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?
Wednesday, November 19, 2003
Israel Urged to Aid Palestinians
Israel Urged to Aid Palestinians (washingtonpost.com): "Ways to Push Peace Process Forward Discussed With U.S. | By Glenn Kessler | Wednesday, November 19, 2003; Page A22
White House officials have held intense discussions with Israeli officials in recent weeks on ways to ease the plight of the Palestinians, lift roadblocks in the occupied territories and deal with other vexing issues that have created a chill in the generally warm relations between President Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, U.S. officials said yesterday.
...
"There is frustration with Sharon at the White House," a U.S. official said yesterday. "Issues don't go away and don't get resolved."
Still, European and Arab leaders have argued that the administration has been much too reluctant to pressure Israel in the past. The European Union sharply condemned Israel yesterday for its treatment of the Palestinians, and British Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to raise the issue with Bush in their meetings this week.
...
U.S. officials are debating whether to deduct the costs of the fence from U.S. loan guarantees to Israel. Some officials say the United States is close to doing so, but one said yesterday that was "wishful thinking in an election year."
Israel Urged to Aid Palestinians (washingtonpost.com): "Ways to Push Peace Process Forward Discussed With U.S. | By Glenn Kessler | Wednesday, November 19, 2003; Page A22
White House officials have held intense discussions with Israeli officials in recent weeks on ways to ease the plight of the Palestinians, lift roadblocks in the occupied territories and deal with other vexing issues that have created a chill in the generally warm relations between President Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, U.S. officials said yesterday.
...
"There is frustration with Sharon at the White House," a U.S. official said yesterday. "Issues don't go away and don't get resolved."
Still, European and Arab leaders have argued that the administration has been much too reluctant to pressure Israel in the past. The European Union sharply condemned Israel yesterday for its treatment of the Palestinians, and British Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to raise the issue with Bush in their meetings this week.
...
U.S. officials are debating whether to deduct the costs of the fence from U.S. loan guarantees to Israel. Some officials say the United States is close to doing so, but one said yesterday that was "wishful thinking in an election year."
Tuesday, November 11, 2003
Arabs ask US to stop siding with Israel, resume honest broker role
Yahoo! News - Arabs ask US to stop siding with Israel, resume honest broker role: "Tue Nov 11, 9:51 AM ET
CAIRO (AFP) - Arab League Secretary General Amr Mussa has urged the United States to stop siding with Israel in its conflict with the Palestinians and resume the role of 'honest broker.'
Mussa said he informed visiting US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, standing by his side at a press conference, "of the Arab view that the situation in Palestine is at an impasse.
"And that stirs great anger among the Arabs and will lead to serious consquences," Mussa said Tuesday.
"We must settle this question in a serious and objective way, and not with the aim of satisfying one party, which is Israel, at the expense of the Palestinians," he added.
"The situation is blocked until the United States resumes its role as honest broker," he said. "The Arab League wants the United States to play this impartial role again and not to be aligned completely with Israel."
Yahoo! News - Arabs ask US to stop siding with Israel, resume honest broker role: "Tue Nov 11, 9:51 AM ET
CAIRO (AFP) - Arab League Secretary General Amr Mussa has urged the United States to stop siding with Israel in its conflict with the Palestinians and resume the role of 'honest broker.'
Mussa said he informed visiting US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, standing by his side at a press conference, "of the Arab view that the situation in Palestine is at an impasse.
"And that stirs great anger among the Arabs and will lead to serious consquences," Mussa said Tuesday.
"We must settle this question in a serious and objective way, and not with the aim of satisfying one party, which is Israel, at the expense of the Palestinians," he added.
"The situation is blocked until the United States resumes its role as honest broker," he said. "The Arab League wants the United States to play this impartial role again and not to be aligned completely with Israel."
Monday, November 03, 2003
Palestinians Condemn U.S. Reward Offer in Gaza Blast [... cultural mis-steps? ed.]
Palestinians Condemn U.S. Reward Offer in Gaza Blast (washingtonpost.com): "Reuters | Monday, November 3, 2003; 8:54 AM | By Nidal al-Mughrabi
GAZA (Reuters) - Palestinians Monday criticized as arrogant and insulting a U.S. offer of up to $5 million for information on those who carried out a bombing that killed three American security men in the Gaza Strip last month
"This is a very underhand act," Colonel Rashid Abu Shbak, Palestinian internal security chief, told Reuters in response to the reward offered Friday.
"Palestinian people, Palestinian security services and Palestinian factions do not work as mercenaries for anybody."
Palestinians Condemn U.S. Reward Offer in Gaza Blast (washingtonpost.com): "Reuters | Monday, November 3, 2003; 8:54 AM | By Nidal al-Mughrabi
GAZA (Reuters) - Palestinians Monday criticized as arrogant and insulting a U.S. offer of up to $5 million for information on those who carried out a bombing that killed three American security men in the Gaza Strip last month
"This is a very underhand act," Colonel Rashid Abu Shbak, Palestinian internal security chief, told Reuters in response to the reward offered Friday.
"Palestinian people, Palestinian security services and Palestinian factions do not work as mercenaries for anybody."
Saturday, November 01, 2003
Europeans, Arabs, Muslims view US as the aggressive financiers and guarantors of the brutal Israeli domination of Palestinians
fresnobee.com | Voices: "United States isn't helping Mideast suffering | By Mike Lane, Visalia | (Published Friday, October 31, 2003, 4:45 AM)
One of the most illuminating moments of the otherwise tedious Democratic presidential primary debates occurred when former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean called for an 'evenhanded' approach by the United States to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
The responses of the other candidates were highly instructive. Dean was immediately attacked by Sen. Joseph Lieberman and Rep. Richard Gephardt. Then the other candidates quickly piled on. Lieberman accused Dean of abandoning '50 years of bipartisan support for Israel.' Gephardt dismissed Dean as naïve and unrealistic.
After taking such a pummeling, Dean was forced to backtrack on his sensible and humane statement. But this begs the larger question: Why is a call for fairness and evenhandedness so controversial when it comes to the Middle East conflict?
Internationally, we are not seen as honest brokers pursuing an equitable peace process. Arabs, Muslims and Europeans, among others, view us as the aggressive financiers and guarantors of the brutal Israeli domination of Palestinians."
The building of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip continues unabated with little protest from the United States and has effectively undermined the intent of the Oslo Accords of 1993.
Palestinian schools and shops have been closed, homes bulldozed, water and sewer infrastructure destroyed and freedom of movement curtailed. The local Palestinian micro-economy has ground to a halt. Poverty and destitution are rampant in the occupied territories. The fierce oppression of Palestinian civilians by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has driven some Palestinians to despair and futile, desperate acts of violence.
In March 2003, Rachel Corrie, a 23-year-old United States citizen and peace activist, was intentionally run over and killed by a bulldozer driven by an IDF soldier preparing to raze another Palestinian home in Gaza. Where is the Bush administration outrage at this blatant violation of several United Nations resolutions that prohibit the destruction of Palestinian homes and attacks on civilians? Isn't this also terrorism?
fresnobee.com | Voices: "United States isn't helping Mideast suffering | By Mike Lane, Visalia | (Published Friday, October 31, 2003, 4:45 AM)
One of the most illuminating moments of the otherwise tedious Democratic presidential primary debates occurred when former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean called for an 'evenhanded' approach by the United States to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
The responses of the other candidates were highly instructive. Dean was immediately attacked by Sen. Joseph Lieberman and Rep. Richard Gephardt. Then the other candidates quickly piled on. Lieberman accused Dean of abandoning '50 years of bipartisan support for Israel.' Gephardt dismissed Dean as naïve and unrealistic.
After taking such a pummeling, Dean was forced to backtrack on his sensible and humane statement. But this begs the larger question: Why is a call for fairness and evenhandedness so controversial when it comes to the Middle East conflict?
Internationally, we are not seen as honest brokers pursuing an equitable peace process. Arabs, Muslims and Europeans, among others, view us as the aggressive financiers and guarantors of the brutal Israeli domination of Palestinians."
The building of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip continues unabated with little protest from the United States and has effectively undermined the intent of the Oslo Accords of 1993.
Palestinian schools and shops have been closed, homes bulldozed, water and sewer infrastructure destroyed and freedom of movement curtailed. The local Palestinian micro-economy has ground to a halt. Poverty and destitution are rampant in the occupied territories. The fierce oppression of Palestinian civilians by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has driven some Palestinians to despair and futile, desperate acts of violence.
In March 2003, Rachel Corrie, a 23-year-old United States citizen and peace activist, was intentionally run over and killed by a bulldozer driven by an IDF soldier preparing to raze another Palestinian home in Gaza. Where is the Bush administration outrage at this blatant violation of several United Nations resolutions that prohibit the destruction of Palestinian homes and attacks on civilians? Isn't this also terrorism?
