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| Israel-Palestine |
| U.S. sees ’historic potential’ in PM’s disengagement plan |
| 2004-03-14 |
| It looks like the USA has bought into the Gaza withdrawl plan. Full marks to President Bush for taking a principled position in the run up to an election. The U.S. government believes that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s disengagement plan poses risks, but has "historic potential." Top-level consultations last week with President George Bush culminated in a decision to support Sharon’s plan as much as possible, pending clarification of details with Israeli officials. The U.S. administration believes it is important that any pullout from the Gaza Strip, and also perhaps from parts of the West Bank, not be perceived as a concession to terror. Sharon’s bureau chief, Dov Weisglass, is due to meet Sunday with his Palestinian counterpart, Hassan Abu Libdeh, to discuss the Sharon-Qureia meeting planned for Tuesday. Political sources said the premiers will not be discussing Sharon’s disengagement plan, and that if the topic comes up, Israel will say the plan is not up for negotiation with the Palestinians, Israel Radio reported Sunday. Well said! Negotiation withn the Paleos is a waste of time. Meanwhile, former Labor prime minister Ehud Barak said Sunday that if Sharon is serious about disengagement, the Labor Party should be helping him from within the government. Speaking to Israel Radio, Barak dismissed the position of Oslo Accords architect Yossi Beilin, who holds that Israeli withdrawal should be part of a negotiated settlement with the Palestinians. Barak said such an approach has not worked and rewards terror. Visiting Israel in recent days, U.S. envoys Steve Hadley, Elliott Abrams and William Burns emphasized that an Israeli withdrawal should implement "Bush’s vision" and the road map, which calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state. The envoys also clarified that Washington views the disengagement proposal as an Israeli plan; the Bush administration, they said, will not dictate to Israel details regarding the scope of the pullout or the settlements to be evacuated. Washington will decide how to respond based on the policies Israel puts into action, the three envoys said. The nature of American support will be determined when Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Bush meet, which is planned for March 31 or April 1. The Bush administration wants to add to the ceremony of Sharon’s visit, unlike earlier ones. One of the possibilities being considered is inviting Sharon to the presidential retreat at Camp David. Sharon was originally inclined toward a relatively large-scale withdrawal from West Bank settlements, but in the face of strong opposition from Likud colleagues, he is now considering a withdrawal from the Gaza Strip alone. Netanyahu met with the envoys at Sharon’s request, and told them that the Gaza Strip must not become a base for Hamas or Al-Qaida terror groups and asked the envoys about security and diplomatic guarantees. Bush, said the envoys, has devised a policy of beating terror, and not surrendering to it; this rule applies to the Gaza Strip, just as it applies to every part of the world, the envoys insisted. You will be judged on results not on rhetoric. Excellent! Meeting with American officials last Thursday, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz emphasized the differences that separate the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The security model to be followed regarding Gaza is simple, since the region is surrounded by a fence, Mofaz said. On the West Bank, events are more complicated, Mofaz said, and the timetable must be different, due to the need to complete the separation fence. The Gaza fence works. Hurry up and finish the WB one. |
| Posted by:Phil B |
| #4 The Paleos will get their state, just like the roadmap sez, only they will not get the startup funding, which is the consequences of their actions. Beware of what you wish for. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-3-14 3:05:30 PM |
| #3 Category fixed. |
| Posted by: Fred 2004-3-14 12:25:23 PM |
| #2 There's a lot of good things in this story; not negotiating with the Paleos, the recognition that the Gaza fence is working, Baraks comments and Sharon getting the support of the US. The only black cloud is the visit to the US - and that's only because the Paleos like to send some splodeydopes into Israel whenever Sharon leaves the country. Some nice news for a Sunday morning! |
| Posted by: Tony (UK) 2004-3-14 4:29:38 AM |
| #1 Sorry Fred wrong category. |
| Posted by: Phil B 2004-3-14 3:56:13 AM |