Posted on 08/07/2005 2:39:41 PM PDT by familyop
According to New York Times report, U.S. Secretary of State adopted ‘forceful’ stand in recent dealings with Israeli officials, rejected requests for aid
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has been boosting American pressure on Israel ahead of the disengagement plan, the New York Times reported Sunday.
According to the report, “Rice has been forceful and even abrupt in her dealings with senior Israeli officials, including the Foreign and Defense Ministers, Silvan Shalom and Shaul Mofaz.”
During recent meetings, Rice was said to show impatience in the face of repeated Israeli requests for millions of dollars in aid earmarked for the construction of modern terminals on the Gaza-Israel border.
Rice reportedly also rejected an Israeli request for American funding for the razing of settlers’ homes.
'Rice ran the meetings'
According to Israeli officials, on her recent trip to Israel the Secretary of State "ran the meetings with them in their offices, taking control of the agenda and even announcing when they would end,” the New York Times reported.
The newspaper says the Bush administration has “increased pressure on the Israeli government in recent days to do more to make a Palestinian Gaza "successful” following the upcoming evacuation.
Ms. Rice was initially considering a return trip to Israel next week to monitor the Gaza pullout, but has since decided against it.
"She'll get credit if it works, and she doesn't want to be here if it doesn't," one American official in the region said.
Ms. Rice is also trying to bolster Mahmoud Abbas, the president, the New York Times says.
No pullout under fire
According to Palestinian officials, she sent a senior adviser, James Wilkinson, on a quiet visit last week to Ramallah.He and a small team worked with Mr. Abbas to reorganize his office to improve efficiency and accountability, so orders will be followed.
Mr. Wilkinson also urged Mr. Abbas to set up a press office and a protocol office, to try to improve his image and authority, the newspaper says.
In interviews, both Mr. Wolfensohn and General Ward praised the support they were getting from President Bush and Ms. Rice, who have emphasized that a successful transition in Gaza is vital to progress toward a viable, democratic, independent Palestinian state.
"The big thing is their personal commitment, especially from the president and Secretary Rice, to an orderly and peaceful withdrawal, and then to work toward a permanent peace based on a two-state solution," Mr. Wolfensohn said.
Both men stress the importance of economic development and freedom of movement to give Palestinians the sense of a better future - one Mr. Abbas can hope to take credit for, in his political struggle with the militant Islamic movement Hamas.
General Ward said that Israeli and Palestinian military officials, down to the field level, were meeting to coordinate the pullout, to try to ensure that the Israelis will not come under fire. If there are mortar or rocket attacks, the Israelis say they will stop the pullout long enough to ensure that the firing stops.
The New York Times report was based on information received from American, Israeli and international officials.
Ping.
Nauseating.
"Nauseating."
I do not find her rejection of funding requests nauseating. Why should we clean (or pay for the cleaning) others' messes?
I find her dictating to Israel to pull out of Gaza and allow an Al Qaeda base to be estabished there, once the seaport is opened, nauseating.
Me too. Something is really, really, wrong here.
Yes. Did you see the reports a day or two ago about Al Qaeda announcing that it has now established a presence in Gaza?
"'She'll get credit if it works, and she doesn't want to be here if it doesn't,' one American official in the region said."
A profile in courage [NOT].
Yes, I did.
And they will also in the West Bank if Israel listens to Rice and opens a route from Gaza to the West Bank which will not permit vehicle inspections.
You don't like Bush's foreign policy?
Here's a link to one.
Al Qaida announces presence in the Gaza Strip
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1457759/posts
Generally, yes I do.
But I do not believe it is wise to force Israel to give up territory and create havens for terrorists, which is exactly what is happening in Gaza and soon the West Bank.
This is one, quiet thread.
Just another gem from the Bush administration. Read the riot act to the one country that stands with us in the middle east.
Last time I checked Israel was sovereign. All they have to say is NO. Apparently free American money has something to do with it.......
Well, given our virutally open borders, I guess we're also taking chances here.
A mindful post on this subject finally...
. . . with the Roman Catholic Church
Among those churches which are not members of the WCC, the most notable is the Roman Catholic Church (RCC). Since 1965 a Joint Working Group (JWG), co-sponsored by the WCC and the RCC, has met regularly to discuss issues of common interest and promote cooperation. The group meets annually. One of the church and ecumenical relations staff members serves as co-secretary for the JWG and helps to coordinate contact between the Council and the dicasteries of the Vatican through the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. [And] . . . Though the Roman Catholic Church is not a member of the WCC, it is a full member of the Faith & Order Commission. The RCC also serves the team on Mission & Evangelism in a consultative capacity.
The riot act?
Israel IS the one country who stands with us in the ME and in doing so is a very close ally and certainly hasn't been shunned by the USA.
IMO, what may have transpired with Condi is at most part of the plan and not a blatant slap to Israel as conveyed by this article.
Rice is doing good.
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.