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Posted on 02/10/2004 11:27:08 AM PST by Cinnamon Girl
U.S. officials said Tuesday that they are worried that unilateral Israeli moves to relocate settlers from the Gaza Strip will boost the standing of Palestinian extremists amid concerns about a growing "anarchy" on Palestinian streets.
The radical Hamas group could be expected to claim credit for the Israeli withdrawal and may become the "dominant" force in Gaza by undercutting an already weakened Palestinian Authority, the officials said.
"That would be a real big negative for President (George W.) Bush's vision of two states living in peace and security because the Hamas vision is one state with no Jews in it," one senior U.S. official told Reuters on Tuesday.
Other U.S. officials said the initiative could be beneficial if it is carefully thought out and well executed but this is not always Israel's approach to Palestinian issues.
"If they took the settlers out of Gaza that would be a real big deal. That's a huge flash point," one U.S. official said.
But, he added: "Does Hamas get credit and basically become the really dominant authority in Gaza or is the Palestinian Authority able to deliver services in such a way, and is the international community able to support the delivery of services in such a way, that Hamas doesn't become the big guy on the block?"
"Somebody is going to have to help the Palestinian Authority. They don't have the resources" to compete with Hamas," another official said.
Ze'evi: Palestinians will see Gaza plan as victory for terror
The director of Military Intelligence, Major General Aharon Ze'evi (Farkash), on Tuesday warned lawmakers that the Palestinians will interpret Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to "relocate" 17 settlements in the Gaza Strip as a victory for terrorism, and encourage them to step up terrorist attacks.
The IDF Spokesperson's Office subsequently issued a statement late Tuesday afternoon saying "the remarks made by the Military Intelligence director related strictly to the possible Palestinian responses to the disengagement plan presented by the prime minister. The Military Intelligence director said that there are among the Palestinians some who relate to the plan with suspicion and others, including extremists, who are liable to see the plan as strengthening their camp. Ze'evi said the evacuation of Israeli settlements is also liable to hurt the terrorists' motivation."
There were some suggestions the IDF statement was issued because Ze'evi's remarks had angered Sharon.
Speaking at a meeting of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Ze'evi added that Syrian President Bashar Assad was serious in his offer to hold peace talks with Israel.
Sharon's plan to evacuate the settlements has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum, although it was welcomed by Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia.
On the right, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom repeated his opposition to any unilateral withdrawal from the territories.
Further right, Likud MK Yehiel Hazan, who heads the Knesset lobby on behalf of the Yesha Council of Settlements, said: "Sharon preparing evacuation plans from Gaza are very dangerous for Israel. His disengagement plan will end up disengaging Jews from the Land of Israel. We should not sacrifice Israeli security and its citizenry on the altar of American demands."
The former Meretz chairman, MK Yossi Sarid, expressed skepticism that Sharon would carry out his plan.
"The prime minister is simply not credible. We know how Sharon gives instructions and what their real value on the ground is. After every instruction for an evacuation, another outpost pops out of the ground."
His Meretz colleague, Ran Cohen MK, who is seeking the leadership of Yahad, the new Social Democratic Party, said: "The amazing correlation between the progress in the investigations of the Sharon scandals and his readiness to at least declare readiness to evacuate settlements is another reason to accelerate the investigations - as well as the need for clean government."
The US government naively thinks its can achieve this aim with the Palestinian Authority, even though its a terrorist regime.
I do not understand why the US keeps fumbling over the roadmap to terrorist statehood for the PLO Arabs....The US objection to leaving Gaza is vaild - but their reasoning behind why Israel should not leave Gaza is not.
Leaving Gaza, and following this "roadmap" to peace rewards terrorism.
Also, I don't think Israel will leave Gaza in the end, with or without US pressure. Internal matters will not allow it.
See #5. You are correct with your assumption. Israeli media is bringing that viewpoint. The US is more concerned about its roadmap to "peace," concerning the creation of a PLO Arab terrorist state, going down the drain.
Hokay, they don't want Israel to withdraw. Plan B then. Israel reclaims Judea, Samaria, and Gaza, expels Hamas and any terrorist supporters, and provides security, peace, and prosperity to the best of its ability for all faiths until the Mashiach sits on the throne of David.
The US is too naive. They foolishly belive the Palestinian Authority is peace-loving, and is the good guy, fighting Hamas, the bad guy. The PA does not and will not fight Hamas. They are in the same boat, and support the same cause of destroying Israel.
It is crazy that any Israeli or U.S. official would actually still believe, after all that they have uncovered, that Arafat and the PA/PLO were not terrorists.
U.S. officials said Tuesday that they are worried that unilateral Israeli moves to relocate settlers from the Gaza Strip will boost the standing of Palestinian extremists amid concerns about a growing "anarchy" on Palestinian streets.
"That would be a real big negative for President (George W.) Bush's vision of two states living in peace and security because the Hamas vision is one state with no Jews in it," one senior U.S. official told Reuters on Tuesday.
"Somebody is going to have to help the Palestinian Authority. They don't have the resources" to compete with Hamas," another official said.
How funny, Hello State Dept, anybody home?
That could well be what’s happening. Sharon may well be building his legacy. He’s had a long career but it’s nearing it’s end. I’m sure he’d love to be the one who secured defacto borders, even if not agreeable to everyone, for Israel rather than truce lines.
As to the “Palestinians”, Hamas runs Gaza anyway. They’ll get what they wished for and the world, a “state” free of Jews. They can trade with the Arab world and settle their disputes amongst themselves.
What? Are they falling behind in the number of Israelis murdered?
Sounds like somebody has something on him. Maybe those bribery allegations are true (or can be made to look extremely convincing) and somebody pro-Hamas has the goods to ruin him politically.
As for the U.S. stance, the Bush administration's varying positions on the PA and Hamas are also bizarre. The Bush administration always whines when Israel knocks off a known terrorist, pouting that "this isn't helping the peace process." I'm glad that Bush has finally decided to get tough on Palestinian terrorism, but why the 180 now?
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