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Politics : Israel to U.S. : Now Deal with Syria and Iran -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Ed Huang who wrote (4928)	5/6/2004 11:18:28 AM
From: Ed Huang	Respond to of 22250

A good report of the current Israel-Palestine situation by Suzanne Goldberg --------------------------------------- Bush Refuses to Mend Fences with Arabs US diplomats try and fail to set up reconciliation Suzanne Goldenberg in Washington Wednesday May 5, 2004 The Guardian The White House has frustrated diplomatic efforts to assuage Arab outrage at its Middle East policy reversal by declining to offer written assurances that it recognises the Palestinians have a territorial claim to the West Bank. The decision was seen as a snub to Jordan's King Abdullah, who was scheduled to visit the White House tomorrow. It also undermines US discussions with other Arab and European representatives who had sought similar promises. The veto was also a setback to efforts by the EU, the UN, and Russia to resuscitate the Middle East road map. Representatives met US officials at the UN yesterday to discuss Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw from Gaza, which has won George Bush's backing, though not his own party's. After the talks the quartet said the Israeli plan represented a "rare moment of opportunity", but insisted it negotiate thorny issues with Palestinians instead of imposing unilateral solutions. King Abdullah had postponed an earlier visit to the US after Mr Bush gave written sanction to Jewish settlements in the West Bank in a letter to Mr Sharon. The king had hoped to emerge from his rescheduled meeting with a letter of his own, reaffirming the Palestinian legal claim to territories occupied by Israel, and the plight of refugees. According to the Washington Post yesterday, King Abdullah had promised that Jordan would intervene with the US to ensure that a final dispensation on the fate of Palestinian refugees and territory would be the outcome of negotiations, and would not be imposed by Israel. Until Monday Arab diplomats believed the discussions were progressing and that state department officials were seeking a way to accommodate the request. But yesterday a Jordanian embassy official refused to confirm the visit would take place. The uncertainty was a setback to a full-scale effort by US officials to show that Washington remained committed to a negotiated peace between Israel and the Palestinians - despite its endorsement of unilateral action in Gaza by Mr Sharon. "There have been attempts to placate, to reduce the level of tension that was generated in the Arab world as a result of this new approach through general statements, and the Arab world was trying to get a much more concrete response from the US," Hassan Abdel Rahman, the Palestinian representative in Washington, said. But he said the verbal assurances were not enough. "The Arab parties, and others in the international community, including the United Nations, Europe and Russia, were trying to ask for much more conclusive conditions from the United States, and so far what we have received are generalities and slogans." In his letter to Mr Sharon, Mr Bush said it was unrealistic for Israel to return to its pre-1967 borders, or for Palestinian refugees of the 1948 war to expect to return to their homes in what is now Israel. In the three weeks since then Jordanian, Saudi, Egyptian and Palestinian representatives, as well as European diplomats, have asked the US to clarify that promise, and to acknowledge in writing the Palestinian claim on lands occupied by Israel since 1967. Advertiser links Rent The Guardian on DVD - Free Trial Netflix: Rent as many DVDs as you want for just $20/month.... netflix.com Arab diplomats had hoped for some corrective from the Bush administration after the eruption of anger in the Middle East - and Iraq - and Mr Bush's support for Mr Sharon. But even after Likud voters rejected Mr Sharon's plan - embarrassing the Israeli leader and the White House - the Bush administration appeared disinclined yesterday to change course. "The setback suffered by Mr Sharon and consequently by the Bush administration as a consequence of the Likud vote has powerfully reinforced those voices within the administration who have always been very sceptical about President Bush playing a more active role in the peace process," said Henry Siegman, a Middle East expert at the Council on Foreign Relations. Further appeals were made to the White House yesterday with the release of a letter from more than 50 retired diplomats rebuking Washington for its "unabashed support" of Mr Sharon's government. But analysts said it was unlikely the petition would carry much weight with an administration which has a record of casting its critics as enemies to be ignored. guardian.co.uk

To: Ed Huang who wrote (4928)	7/19/2004 4:06:15 AM
From: GUSTAVE JAEGER	Respond to of 22250

Re: It was not immediately clear exactly why [Hamas co-founder] Taha was released at a time when Israel has stepped up operations against Hamas, having assassinated two leaders of the group - Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Abdel Aziz Rantissi - since March. Well, I guess it's now clear for everybody: Taha must be instrumental in the current snafu... Of course, Arafat and the Fatah can't blurt it --they don't want to fall into Sharon's trap, that is, pitting Hamas against Fatah. Hence Gaza's mayhem is spun as an internecine power struggle within Fatah.... Mon., July 19, 2004 Av 1, 5764 18 hurt as gunmen attack HQ of Arafat's nephew in Gaza By Arnon Regular and Gideon Alon, Haaretz Correspondents [...] In a meeting at the Muqata yesterday, Arafat blamed Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for raising tensions in Gaza. "We are expecting changes in the internal Palestinian arena and are focusing on our own house," Arafat said in an unusual statement. "Events in the Gaza Strip prove that there is no one to talk to," Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said yesterday at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting. "Arafat is trying to create the illusion of reform," said Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, "but in actuality there is no intent to reform and no reform has been carried out. We are spectators in a game of musical chairs with the same old familiar players and with an unclear announcement about the unification of the security forces." According to Mofaz, Arafat's move is "not serious." Mofaz argued that Arafat was "keeping his authority and the security organizations under his thumb." "Our goal is to restore security to Palestinian citizens and to fight any enemy that threatens that security," Musa Arafat declared yesterday. His statement was interpreted as a veiled threat against those in the Fatah who demand his resignation. "The occupation is a possible enemy but we will fight every enemy." Arafat's statement was thought to be directed at the armed groups in Fatah fighting against his appointment, especially the groups identified with Mohammed Dahlan, who called on Yasser Arafat to cancel Musa Arafat's appointment. haaretz.com