Western diplomats worried by threat of Israeli unilateralism
Western diplomats dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict expressed concern Wednesday that Israel would carry out a rapid unilateral withdrawal from the territories and create a new reality in the West Bank without first exhausting the possibility of serious diplomatic negotiations with the Palestinian Authority.
Some of the diplomats involved in the Mideast Quartet’s talks on Tuesday in New York said that they intend to apply pressure on Israel not to make any decisions on the matter in the near future.
A western diplomat told Haaretz Wednesday that “the Americans also know our position on this matter, and they recognize that we will not look favorably on unilateral steps at this stage.” He added that talks between Israel and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas could lead to “much more positive results than unilateral actions.”
Western diplomats have become increasingly wary of Israel’s intentions. One such diplomat said on Tuesday that this concern stems “from Israel’s rush toward unilateral steps. The prime minister [Ehud Olmert] speaks of his commitment to talks with the Palestinians, but in practice, we hear of real preparations for a unilateral withdrawal that will not be coordinated with the Palestinian partner.”
At a press conference on Tuesday, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan reiterated a Quartet decision in relation to the Gaza withdrawal, saying that “such a withdrawal ought to be coordinated with the Palestinians.”
A number of diplomats told Haaretz that Israel’s attempt to “avoid negotiations” would not be received well, and that this message was also being delivered to Washington in anticipation of Olmert’s scheduled visit there next week.
At the Quartet press conference on Tuesday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice emphasized the U.S. position that the permanent borders of Israel and Palestine can be established only by agreement between the parties. She also stressed Olmert’s pledge to attempt negotiations with the Palestinians prior to any unilateral action, as did the Quartet as a whole in its formal statement.
The Quartet stated that it “welcomes Prime Minister Olmert’s call for negotiations with a Palestinian partner committed to the road map as well as [PA] President [Mahmoud] Abbas’s continued commitment to a platform of peace.”
Nonetheless, Rice refused to express a more detailed opinion on Israel’s plan for withdrawal. Instead, she reminded those present at the press conference that in order to hold negotiations, one requires a partner. She also said that the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, albeit a unilateral step, was a positive move.
The secretary of state did point out that the U.S. was still expecting to hear more details of Israel’s plans from Olmert.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that his country would not accept unilateral steps. However, a possibility exists for talks between Olmert and Abbas, he said, pointing out that Hamas does not object to any such contacts.
The Quartet reiterated its demands that Hamas recognize Israel, relinquish the use of terror and accept previous Israeli-Palestinian accords. But Lavrov warned that there is danger in isolating Hamas.
Lavrov suggested that there may be a way forward on the basis of the Arab peace plan initiated by Saudi Arabia, which was approved by the Arab League Summit in Beirut in 2002. He said that Hamas is willing to proceed with negotiations in this framework if Israel is willing to accept it.
This article about the West’s worries over Olmert’s unilateral disengagement plan speaks even more volumes about how the peace process, if could have ever been called that, is further off the rails then ever.
It is no small wonder that Hamas does not object to Abbas talking to Israelis. Hamas will not be on the front line talks and will not be under any pressure as Western powers oversee the negotiations and can take their sweet time giving whatever Abbas says a thumbs up or down.
It is a wonder however that Olmert would want to have anything to say to Abbas, since Abbas could not deliver before and he certainly can’t deliver on anything now.
Condoleeza Rice is pathetic in saying that Israel should not be making any unilateral moves without consultations and agreement with the Palestinians, when she adds as an almost afterthought, that Israel has no partner to talk to in any event.
Russia’s anti-Israel attitude shines through again, but can anyone be really surprised that Russia would suddenly want to be buddy buddy with Israelis? They are all Jews for God’s sake! No need to say more.
To add to the morass Shmuel Rosner speaks of, is his mentioning the repeated calls the West feels obliged to make on Hamas to change its stripes and recognize Israel. They may as well be passing gas because those calls do nothing but foul the air.
Rosner throws in for good measure that Hamas is prepared to accept the Saudi Peace plan approved by the Arab League Summit in Beirut in 2002 if Israel agrees. Of course Israel can no more agree to that plan then Hamas can change its charter of death to Israel.
What this article shows is that the Road Map as a path to peace leads nowhere and that Olmert’s ranting about unilateral disengagement will probably amount to no more than ranting as the Western powers won’t let him proceed.
So round and round it goes and where it will stop, nobody knows!
Wow, is that progress or what???
Comment by Bill Narvey
— May 10, 2006 @ 11:36 pm
Oh, they’ll let him proceed with as many retreats as he wants, they just won’t recognize the “final borders” they he draws - which are the whole reason behind the retreats in the first place. It’s the height of delusion.
Comment by Peretz Rickett
— May 11, 2006 @ 1:02 am
Right on Bill.
Comment by Ted Belman
— May 11, 2006 @ 5:06 am
“Western diplomats worried by threat of Israeli unilateralism”
What really bugs those “Western” diplomats (since when does Russia qualify as “western”???) is that the Israeli government is choosing to act ALONE. Sure, we know the decisions being made are wrong, but nevertheless, they are being made without previous “consultation with” (read: permission from) the Quartet.
Even from my pessimistic/pragmatic viewpoint, I can see the positive side of this situation: the Israeli government is finally deciding to handle things without outside intervention; they’re cutting the umbilical cord, as it were. Now, if only they would stop acting like idiotic, angsty adolescents and start behaving like self-confident adults.
Comment by conservajew
— May 11, 2006 @ 7:53 am
If Western diplomats are worried, I would DEFINITELY do it.
It’s a sure sign that Israel is doing it right… And certainly nothing else that the murderers surrounding Israel do, gets them worried.
Comment by keelie
— May 11, 2006 @ 2:28 pm