Since the contested election in November and his coronation by the Supreme Court, George W. Bush, first, ignored the suffering of the Palestinians in the Middle East, then urged Israelis and Palestinians to settle their differences by leaving Ariel Sharon to pursue a policy of non-negotiation and state assassinations. When the world, at the U.N. conference in Durban, focused the bankruptcy of our policy, the delegations of both Israel and the United States walked out, rather than deal. ... How can we fail to see our policy has created zealots and suicide bombers, willing to attack us in our own skies, on our own soil?
The Palestinians' legitimate hopes for peace were raised by the Oslo Accords (signed on yesterday's anniversary), and by dogged efforts over eight years by President Clinton to reach a settlement. (Bill Israel is a UMass Journalism professor Massachusetts Daily Collegian) |