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Politics : War -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Hawkmoon who wrote (836)	2/23/2001 10:13:32 AM
From: GUSTAVE JAEGER	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 23908

TOLD YOU SO.... Hawkish Israel kissing Uncle Sam Goodbye! Friday February 23 2:41 AM ET Sharon Wants Shift in US Relations By JASON KEYSER, Associated Press Writer JERUSALEM (AP) - Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon wants Israel's relations with the United States to stop focusing on the Palestinian conflict. As he prepares for a weekend meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, Sharon told a group of American Jewish leaders on Thursday that too much attention to the Israel-Palestinian issue has damaged bilateral relations. Outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Barak, defeated soundly by Sharon in a Feb. 6 election, joined then-U.S. President Clinton in putting together far-reaching proposals for peace with the Palestinians and then holding marathon negotiating sessions over the ideas. However, no agreement was reached with the Palestinians, and both Barak and Clinton said their offers were off the table. With an eye on his Sunday meeting with Powell, his first face-to-face contact with a top representative of President Bush, Sharon called for a change in emphasis. ``In the past too much focus was placed on the (Israel-Palestinian) peace process, which is very important, but as a result bilateral relations suffered,'' Sharon said. ``We must concentrate on the those common issues between Israel and the United States,'' including a coordinated struggle against terrorism. Sharon outlined a significant change in policy toward the Palestinians. While Barak offered them control over parts of Jerusalem, Sharon asked the Jewish leaders to ``raise your voices and to take every necessary step (so) that Jerusalem will be united forever under Israel's sovereignty.'' Sharon told the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, which represents a politically and culturally diverse group, that he will not negotiate with the Palestinians while violence continues. Late Thursday, Palestinians fired a mortar shell at Alei Sinai, a Jewish settlement in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, the military said. There were no casualties. A military statement held Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority responsible for ``terror activities in the area,'' and said the army would respond as it sees fit. Jerry Goodman, executive director of the New York-based National Committee for Labor Israel, hoped that by easing the emphasis on peace talks, Israel will concentrate on economic and social issues, such as fighting poverty and improving the civil rights of Israel's Arab minority. Goodman was critical of Sharon's refusal to resume peace negotiations until violence is stopped. ``It's not a wise policy,'' he said. ``You then become prisoner to one, two or three people with weapons.'' Morton Klein, president of the Zionist Organization of America, backed Sharon's tough guidelines. He said that because of the violence, Jews regard Arafat as an enemy, and no longer a partner for peace. ``For the first time there is public recognition that Arafat's goal is not peace, but undermining the state of Israel,'' Klein said. Sharon cannot take office until he sets up a coalition government. His Likud party has been negotiating with Labor, left leaderless after Barak abruptly stepped down as chairman Tuesday and reversed his intention to join Sharon's government as defense minister. Sharon hopes for a broad-based government to confront Palestinian violence. Labor's elder statesman, Shimon Peres, originally offered the post of foreign minister, said Sharon asked him to take the defense ministry after Barak bowed out. Peres said he prefers the foreign ministry. Earlier, Sharon aides denied that Peres had been offered defense. The Labor party scheduled a convention for Monday to decide whether to join Sharon's government. Some leaders hoped to moderate Sharon's policies from inside, while others said Labor should fight Sharon from the opposition. dailynews.yahoo.com Reminder: the following post of mine.... Message 15113354 Excerpt: "Now, as regards the US updating their Middle East alliances, I don't think that it's a matter of Saudi Arabia only: political stability in Egypt and Jordan is a major concern, the rise of Iran as a key Central Asian power broker is another. Obviously, the US's Jewish lobby will do anything to prevent the US from dismissing Israel as their foremost ally in the region, but what can they do about Israel distancing itself from its long-standing sponsor? I think most observers have not gauged yet the irrationality factor brought about by Ariel Sharon and his lunatic fringe...." Indeed, Israel is, slowly yet surely distancing itself from its longstanding US godfather.... The Byzantine Triad is under way: Moscow - Putin; Tel Aviv - Sharon; Rome/EU - (next Pope) J.-M. Lustiger. BTW, bear in mind Ariel Shoenerman (aka Ariel Sharon)'s Russian background --his parents emigrated from Russia to Israel in the 1930s.... As regards Turkey, I'll get back to it later. Regards, Gus.