ANALYSIS-Bush, Like Clinton, Makes Twilight Mideast Push

Reuters ^ | November 22, 2007 | Arshad Mohammed

[america4vr]

U.S. President George W. Bush's twilight effort to make peace between Israel and the Palestinians faces far more challenges than his predecessor Bill Clinton's failed attempt in 2000.

In his waning months in office, Bush is trying to resolve the intractable conflict when the Palestinians are divided, Israel's prime minister is unpopular and the U.S. president's own credibility has been eroded by the Iraq war.

Diplomats, former negotiators and regional analysts said they welcomed Bush's decision to host a conference on Tuesday in Annapolis, Maryland, that he hopes will trigger formal negotiations on creating a Palestinian state.

But given the realities of weak leaders on all sides, none saw much chance of an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal before the Republican president leaves office in January 2009.

"When Clinton tried ... both sides actually felt they could do it and both sides felt the other side could do it," said an Arab diplomat. "Now, neither the Israelis nor the Palestinians believe that the other side wants to do it or can do it."

The Palestinian leadership, and territory, is split between President Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah movement, which rules the West Bank, and the Islamist Hamas faction, which forcibly took control of the Gaza Strip from Fatah in July.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert presides over a delicate and fragmented coalition and his personal popularity plunged following Israel's 2006 war with Hezbollah in Lebanon, undercutting his ability to pursue peace.

At the Camp David summit that Clinton hosted in July 2000, the Palestinians were led by Yasser Arafat, the icon of the Palestinian struggle, and the Israelis by Ehud Barak, a former general elected on a peace platform.

[america4vr]

Is there anyone out there who actually believes anything will come of this? ....the Israelis by Ehud Barak, a former general elected on a peace platform....... Peace platform? More like a suicide platform.

In Clinton's terrible desperation to make a deal, Barak got the President's word for the release of Johnathan Pollard. They had Pollard all packed up ready to go but Billy boy reneged at the last minute at the intense insistence of many in the administration. Anyway, it was all merely a sisyphean exercise in futility, the Palestinian Chairman Ara-Rat going to his grave an unrepentant terrorist.

[rogue yam]

I simply do not believe that this is what GWB is trying to do.

[riored]

there is nothing to be had here.

the only question is,

will Condi chase after Abbas’ car
when he leaves.

[Karliner]

Abbas, just the slightly lesser of two evils. Condi....she seems so intelligent sometimes but why meddle in affairs where a worthless paper may be signed just for the alleged estranged Arabs( with pockets of Wahabi dough) realod and aquire new targets?? Peace process, BAH!!

Happy Turkey day everyone.

[Karliner]

No, I don't believe anything will come of this nor do I think for a nano-second Bubba BJ Clintoon and Barak were any closer in 2000. Arafat wanted the whole enchilada, he was a terrorist, scum, a thug and a murderer and never wanted peace. I still wonder the foolish audacity of putting that screwball centerstage except maybe to keep your enemies in open view??

This statement pizzes me off:At the Camp David summit that Clinton hosted in July 2000, the Palestinians were led by Yasser Arafat, the icon of the Palestinian struggle, and the Israelis by Ehud Barak, a former general elected on a peace platform. "

[BallyBill]

If a Presidential candidate promised that they Were Not going to waste anytime trying to bring peace to the Middle East, they would probably get a lot of votes.

No Peace without Victory!