-a-vis Israel. Sharon has tried to assure U.S. Secretary of
State Colin Powell that Israel will not bring down the PA or harm Arafat. The
Americans considered the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to be a serious problem even
before the September 11 attacks, because it caused friction in its standing among
moderate Arab states. The administration's greatest fear is of regional deterioration
and the danger of a war that would threaten American strategy.
l Expectations: Washington believes that Ze'evi's assassination cut short positive
developments between Israel and the Palestinians that had emerged from the
Peres-Arafat meeting at Gaza's Dahaniyeh Airport a month ago. This week's Israeli
guests in Washington were asked to return the situation to the way it was before the
assassination and to discuss ways to implement the Tenet understandings and the
Mitchell Report.
According to Peres, "They [the Americans] had three requests: Get out of Area A, be
careful of human life and create a cease-fire. They are anxious to get back to the
Dahaniyeh process. They don't understand what we want, and here we live on another
planet." The Americans explained to the visiting Israelis that comparisons between
Palestinian terror and that of Osama bin Laden are not appropriate. The explanation for
this is simple: The Americans fly thousands of kilometers to strike Afghanistan, but
when all is said and done they come home. But Israelis will have to continue living
alongside the Palestinians in the future and therefore they cannot afford to break the rules.
haaretzdaily.com
Too bad Israelis don't listen to Shimon Peres... Israel needs more Peres and less Sharons... Peres respects Arabs/Palestinians and Arabs/Palestinians respect him.
Ariel Sharon has completely screwed up the US/Israel relationship, so much so that he damaged it beyond the point of no return... Will Russia be a better sugar daddy for you?? Wait and see...
Gus. |
