Secy. Rice: Israel Must End Occupation of 'West Bank'

(IsraelNN.com) Speaking with Arabic-language Radio Sawa, based in Washington and Dubai, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice went further in her demands on Israel than President Bush did in his recent speech on Israel.

Rice, about to depart for the Middle East to prepare an upcoming international meeting of regional leaders, said that President Bush recently stated "very clearly that Israel's future will rest in Israel, in places like Galilee and in the Negev - and that the occupation of the West Bank will have to end, and a Palestinian state will need to be established."

In fact, however, in his recent speech, President Bush did not phrase this as a demand upon Israel, but rather cited Prime Minister Olmert as having "made clear that Israel's future lies in developing areas like the Negev and Galilee - not in continuing occupation of the West Bank. This is a reality that Prime Minister Sharon recognized, as well. So unauthorized outposts should be removed and settlement expansion ended."

Rice Sets New Standard Pres. Bush also stopped short of saying Israel must withdraw from all of Judea and Samaria. Bush said rather that future Israel-PA negotiations must "lead to a territorial settlement, with mutually agreed borders reflecting previous lines and current realities, and mutually agreed adjustments."

By stating so clearly that the "the occupation of the West Bank will have to end," Rice has set a new standard for United States officials of her stature in opposition to Israel's presence in Judea and Samaria.

Secretary Rice did not deal with the question of what to do with the 240,000 Jews living in the non-annexed areas of Judea and Samaria (nor the roughly equal amount living in the outlying neighborhoods of Jerusalem beyond Israel's pre-1967 borders). Israel has not yet been able to solve the problems of the fewer than 10,000 Jews it evicted from Gaza two years ago; those Jews are still living in transient camps of temporary pre-fab houses, with no long-term housing or employment solutions in sight.

No Invitations Yet Secretary Rice also told Radio Sawa that "no invitations have gone out yet" for the planned meeting. "I want to talk to our allies in the region and our friends in the region about how they see and what they would see to be a useful international meeting," she said. "[It] will be, as the President said, an opportunity to review our progress. It will be an opportunity to make commitments to support the Israelis and Palestinians in their discussions, in their future negotiations... The United States doesn't want Made-in-America solutions. We need the entire population of states that are devoted to the two-state solution to work with us. And so these will be very important consultations."

Bush: Hamas - Bad, Fatah - Great President Bush, in his speech ten days ago, compared Hamas and Fatah in stark terms, painting a picture of contrasts in which the Arabs under PA jurisdiction can, seemingly, choose either evil (Hamas) or good (Fatah).

"This is a moment of clarity for all Palestinians," Bush said," and now comes a moment of choice... There is the vision of Hamas, which the world saw in Gaza - with murderers in black masks, and summary executions, and men thrown to their death from rooftops. By following this path, the Palestinian people would guarantee chaos, and suffering, and the endless perpetuation of grievance. They would surrender their future to Hamas's foreign sponsors in Syria and Iran. And they would crush the possibility of a Palestinian state."

"There's another option," Bush continued, "and that's a hopeful option. It is the vision of [Fatah] President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad; it's the vision of their government; it's the vision of a peaceful state called Palestine as a homeland for the Palestinian people. To realize this vision, these leaders are striving to build the institutions of a modern democracy. They're working to strengthen the Palestinian security services, so they can confront the terrorists and protect the innocent... And they're ensuring that Palestinian society operates under the rule of law. By following this path, Palestinians can reclaim their dignity and their future -- and establish a state of their own."

Rampant Fatah Terrorism and Hatred In fact, however, Fatah's Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades have actually taken responsibility for every suicide bombing in Israel the past three years. Just this week, WorldNetDaily's Aaron Klein reports, Fatah terrorists organized yet another terrorist cell in Samaria for attacks against Israel. In addition, the 178 wanted Fatah terrorists whom Israel agreed to pardon last week if they would renounce terrorism described their hand-in of weapons as a "big joke."

Interestingly, Bush noted that Hamas men threw Fatah members out of apartment buildings during their recent battles, but neglected to mention that Fatah did the same to Hamas members.

As Caroline Glick wrote in the Jerusalem Post on Dec. 26, 2006, "If Abbas were interested in peace, he would not be demanding that Israel [do the following]: release terrorists from prison; stop arresting wanted terrorists; make it easier for terrorists to operate in Judea and Samaria by suspending IDF counterterror operations and taking down roadblocks; bring more terrorists into the areas from Jordan; arm terrorists through Egypt; and give him money to pay the salaries of terrorists."

Former Israeli Cabinet Minister Natan Sharansky succintly described the cultural milieu in the Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority as one that “promotes genocide” against Jews: “As in Nazi Germany, there is an entire culture of hatred in Palestinian Arab society today, from textbooks to crossword puzzles, from day camps to TV music videos. Calling for the murder of Jews, as Jews, is the end result.”

Interview on Radio Sawa With Samir Nader

Secretary Condoleezza Rice Washington, DC July 25, 2007 http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2007/89330.htm

QUESTION: Madame Secretary, thank you so much for giving your time. This is the first interview with Radio Sawa, and I appreciate it very much.

SECRETARY RICE: It's good to be with you.

QUESTION: To make it brief, you are going to the Middle East with Secretary Gates and it seems now it's a new situation, and especially you are going after the visit of the Iranian President to Syria, reaffirming his alliance with President Assad. What's on your mind? What would you like to achieve in this visit?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, first, it's to go and to talk with our friends and allies in the region and to make very clear that the United States is going to be very strong in its commitments to a Middle East that is transforming, a Middle East that is secure and a Middle East that is stable. And we will talk both about our important bilateral defense relationships, but also about the important political relationships that we have with allies in the region.

We will obviously talk about Lebanon, about Iraq, about Afghanistan, areas of concern where there has been some progress but where we need to make more progress.

QUESTION: You and the President, you spoke new language on asking Israel to end occupation. Do you think this will convince the Saudis to be a more active player in the coming international meeting that you are going to host?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, I certainly hope that all interested states, states that are devoted to the two-state solution, will look favorably on the international meeting that the President will call. We have work to do. There's preparation to do. There are no invitations that have gone out yet and I want to talk to our allies in the region and our friends in the region about how they see and what they would see to be a useful international meeting.

But the President is just following in the very important tradition that he's begun. He was the first to call, as a matter of policy, for a Palestinian state, for a two-state solution. He was stating very clearly that Israel's future will rest in Israel, in places like Galilee and in the Negev, and that the occupation of the West Bank will have to end and a Palestinian state will need to be established.

QUESTION: How do you feel about the Arab League first visit to Israel today? Are you pleased with this?

SECRETARY RICE: This is a very important step forward -- the Arab League's visit. It is a very good thing that the Arab League is following up on the Arab peace initiative that was reissued, in a sense, at Riyadh. It is a very good thing that Egypt and Israel are going -- Egypt and Jordan are going to Israel.

I hope that there will be more Arab states that will --

QUESTION: The Saudis?

SECRETARY RICE: Yes, well, all Arab states that will take advantage of this opening to develop an Israeli-Arab track to go alongside and to support the Israeli-Palestinian track.

QUESTION: Did you decide on the meeting -- where it's going to be? What's on your mind regarding the meeting?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, this meeting will be, as the President said, an opportunity to review our progress. It will be an opportunity to make commitments to support the Israelis and Palestinians in their discussions, in their future negotiations. But one of the reasons that I'm going to go to the region now is to consult with people on how to put this meeting together.

The United States doesn't want Made-in-America solutions. We need the entire population of states that are devoted to the two-state solution to work with us. And so these will be very important consultations.

QUESTION: I have to ask you a question about Lebanon. September is the time for the election of a new president. What can you do to help the Lebanese avoid a crisis and elect a president according to the constitution? And are you coordinating with the French on this issue?

SECRETARY RICE: We are, of course, coordinating with all of our partners concerning Lebanon and especially the French, where U.S.-French coordination has been very helpful in, first: getting Security Council resolutions that got Syria out of Lebanon, get its forces out of Lebanon; in getting the resolution that established the tribunal to prosecute the perpetrators of the assassination of Rafiq Hariri. So yes, we're coordinating very closely.

But the United States is also working very closely with the Lebanese Government, the legitimate Lebanese Government. That means in terms of economic assistance, political support, and indeed in helping, as a part of an international effort, to help the Lebanese security forces reform and become more capable. I would like to say it is a little more than a year since the war in Lebanon began in July -- on July 12th of last year. And that was a terrible experience for the Lebanese people, a terrible experience for the region and a terrible experience for the world.

But I think nobody would have expected that the Lebanese army would now be deployed throughout the country for the first time in decades, that the Lebanese army would be taking on extremists in the Palestinian camps, and yet committing to the future a better life for the people who had lived there. The Lebanese Government has done some very extraordinary work and we should recognize that.

QUESTION: There's rumors that you may visit Libya in September. Today, the French President is visiting. Can -- is this true or just --

SECRETARY RICE: Well, I don't have any dates or plans, but I certainly hope to visit Libya. Libya made an important strategic decision to get rid of its weapons of mass destruction. As a result, it has put itself on a path that is leading to investment in Libya by Western companies which could not invest there before. I know that American companies are very interested in working in Libya. And so I certainly hope -- and we, by the way, are -- have appointed an ambassador to Libya. So I sincerely hope that I will be able to visit there soon.

QUESTION: There's lots of speculation in Washington, I hear, from many people that President Bush will never leave the White House without deterring Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. What do you say about this?

SECRETARY RICE: I would say that the President is committed to a diplomatic solution because we believe diplomacy can work. We are working very closely with our allies, working very closely with the UN Security Council Permanent Five as well as the elected members. We've had two Security Council resolutions on Iran. There is a growing course of financial institutions and private companies that will not do business with Iran, because Iran is in that terrible category now of being under a Chapter 7 resolution and a lot of private enterprises don't want to do work because of the reputational risk and the investment risk. We're going to continue to pursue our options within the Security Council and also with those who wish to tighten their -- the financial sanctions and financial measures against Iran even if it's outside the Security Council.

QUESTION: Can I ask about the Wall Street article? There was a report yesterday that Syria is grabbing territory from Lebanese land, like about 4 percent equal to Arizona, and they are not helping, according to the UN envoy, in the demarcation of the Shebaa Farms. How do you view these problems?

SECRETARY RICE: Yes, well, I can't comment on the specific article, but I can tell you that I have never seen Syria do anything helpful for Lebanon. They occupied Lebanon, they have tried to keep their influence there. They have tried to intimidate Lebanon and its leaders. And we know that the UN is now working on the Shebaa Farms issue. We look forward to that report.

But Syria should begin by what was required of it in Resolution 1559: demarcate the border with Lebanon, treat Lebanon like an independent state, a sovereign state, send an ambassador to Beirut. These would be positive signs that Syria understands that Lebanon is not a client of Syria; it is a proud and sovereign, independent state with proud and sovereign people who want nothing but to control their own future in a democratic way.

QUESTION: There is -- do you recognize the Rabin deposit? The Syrians -- Assad gave a speech last week, put a condition that any negotiation with Israel -- Israel should recognize the Rabin deposit that Secretary Christopher --

SECRETARY RICE: No, this is just Syria, again, playing games. I'm quite certain that when Syria shows that it is prepared to engage in policies that are stabilizing to the Middle East, that -- rather than destabilizing, when it stops allowing foreigners to -- foreign terrorists to come across its territory into Iraq, when it stops intimidating the Lebanese, when it stops engaging in activities in the Palestinian territories that are opposite of what is needed for a two-state solution, that it will be entirely possible for Syria to promote its own interests in a stable Middle East.

But while the United States has no problem if Syria and Israel wish to seek peace, and I just want to be very clear, the United States is not standing in the way of Syria and Israel seeking peace. But Syria -- it is Syria's behavior that has kept it isolated.

QUESTION: If we could -- something for history. There are so many books written about you. What would you like to be remembered by at State Department?

SECRETARY RICE: Oh, I'll worry about history a little bit later. I've still got 17 months of very intensive work. I hope that in the Middle East we can make real progress on helping the forces of moderation in the Middle East, helping democratic forces in the Middle East. You know, the Middle East is a wonderful region with energetic people, people who are proud, people who want the best for their children. They don't want to live in a world in which young people are encouraged to be suicide bombers. I believe that the people of the Middle East want a better and more prosperous future.

And in the next 17 months, I expect to be fully devoted to that: to helping the Palestinians get at least closer to statehood so that Israel and Palestine can live side by side, helping Lebanon to continue its progress toward democracy and sovereignty, to helping the people of Iraq to put aside their differences and build stability, and to doing what the United States has always tried to do, which is to stand for principle and to help friends who want nothing but a better and more democratic life.

QUESTION: I wish you a successful trip, and thank you so much.

SECRETARY RICE: Thank you. It was great to be with you.

2007/634

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.