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?
Saturday, April 24, 2004
U.S. tells Sharon it opposes targeting [assassinating!] Arafat - 'a pledge a pledge'
CNN.com - U.S. tells Sharon it opposes targeting Arafat - Apr 23, 2004: "Israeli prime minister says he told Bush that earlier pledge is off | From John King | CNN Washington Bureau | Saturday, April 24, 2004 Posted: 7:29 AM EDT (1129 GMT)
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Bush White House told the Israeli government Friday that it considers 'a pledge a pledge' and made clear it would oppose any Israeli effort to target Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
...
It is the second time Sharon has angered White House officials since Bush publicly embraced the prime minister's plan to withdraw from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. In comments immediately after the White House meeting, Sharon said that by winning Bush's endorsement he had effectively shattered the dreams of the Palestinian people.
A visibly irritated Bush told reporters during a Rose Garden appearance with British Prime Minister Tony Blair that Sharon had assured him he believed his "disengagement plan" was the best way to reinvigorate the moribund peace process and ultimately lead to the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
CNN.com - U.S. tells Sharon it opposes targeting Arafat - Apr 23, 2004: "Israeli prime minister says he told Bush that earlier pledge is off | From John King | CNN Washington Bureau | Saturday, April 24, 2004 Posted: 7:29 AM EDT (1129 GMT)
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Bush White House told the Israeli government Friday that it considers 'a pledge a pledge' and made clear it would oppose any Israeli effort to target Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
...
It is the second time Sharon has angered White House officials since Bush publicly embraced the prime minister's plan to withdraw from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. In comments immediately after the White House meeting, Sharon said that by winning Bush's endorsement he had effectively shattered the dreams of the Palestinian people.
A visibly irritated Bush told reporters during a Rose Garden appearance with British Prime Minister Tony Blair that Sharon had assured him he believed his "disengagement plan" was the best way to reinvigorate the moribund peace process and ultimately lead to the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
Sunday, April 18, 2004
Straw [Britain] condemns Israeli assassination of Hamas chief
Yahoo! News - Straw condemns Israeli assassination of Hamas chief: "Sun Apr 18, 5:30 AM ET
LONDON (AFP) - Foreign Secretary Jack Straw condemned Israel's killing of Hamas chief Abdelaziz Rantissi, saying that such tactics were both wrong and unhelpful to peace.
'The British government has made it repeatedly clear that so-called targeted assassinations of this kind are unlawful, unjustified and counterproductive,' Straw said in a brief statement.
Rantissi was assassinated in an air strike in Gaza City on Saturday night, less than a month after Hamas founder and spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin was killed in an Israeli helicopter strike.
At the time, British Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites) had condemned the killing of Yassin, saying that Israel had a right to defend itself but calling the assassination a 'setback' for peace in the Middle East. "
Yahoo! News - Straw condemns Israeli assassination of Hamas chief: "Sun Apr 18, 5:30 AM ET
LONDON (AFP) - Foreign Secretary Jack Straw condemned Israel's killing of Hamas chief Abdelaziz Rantissi, saying that such tactics were both wrong and unhelpful to peace.
'The British government has made it repeatedly clear that so-called targeted assassinations of this kind are unlawful, unjustified and counterproductive,' Straw said in a brief statement.
Rantissi was assassinated in an air strike in Gaza City on Saturday night, less than a month after Hamas founder and spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin was killed in an Israeli helicopter strike.
At the time, British Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites) had condemned the killing of Yassin, saying that Israel had a right to defend itself but calling the assassination a 'setback' for peace in the Middle East. "
Thursday, April 15, 2004
Powell Aims to Calm Furor Over Israel Plan
Excite News: "Powell Aims to Calm Furor Over Israel Plan | Apr 15, 11:10 PM (ET) | By BARRY SCHWEID
WASHINGTON (AP) - Secretary of State Colin Powell led a diplomatic offensive Thursday to placate Arab leaders outraged by President Bush's support for Jewish settlements on the West Bank and opposition to Palestinian refugees returning to Israel.
Powell insisted in interviews and telephone calls that Bush's meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon produced positive results for the Palestinians and their statehood aspirations.
For the first time in 37 years, Powell said, Israeli settlements are being removed and the property used to benefit the Palestinian people.
'The president did not endorse any particular outcome,' Powell said at a State Department news conference. 'He did not endorse any settlements yesterday.'"
Excite News: "Powell Aims to Calm Furor Over Israel Plan | Apr 15, 11:10 PM (ET) | By BARRY SCHWEID
WASHINGTON (AP) - Secretary of State Colin Powell led a diplomatic offensive Thursday to placate Arab leaders outraged by President Bush's support for Jewish settlements on the West Bank and opposition to Palestinian refugees returning to Israel.
Powell insisted in interviews and telephone calls that Bush's meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon produced positive results for the Palestinians and their statehood aspirations.
For the first time in 37 years, Powell said, Israeli settlements are being removed and the property used to benefit the Palestinian people.
'The president did not endorse any particular outcome,' Powell said at a State Department news conference. 'He did not endorse any settlements yesterday.'"
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
New Zealand News - World - Bush backs Sharon plan for Gaza, inflames Arab anger
New Zealand News - World - Bush backs Sharon plan for Gaza, inflames Arab anger: "15.04.2004 | 9.30am
WASHINGTON - US President George W Bush broke with decades of US Middle East policy today by saying that Israel might keep some of the Arab land it captured in the 1967 war. Palestinians angrily rejected the statement and called on the United Nations to denounce it.
Bush's statement came after a White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Bush also expressed support for Sharon's idea of a unilateral Israeli military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip -- part of the territory Israel has been occupying since the 1967 Six Day war. "
New Zealand News - World - Bush backs Sharon plan for Gaza, inflames Arab anger: "15.04.2004 | 9.30am
WASHINGTON - US President George W Bush broke with decades of US Middle East policy today by saying that Israel might keep some of the Arab land it captured in the 1967 war. Palestinians angrily rejected the statement and called on the United Nations to denounce it.
Bush's statement came after a White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Bush also expressed support for Sharon's idea of a unilateral Israeli military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip -- part of the territory Israel has been occupying since the 1967 Six Day war. "
Sunday, April 11, 2004
Sharon to Get U.S. written U.S. assurance to Keep W.Bank Land [US negotiates against the Palestinians and UN resolutions]
Excite - News: "Sharon to Get U.S. Nod to Keep W.Bank Land -Report | Apr 10, 11:23 pm ET
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will receive, in exchange for a planned Gaza pullout, a written U.S. assurance Israel will not have to quit all of the West Bank in any future peace deal, an Israeli newspaper said on Sunday.
The Haaretz daily said the pledge would be contained in a letter that President Bush will hand Sharon at their White House meeting on Wednesday.
...
But, the newspaper said, Bush's letter will declare that Israel will not be asked in the future to withdraw to the pre-1967 boundary known as the "green line."
...
The report was likely to stoke Palestinian fears the Gaza pullout plan is an Israeli ruse to annex West Bank settlement blocs. Haaretz said Israeli officials believe the letter constituted U.S. acquiescence to such a future move.
According to the newspaper, Bush's letter will effectively challenge any right of return by Palestinian refugees to what is now Israel, saying they can be absorbed in a future Palestinian state. ...
Excite - News: "Sharon to Get U.S. Nod to Keep W.Bank Land -Report | Apr 10, 11:23 pm ET
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will receive, in exchange for a planned Gaza pullout, a written U.S. assurance Israel will not have to quit all of the West Bank in any future peace deal, an Israeli newspaper said on Sunday.
The Haaretz daily said the pledge would be contained in a letter that President Bush will hand Sharon at their White House meeting on Wednesday.
...
But, the newspaper said, Bush's letter will declare that Israel will not be asked in the future to withdraw to the pre-1967 boundary known as the "green line."
...
The report was likely to stoke Palestinian fears the Gaza pullout plan is an Israeli ruse to annex West Bank settlement blocs. Haaretz said Israeli officials believe the letter constituted U.S. acquiescence to such a future move.
According to the newspaper, Bush's letter will effectively challenge any right of return by Palestinian refugees to what is now Israel, saying they can be absorbed in a future Palestinian state. ...
