Stop worrying. The peace process is dead.
President Bush Discusses Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process
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now is the time to make difficult choices.
Nobody is going to make difficult choices.
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I underscored to both Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas that progress needs to be made on four parallel tracks. First, both sides need to fulfill their commitments under the road map. Second, the Palestinians need to build their economy and their political and security institutions. And to do that, they need the help of Israel, the region, and the international community. Third, I reiterate my appreciation for the Arab League peace initiative, and I call upon the Arab countries to reach out to Israel, a step that is long overdue.
This goes against what Rice and Bush said previously. They called for first an agreement on core issues. Now he is back to the commitments under the Roadmap first. That’s significant. Although he calls for parallel tracks he orders their priority. Finally there is not a hope in hell that the Arab countries will reach out to Israel.
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In addition to these three tracks, both sides are getting down to the business of negotiating. I called upon both leaders to make sure their teams negotiate seriously, starting right now. I strongly supported the decision of the two leaders to continue their regular summit meetings, because they are the ones who can, and must, and — I am convinced — will lead.
Neither Abbas nor Olmert are able to lead where their people don’t want to go. This is form and not substance. Olmert will not jeopardize his government for the peace process. Abbas will not jeopardize his life with the peace process.
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I share with these two leaders the vision of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. Both of these leaders believe that the outcome is in the interest of their peoples and are determined to arrive at a negotiated solution to achieve it.
While Olmert believes this, what Abbas believes is irrelevant.
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The point of departure for permanent status negotiations to realize this vision seems clear: There should be an end to the occupation that began in 1967. The agreement must establish Palestine as a homeland for the Palestinian people, just as Israel is a homeland for the Jewish people. These negotiations must ensure that Israel has secure, recognized, and defensible borders. And they must ensure that the state of Palestine is viable, contiguous, sovereign, and independent.
Israel is more than “a homeland for the Jewish people”. It is a Jewish state. His expression is a step back from that and he uses the words of the Palestine Mandate. Israel has no duty to ensure that “Palestine is viable, contiguous, sovereign, and independent”. In fact Israel is demanding that it be de-militarized and that Israel has unrestricted air rights both of which demands limit its sovereignty. The fact that all these things are demanded by Bush underscores that Palestine can’t be any of these things; ergo the whole idea of a two state solution is not attainable.
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It is vital that each side understands that satisfying the other’s fundamental objectives is key to a successful agreement. Security for Israel and viability for the Palestinian state are in the mutual interests of both parties.
The Arab desire to destroy Israel and the need for Israel to be secure are mutually exclusive.
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Achieving an agreement will require painful political concessions by both sides. While territory is an issue for both parties to decide, I believe that any peace agreement between them will require mutually agreed adjustments to the armistice lines of 1949 to reflect current realities and to ensure that the Palestinian state is viable and contiguous. I believe we need to look to the establishment of a Palestinian state and new international mechanisms, including compensation, to resolve the refugee issue.
Here he is no longer implying that Israel end the occupation but is back to his letter to Sharon where he talked about “current realities” being taken into account. What is new is that he is suggesting a tradeoff of current realities with contiguity.
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I reaffirm to each leader that implementation of any agreement is subject to implementation of the road map. Neither party should undertake any activity that contravenes road map obligations or prejudices the final status negotiations. On the Israeli side that includes ending settlement expansion and removing unauthorized outposts. On the Palestinian side that includes confronting terrorists and dismantling terrorist infrastructure.
This is the old formulation and it is not reiterated with conviction. Israel reserves the right to have internal growth. There is not difference to the outside world whether the settlements are illegal, unauthorized or an obstacle to peace. If Israel were to authorize them it would make no difference to the demand. Settlement construction will continue.
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I know Jerusalem is a tough issue. Both sides have deeply felt political and religious concerns. I fully understand that finding a solution to this issue will be one of the most difficult challenges on the road to peace, but that is the road we have chosen to walk.
Without the division of Jerusalem, the peace process is going nowhere. Israel has made it abundantly clear that there will be no division of Jerusalem. Even Olmert advised Bush that construction will continue and that means Har Homa will go ahead. Netanyahu in his strongest statement so far told Bush that Jerusalem is ours now and forever.
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Security is fundamental. No agreement and no Palestinian state will be born of terror. I reaffirm America’s steadfast commitment to Israel’s security.
Ain’t going to happen.
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The establishment of the state of Palestine is long overdue. The Palestinian people deserve it. And it will enhance the stability of the region, and it will contribute to the security of the people of Israel. The peace agreement should happen, and can happen, by the end of this year. I know each leader shares that important goal, and I am committed to doing all I can to achieve it.
The Palestinians will never compromise so it will never happen.
I agree… Oslo and its progeny are dead. The Palestinians are not keep their commitments – so what’s the point? They haven’t for years. Annapolis is going exactly nowhere.
Notice that Bush does not say — never says — that Israel must be viable or contiguous. 10th grade geometry tells us that Israel and Palestine cannot both be contiguous. And indeed, Israel and Palestine cannot both be viable because there is no possible equitable division of strategic assets, including high ground and water resources, between two states west of the Jordan — particularly adversarial states.
All of this is well understood by Bush, Rice, Baker, the EU, and Olmert yet they continue to press for the “two-state solution”. If Lieberman and Shas do not bolt in time, Olmert will be able to sign on the dotted line.
What me worry?
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Ted, it has nothing to do with what Israelis want. This shmuck in the White House and the State Department are more concerned with making the Saudis and UAE happy. In the next year, NATO troops will be brought to the West Bank and Gaza as with Kosovo and they will help the Palestinians get what they want. DId you see Charlie Wilsons War, the movie? State is already sending armored vehicles with antiaircraft guns on them to the PA so the Arabs can shoot down the ISraeli Apaches and have parity.
Simply put, Israeli is screwed. Bush is trying to give the Saudis the grand prize before he leaves office as there are more rewards afterward if he does.
#3 is correct
They will attempt Kosovo and NATO in Yugoslavia, but everything is not lost, it depends totally on leadership. But then we had idiots like Yamit and others saying “Kosovo not our problem” just weeks ago!
#s 1-2-3 are mostly correct but #4 what can I say Felix this idiot still says Kosovo is not our problem! as is North and S Korea not our problem or the Taliban not our problem. Bush couldn’t get Nato involved in a sovereign country like Lebanon, And America won’t send troops so in a more volatile situation can you see those European cowards coming here to get sent home in body bags? Besides any agreement such as this will still have to pass muster with a majority in the Knesset. I can’t see it passing and I think even the Arab Mks might be opposed as well for different reasons. There will then be such a Howl from most of the Israeli people I don’t think it will cut the mustard with the electorate here.
What Olmerts end game seems to be is to put some kind of agreement together he will call it peace agreement and just when or before major opposition can mobilize he will call elections and run on the agreement sort of like a referendum, Otherwise I see him out like being forced out in next few months new elections within 3-6 months afterward.
Bush makes apocalyptic predictions
According to the mad cowboy, peace treaty between Israel and the Fatahland must be signed before he leaves the office for good. Thye peace treaty, of course, would leave Palestinians with a terrorist state and the Jewish capital.
Bush also declared that Israeli checkpoints in Judea and Samaria create “a sense of security for Israelis.” No, they create the security.
On behalf of the Jewish state, Bush offered Palestinians compensation for the refugees. The US president didn’t offer compensation to almost a million Jewish refugees from Arab states.
Bush demanded the end of the Israeli “occupation” of the “Arab land” of Judea and Samaria. Thankfully, the low-IQ president kept his mouth shut on the issue of Jerusalem.
As usual, Bush demanded dismantling of Jewish hamlets in Judea and Samaria, “the illegal outposts.” No problem with massive illegal Arab construction in Israel.
Bush frankly said, “two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side-by-side in peace is in the best interest of America and the world.” Of course, who cares about the interests of those Jews!
On the issue of rocket attacks from Palestine, Bush requires that Israel protects “innocent lives.” Sort of what the US does in Afghanistan (1.5 million people dead in the US-sponsored civil war since 1980) and Iraq?
Rice: Down with Jerusalem
Our black plague declared Jewish construction in Har Homa neighborhood of the eternal Jewish capital a violation of peace, and pronounced the US opposition to it. Certainly, every American should be now forget about Baghdad and be concerned with Har Homa. Olmert denied his government would stop construction in Jerusalem and major settlement blocs. The overwhelming majority of Israeli Jews oppose dividing Jerusalem or ceding Jewish lands to Arabs, returning to the 1956 borders.
IDF testifies to treason
IDF supplies UNIFIL and Lebanese Armed Forces with assessments of Hezbollah’s activity in South Lebanon
Bush buys Jewish compliance
With $30 billion aid package. That seemingly giant aid is distributed over the years, and is actually smaller than the total aid given to Egypt and the Palestinian Authority. Jewish right demands abrogation of the humiliating American aid to Israel. As usual, Bush demanded demolition of small Jewish farmsteads (”outposts”): surely, those micro-villages, in place for the last ten years, made the peace impossible in 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973, and 1982. Bush also demanded that Israel somehow solves the problem of Arab refugees.
Bush visit makes Sderot suffer
Palestinian terrorists fired 19 rockets and shells into Israel to greet Bush
WHAT YOU WON’T SEE IN MAIN STREAM MEDIA AND NEWS PURVEYORS
4. Gazan Welcome for Bush: American School Bombed
by Ezra HaLevi
Arab terrorists bombed the American School in Gaza on Thursday, following US President Bush’s demands that the PA give up terrorism.
Three men reportedly fired a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) at the second floor of the school on Thursday morning, shortly before students arrived for classes.
The school’s security guards had been told to leave the premises prior to the attack. They complied and the school’s art facility was destroyed.
The U.S.-funded school is located near the village of Beit Lahiya. Most of its American teachers left Gaza when Hamas came to power, fearing attack. The students at the school come from wealthy families and classes take place in English. Many will study at American universities after graduation.
This is the second time this year that the school has been attacked. Last April, the facility was set on fire by arsonists, while prior to that, an American guest and two teachers at the school were kidnapped and later released.
The school’s principle Ribhi Salem pleaded with local terrorists not to attack the school, saying it is fully licensed by the Hamas-run Palestinian Authority in Gaza and is not associated with the American government beyond receiving funding from the US State Department. “The school’s staff and students are all Palestinians, and it is licensed by the Ministry of Education,” Salem said. “Its mission is purely educational with nothing to do with politics.”
The school’s web site declares: “We are all extremely proud to be a part of the vision for the future of Palestine.”
Classes were cancelled as a result of the attack.