Posted on 11/22/2007 2:14:55 AM PST by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
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.
I simply do not believe that this is what GWB is trying to do.
there is nothing to be had here.
the only question is,
will Condi chase after Abbas’ car
when he leaves.
Happy Turkey day everyone.
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. "
No Peace without Victory!
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