Tuesday, April 15, 2003
PM says will not miss another opportunity with Palestinians
Ripples, ripples, ripples...The Israelis know they have an American President who can act, not just talk.
Addressing the Likud party at a ceremonial toast before the Passover holiday, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said that he would not miss another opportunity to make peace with the Palestinians.
"We will decide which way we go, but I have no intention of missing this opportunity. If we see that the Palestinian partner learned the lesson and is takes serious action against terror, it will be possible to move forward faster than you think," he said. Sharon added that Israel would not compromise the security of its citizens.
In formulating a roadmap to peace in the Middle East, the United States has agreed to take into account Israel's security concerns and a need to end terror, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's envoy said after talks with high-level U.S. officials.
"I am confident the U.S. will give serious consideration to our views as the process moves forward," Dov Weisglass, Sharon's chief of staff, said in a statement late Monday.
"The Americans will consider taking into account the long-standing commitment of the U.S. to the security of the state of Israel and the need to end terror in order to realize peace in the Middle East," the statement said.
"Israel will have a further chance to comment on the roadmap once it is formally conveyed to the parties," Weisglass said.
The statement was issued after Weisglass and other Israeli officials met with Secretary of State Colin Powell, Undersecretary of Defense Douglas Feith, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, head of Mideast affairs at the National Security Council Elliott Abrams, and other senior administration officials. At the meeting, Weisglass presented Israel's comments on the roadmap.
The roadmap, which aims to establish a Palestinian state by 2005, is due to be formally announced after Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Ala), the Palestinian Authority's choice for prime minister, sets up a Cabinet.
[...]
U.S. President George W. Bush is apparently of the opinion that there should be simultaneous momentum at all levels and that when the security situation improves, Israel will have to take steps. These steps will focus on the humanitarian aspect of the peace plan, and the United States is adamant that they should encompass freedom of movement in the territories.
The United States believes that if Israel eases restrictions on movement, the reformist elements in the Palestinian Authority will be able to prove they are improving the lot of the residents and thus to consolidate their position in the new Palestinian leadership.
The American assumption is that there is no need for step to follow step, but rather that after talks with both sides, each will have to examine what can be done to improve the atmosphere and make progress.
Bush considers pushing forward the process to be of the utmost importance. He believes that a new reality has been created in the Middle East in the wake of the war in Iraq and that all sides must act accordingly.
The United States expects Israel to renew its commitment to the idea of a Palestinian state, and with this in mind, the administration Monday expressed satisfaction concerning Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's remarks to Haaretz about painful concessions.
On the other hand, the U.S. administration expects the Palestinians to push forward with reforms and to isolate those who object to them.
While America does not accept Israel's step-by-step approach, it is convinced that the Palestinians must prove the seriousness of their actions against the terrorists as a condition for progress. The litmus test will be in the field and in the powers given to the new PA prime minister and interior minister over the security forces.
[...]
Speaking Monday at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Israel's National Security Advisor Ephraim Halevy said that from the strategic point of view, there is significance to territories even in an age of guided missiles and other sophisticated weapons, adding that the war in Iraq had proved the importance of territorial depth from the military point of view. In the long run, however, Halevy said, borders will lose their significance if there is peace.
Throughout its history, Halevy said, Israel had been ready to make territorial concessions, but the Arabs had refused. Only if the Palestinians were to show that they were indeed willing to compromise would it now become clear if there would be peace in the Middle East, he added.
"We will decide which way we go, but I have no intention of missing this opportunity. If we see that the Palestinian partner learned the lesson and is takes serious action against terror, it will be possible to move forward faster than you think," he said. Sharon added that Israel would not compromise the security of its citizens.
In formulating a roadmap to peace in the Middle East, the United States has agreed to take into account Israel's security concerns and a need to end terror, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's envoy said after talks with high-level U.S. officials.
"I am confident the U.S. will give serious consideration to our views as the process moves forward," Dov Weisglass, Sharon's chief of staff, said in a statement late Monday.
"The Americans will consider taking into account the long-standing commitment of the U.S. to the security of the state of Israel and the need to end terror in order to realize peace in the Middle East," the statement said.
"Israel will have a further chance to comment on the roadmap once it is formally conveyed to the parties," Weisglass said.
The statement was issued after Weisglass and other Israeli officials met with Secretary of State Colin Powell, Undersecretary of Defense Douglas Feith, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, head of Mideast affairs at the National Security Council Elliott Abrams, and other senior administration officials. At the meeting, Weisglass presented Israel's comments on the roadmap.
The roadmap, which aims to establish a Palestinian state by 2005, is due to be formally announced after Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Ala), the Palestinian Authority's choice for prime minister, sets up a Cabinet.
[...]
U.S. President George W. Bush is apparently of the opinion that there should be simultaneous momentum at all levels and that when the security situation improves, Israel will have to take steps. These steps will focus on the humanitarian aspect of the peace plan, and the United States is adamant that they should encompass freedom of movement in the territories.
The United States believes that if Israel eases restrictions on movement, the reformist elements in the Palestinian Authority will be able to prove they are improving the lot of the residents and thus to consolidate their position in the new Palestinian leadership.
The American assumption is that there is no need for step to follow step, but rather that after talks with both sides, each will have to examine what can be done to improve the atmosphere and make progress.
Bush considers pushing forward the process to be of the utmost importance. He believes that a new reality has been created in the Middle East in the wake of the war in Iraq and that all sides must act accordingly.
The United States expects Israel to renew its commitment to the idea of a Palestinian state, and with this in mind, the administration Monday expressed satisfaction concerning Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's remarks to Haaretz about painful concessions.
On the other hand, the U.S. administration expects the Palestinians to push forward with reforms and to isolate those who object to them.
While America does not accept Israel's step-by-step approach, it is convinced that the Palestinians must prove the seriousness of their actions against the terrorists as a condition for progress. The litmus test will be in the field and in the powers given to the new PA prime minister and interior minister over the security forces.
[...]
Speaking Monday at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Israel's National Security Advisor Ephraim Halevy said that from the strategic point of view, there is significance to territories even in an age of guided missiles and other sophisticated weapons, adding that the war in Iraq had proved the importance of territorial depth from the military point of view. In the long run, however, Halevy said, borders will lose their significance if there is peace.
Throughout its history, Halevy said, Israel had been ready to make territorial concessions, but the Arabs had refused. Only if the Palestinians were to show that they were indeed willing to compromise would it now become clear if there would be peace in the Middle East, he added.
This builds on Sharon's previous statements in a Ha'Aretz interview very much worth reading in full:
[...]And what about Netzarim? [An isolated settlement in the Gaza Strip]
"I don't want to get into a discussion of any specific place now. This is a delicate subject and there is no need to talk a lot about it. But if it turns out that we have someone to talk to, that they understand that peace is neither terrorism nor subversion against Israel, then I would definitely say that we will have to take steps that are painful for every Jew and painful for me personally."
Isn't that phrase "painful concessions" a hollow expression?
"Definitely not. It comes from the depth of my soul. Look, we are talking about the cradle of the Jewish people. Our whole history is bound up with these places. Bethlehem, Shiloh, Beit El. And I know that we will have to part with some of these places. There will be a parting from places that are connected to the whole course of our history. As a Jew, this agonizes me. But I have decided to make every effort to reach a settlement. I feel that the rational necessity to reach a settlement is overcoming my feelings."
You established the settlements and you believed in the settlements and nurtured them. Are you now prepared to consider the evacuation of isolated settlements?
"If we reach a situation of true peace, real peace, peace for generations, we will have to make painful concessions. Not in exchange for promises, but rather in exchange for peace."[...]
"I don't want to get into a discussion of any specific place now. This is a delicate subject and there is no need to talk a lot about it. But if it turns out that we have someone to talk to, that they understand that peace is neither terrorism nor subversion against Israel, then I would definitely say that we will have to take steps that are painful for every Jew and painful for me personally."
Isn't that phrase "painful concessions" a hollow expression?
"Definitely not. It comes from the depth of my soul. Look, we are talking about the cradle of the Jewish people. Our whole history is bound up with these places. Bethlehem, Shiloh, Beit El. And I know that we will have to part with some of these places. There will be a parting from places that are connected to the whole course of our history. As a Jew, this agonizes me. But I have decided to make every effort to reach a settlement. I feel that the rational necessity to reach a settlement is overcoming my feelings."
You established the settlements and you believed in the settlements and nurtured them. Are you now prepared to consider the evacuation of isolated settlements?
"If we reach a situation of true peace, real peace, peace for generations, we will have to make painful concessions. Not in exchange for promises, but rather in exchange for peace."[...]
