US MediationIsrael and Palestine
The US would like to believe it is fair and balanced and a fair broker for the conflict. Most of the rest of the world, and especially the Arab street, see things otherwise. Why? What do do we say and do to promote that view? Do we even recognise that we do it?
Sunday, October 08, 2000
US has never been even-handed or fair or even remotely human in its brokerage of the peace process
"A Tragic Reversal: Madeleine Albright’s View of Reality" by Dr. Hanan Ashrawi: "A Tragic Reversal: Madeleine Albright's View of Reality By Dr. Hanan Ashrawi Secretary-General, MIFTAH PLC Member, Jerusalem
In her interview on NBC's 'Meet the Press' (Sunday, Oct. 8, 2000), US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright represented the epitome of the willful blindness, moral vacuum, human insensitivity, political cynicism, and strategic ignorance that have characterized the US handling of the Arab-Israeli 'peace process' and the Palestinian Question in particular.
When asked about the US abstention on the UN Security Council's Resolution 1233 deploring the [anonymous] "provocation carried out at Al-Haram Al-Sharif in Jerusalem on 28 September 2000" and condemning [also anonymous] "acts of violence, especially the excessive use of force against Palestinians," Albright immediately waxed apologetic.
She was defensive not about diluting the text of the resolution and eliminating any explicit reference to Israel's culpability, not about abstaining when the US should have cast an affirmative vote in condemnation of the horrific and tragic loss of Palestinian lives (mainly children), and not about American passivity before the very visible crimes against humanity that are being committed by Israel with impunity and arrogance.
Rather, Madam Albright expressed contrition at not casting a VETO on this hesitant, apologetic, and inadequate expression by the international community of minimal recognition of Palestinian humanity and suffering.
Why? Because the US wants to "safeguard" its role as an "even-handed peace broker."
To the Palestinians, this came as a complete surprise since the US has never been even-handed or fair or even remotely human in its brokerage of the peace process.
Given the chance to atone, however modestly, for such double standards and bias, the US once again insists on failing the test of moral integrity and humanity.
"A Tragic Reversal: Madeleine Albright’s View of Reality" by Dr. Hanan Ashrawi: "A Tragic Reversal: Madeleine Albright's View of Reality By Dr. Hanan Ashrawi Secretary-General, MIFTAH PLC Member, Jerusalem
In her interview on NBC's 'Meet the Press' (Sunday, Oct. 8, 2000), US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright represented the epitome of the willful blindness, moral vacuum, human insensitivity, political cynicism, and strategic ignorance that have characterized the US handling of the Arab-Israeli 'peace process' and the Palestinian Question in particular.
When asked about the US abstention on the UN Security Council's Resolution 1233 deploring the [anonymous] "provocation carried out at Al-Haram Al-Sharif in Jerusalem on 28 September 2000" and condemning [also anonymous] "acts of violence, especially the excessive use of force against Palestinians," Albright immediately waxed apologetic.
She was defensive not about diluting the text of the resolution and eliminating any explicit reference to Israel's culpability, not about abstaining when the US should have cast an affirmative vote in condemnation of the horrific and tragic loss of Palestinian lives (mainly children), and not about American passivity before the very visible crimes against humanity that are being committed by Israel with impunity and arrogance.
Rather, Madam Albright expressed contrition at not casting a VETO on this hesitant, apologetic, and inadequate expression by the international community of minimal recognition of Palestinian humanity and suffering.
Why? Because the US wants to "safeguard" its role as an "even-handed peace broker."
To the Palestinians, this came as a complete surprise since the US has never been even-handed or fair or even remotely human in its brokerage of the peace process.
Given the chance to atone, however modestly, for such double standards and bias, the US once again insists on failing the test of moral integrity and humanity.
