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| Middle East |
| New Palestinian PM May Meet With Bush |
| 2003-03-15 |
| Once he is sworn in, the new Palestinian prime minister may be invited to the White House to meet with President Bush as the administration accelerates its drive for a Middle East settlement and a Palestinian state. "I think there would be nothing better, at some point in time when it is appropriate, for a Palestinian prime minister to visit the White House," Condoleezza Rice, Bush's national security adviser, said Friday in an interview telecast to the Arab world. After the appointment of Mahmoud Abbas, known also as Abu Mazen, as prime minister is confirmed, Bush plans to present Israel and the Palestinians with a "road map" for peace. A PaleoPM is a step in the right direction, but only a baby step. It represents Yasser giving the absolute minimum in the hope of getting off the poop list. We'll be able to deal when Yasser's out of the picture, if not with Abbas, two or three Paleoleaders down the road. Bush should still hold back on serious application of the carrot... With his announcement Friday, Bush responded to European as well as Arab complaints of inaction. He declared Israel could not have peace without accepting a Palestinian state on land held by Israel since the Six-Day War of 1967. "There can be no peace for either side in the Middle East unless there is freedom for both," Bush said. "The time has come to move beyond entrenched positions and to take concrete actions to achieve peace." The Paleo movement beyond entrenched positions has been minimal. The Israelis have accomplished much more by rounding the gunnies and snuffies and hard boys up and locking them away. From the outset, Bush has shunned Yasser Arafat, who has symbolized the Palestinian statehood movement for four decades, and never invited him to the White House. Last June, he demanded that a new Palestinian leader be elected and suggested that Arafat was involved in terrorism against Israel. Even though Arafat remains at the head of the Palestinian Authority, the Bush administration considers Mazen's appointment a shift in authority, with the prime minister taking charge of security and negotiations. Still wishful thinking at this point. I think that's what the Bush team is saying publicly, and that they have no real illusions about what's in place in Paleoland... Rice told Al-Jazeera that timing for Washington talks between the prime minister and Bush "will be important, and we will be in touch with them about this." European leaders praised Bush's move. Palestinian officials said pressure on Israel was required, not further discussion the so-called "road map" to settlement. "Don't both us with this negotiation stuff. Bring us something that gives in to all our demands with no concessions." |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #2 The US floating some proposal is fine. It will not go anywhere, but it will buy us time while we clean up Iraq (AND little flunkie Syria). Then with the terror money being cut off, we may be able to start real negotiations with real folks that want to see things happen. In the meantime, airdrop babywipes to Ramallah as a good will gesture. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-03-15 15:23:53 |
| #1 Yasser (she's my baby) Arafat symbolized Palestinian Statehood???? Never! He symbolized 'Death to the Jews', 'Drive Israel into the Sea' and 'Murder, Inc. Palestinian Branch' for decades. He could've had a State 40 years ago. Arafat prefered terrorism. |
| Posted by: Jabba the Tutt 2003-03-15 15:01:52 |