Posted on 07/18/2007 6:08:16 AM PDT by ventanax5
Yet, despite the scant likelihood of success, Mr. Bush is to be credited for delineating clear and equitable criteria for pursuing Palestinian independence and for drafting a principled blueprint for peace. This alone represents a bold response to Hamas and its backers in Damascus and Tehran. The Palestinians have been given their diplomatic horizon and the choice between "chaos, suffering, and the endless perpetuation of grievance," and "security and a better life." So, too, the president is to be commended for not taking the easy route of railroading the Palestinians to self-governance under a regime that would almost certainly implode. Now his paramount task is to stand by the benchmarks his administration has established, and to hold both Palestinians and Israelis accountable for any failure to meet them.
(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...
The Bush Doctrine is on ICU on Pennsylvania Avenue.
The Bush Doctrine is in ICU on Pennsylvania Avenue.
ping.
Good article from Michael Oren head of the Conservative/right Israeli think tank Shalem Center.
Important points:
1. “Mr. Bush has not backtracked an inch from his revolutionary Middle East policy. Never before has any American president placed the onus of demonstrating a commitment to peace so emphatically on Palestinian shoulders.”
2. “In addition to the prerequisites stipulated for the Palestinians, Mr. Bush set unprecedented conditions for Arab participation in peace efforts. He exhorted Arab leaders to emulate “peacemakers like Anwar Sadat and King Hussein of Jordan” by ending anti-Semitic incitement in their media and dropping the fiction of Israel’s non-existence. More dramatically, Mr. Bush called on those Arab governments that have yet to establish relations with Israel to recognize its right to exist and to authorize ministerial missions to the Jewish state.
Accordingly, Saudi Arabia, which has offered such recognition but only in return for a full withdrawal to the 1967 borders, will have to accept Israel prior to any territorial concessions. Mr. Bush also urged Arab states to wage an uncompromising battle against Islamic extremism and, in the case of Egypt and Jordan, to open their borders to Palestinian trade.”
3. “If the Israeli media largely overlooked the diplomatic innovations of Mr. Bush’s speech, they completely missed its dynamic territorial and demographic dimensions. The president pledged to create a “contiguous” Palestinian state—code for assuring unbroken Palestinian sovereignty over most of the West Bank and possibly designating a West Bank-Gaza corridor. On the other hand, the president committed to seek a peace agreement based on “mutually agreed borders” and “current realities,” which is a euphemism for Israel’s retention of West Bank settlement blocks and no return to the 1967 lines.”
4. “Most momentous, however, was Mr. Bush’s affirmation that “the United States will never abandon . . . the security of Israel as a Jewish state and homeland for the Jewish people.” This means nothing less than the rejection of the Palestinians’ immutable demand for the resettlement of millions of refugees and their descendents in Israel.”
Thanks Dervish.
High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. or WOT [War on Terror]
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1. “Mr. Bush has not backtracked an inch from his revolutionary Middle East policy. Never before has any American president placed the onus of demonstrating a commitment to peace so emphatically on Palestinian shoulders.”The Road Map was specifically designed to remove the onus of commitment from the Palestinians sholders. Unlike Oslo, where Clinton and Begin simply lied about compliance, the Road Map removes the requirement altogether. Each side proceeds independently. Which is why Israel refused to accept it without 15 or 16 preconditions which everyone seems to have forgotten about.
2. “In addition to the prerequisites stipulated for the Palestinians, Mr. Bush set unprecedented conditions for Arab participation in peace efforts. He exhorted Arab leaders to emulate “peacemakers like Anwar Sadat and King Hussein of Jordan” by ending anti-Semitic incitement in their media and dropping the fiction of Israel’s non-existence. More dramatically, Mr. Bush called on those Arab governments that have yet to establish relations with Israel to recognize its right to exist and to authorize ministerial missions to the Jewish state. Accordingly, Saudi Arabia, which has offered such recognition but only in return for a full withdrawal to the 1967 borders, will have to accept Israel prior to any territorial concessions. Mr. Bush also urged Arab states to wage an uncompromising battle against Islamic extremism and, in the case of Egypt and Jordan, to open their borders to Palestinian trade.”
How sweet, the Arabs get to dictate terms too. This is nonsense, there are no conditions placed on the Jordanians, Egyptians, Saudis or anyone else. Condi has been considering a meeting with the Arab quartet. I’d love to know what conditions they met.
3. “If the Israeli media largely overlooked the diplomatic innovations of Mr. Bush’s speech, they completely missed its dynamic territorial and demographic dimensions. The president pledged to create a “contiguous” Palestinian state—code for assuring unbroken Palestinian sovereignty over most of the West Bank and possibly designating a West Bank-Gaza corridor. On the other hand, the president committed to seek a peace agreement based on “mutually agreed borders” and “current realities,” which is a euphemism for Israel’s retention of West Bank settlement blocks and no return to the 1967 lines.”
I don’t think the speech has been overlooked. There simply aren’t any dynamic territorial and demographic dimensions. It’s nice of GWB to support Israel ceding territory to connect the West Bank and Gaza though. Understandable since, like a palestinian state, it was his idea. The most important facet of the speech is the half billion in aid, which contrary to item 1, is being given with no preconditions.
4. “Most momentous, however, was Mr. Bush’s affirmation that “the United States will never abandon . . . the security of Israel as a Jewish state and homeland for the Jewish people.” This means nothing less than the rejection of the Palestinians’ immutable demand for the resettlement of millions of refugees and their descendents in Israel.”
Pablum. George Bush doesn’t speak for America’s future. And he certainly doesn’t reject the right of return, in fact he considers it a live issue.
Oren is off base on this one.
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