Yossi Alpher
The most striking aspect of current Bush administration policy toward the Israel-Palestine conflict is a sharp contradiction. On the one hand, pressures are being brought to bear on the administration from some quarters in the US and from the Arab world to get more energetically involved. But on the other, the administration has a long list of reasons–some might say excuses–not to do so.
The common denominator connecting these two sides of the issue is the United States’ unprecedented involvement elsewhere in the region. The administration apparently believes that Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Arab democratic reform are of much higher priority than Israel-Palestine and can be dealt with effectively while paying little more than hyped-up lip service to the latter conflict. In any case, the Israeli-Palestinian issue is deemed unsolvable under present circumstances and not worth risking American diplomatic and other resources on. Most of the involved American Jewish community, the American public-at-large and Congress tend to acquiesce in this stance, if not actively support it, even as they attack Bush over his Iraq policies.
In contrast, a sector of the administration’s increasingly vocal critics–from Baker-Hamilton to Jimmy Carter, backed by Arab opinion–argues that Bush’s priorities are skewed, and that he will make little progress dealing with the other conflicts unless and until he gets really deeply involved in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. They point out that, one way or another, Bush needs the moderate Arabs and the Europeans if he is to deal effectively with Iraq and Iran. And the Arabs and Europeans, justifiably or not, want to see progress in the Israeli-Palestinian sphere.
Continue reading ‘At least two more years’
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Ghassan Khatib
Whether she was serious or not, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at least managed to create the impression of seriousness on her last trip to the region. After roughly six years of total American abandonment, the US administration seems to be trying hard to convince the parties to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and their publics that there is change.
Many Palestinians and Arabs, and indeed some Israelis, blame this abandonment for the unprecedented deterioration in Palestinian-Israeli relations over the past years. After a quarter of a century of attempts, it can be observed that Palestinian-Israeli relations always deteriorate when left to their own devices. The only way to prevent this or make any progress is through third party intervention.
The “good” years, relatively speaking, from a peace-building perspective were the years between 1990 to 2000, and were a result of the heavy involvement first of George Bush senior and his secretary of state James Baker, and then the third party efforts of Norway and the Clinton administration.
Thus, the new attitude evinced by Rice is cause for some optimism. The question is how to make use of that new attitude and how to make it work. For this, we must look at the lessons we have learned from previous efforts when the US and others invested heavily to bring a resolution to the conflict but failed.
Continue reading ‘There is a need for serious third-party involvement’
So the “Land of God’s Chosen Peoples” President is a sex maniac. How wonderful. It certainly shows that Israel is a failed state made up of rapists and murderers.
Israel’s attorney general, Meni Mazus, says he has notified President Katsav that he will be indicted on charges of rape and other crimes against female employees of the president’s office. Israeli legal procedures allow the president one opportunity to present his case at a hearing before a formal indictment is issued.
The charges, some of the most serious ever faced by an Israeli politician, stem from complaints made by at least four women who worked for Mr. Katsav. Police say the charges are based on interviews with at least 10 women.
Israel’s attorney general says he has collected enough evidence to indict the president on other charges - such as obstruction of justice and receiving illegal gifts.
Continue reading ‘Israel’s President to Be Indicted on Rape Charges’
It is always great to go boating or fishing with my friends and relatives during the weekend. We would stay at a lodge that I own near a beautiful lake overlooking the mountain horizons. You know, the knowledge of knowing the best fishing spots for you to catch a couple of good fish is a great feeling. Maybe a fried macarel sounds tasty to you? Yum. Boating equipment is of course a priority for your fishing needs and I only deserve the best as you enjoy the leisure of boating and fishing by the lake. So I will usually go to Northeast Marine Electronics, the usual dealer that I go to for my fishing needs You will find electronics for camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, and driving. They also have a large selection of electronic fishing tools like their Furuno Fish Finders and Garmin Marine Electronics. With a selection of discount marine electronics, this is certainly the best deal that I will ever find.