Israel/America Watch

[tsth]

I know you all are like me, wondering what's happening with US and Israel, and the political climate.

[tsth]

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/289357.html

In His Love,

Suzanne

[Guest yod]

.

[tsth]

PA, Israel working to schedule Sharon, Abu Mazen meeting  

By Shlomo Shamir, Haaretz Correspondent, and Agencies

Palestinian and Israeli officials are working to schedule a meeting between Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian PM Abu Mazen, Israel Radio reported Saturday. Palestinian sources said that new PA Interior Minister Mohammed Dahlan is co-ordinating the efforts on behalf of the Palestinians.

Sources in Jerusalem expect the meeting to be held soon, the radio said.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State William Burns is to arrive in Israel on Sunday to update Sharon and Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom on U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell’s talks in Damascus.

U.S. seeks UN Security Council backing for 'road map'

The United States urged the United Nations Security Council on Friday to call on Israel and the Palestinians to start implementing the new internationally-brokered "road map" to Middle East peace, but Syria said it had not received the plan and needed more time.

To build international momentum for the road map's implementation, American officials had been hoping for swift adoption of a U.S.-drafted statement backing the plan and calling on Israel and the Palestinians "to work together to end terrorism and to achieve peace."

The debate on the statement will resume Monday at the request of Syria, which attributed the request to the current visit by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell to Damascus.

Syria's UN Ambassador Mikhail Wehbe, whose country is the only Arab nation on the 15-member Security Council, also pointed out that Damascus had not yet officially received the road map.

"How can you deal with the map without receiving a map?" he asked.

U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte, who presented the proposed U.S. statement to the council, said members decided that experts from council nations would meet Monday to discuss it.

"We thought it fitting to propose that this step forward in the Middle East peace process be recognized in some way by the council," Negroponte said.

The statement welcomed the presentation of the "road map to achieve the vision of two democratic states - Israel and Palestine - living side by side in peace and security."

The United States was also hoping that the call for Security Council backing would deter the Palestinians from demanding a debate on the recent IDF incursion into the Gaza Strip, in which 13 people, including a two-year-old, were killed.

EU urges sides to begin implementing plan

The European Union also urged Israel and Palestinians on Friday to start implementing the plan and said it would lobby neighboring states such as Syria and Iran to support the push for peace.

The long-awaited "road map" to peace was presented to Israel and the Palestinians on Wednesday and the United States wants the Security Council to endorse its publication to build momentum for its speedy implementation, a U.S. official said.

"[We] must press Israel to implement the road map without setting any conditions or demanding any changes and the Palestinians must guarantee security and put an end to suicide bombings and control extremist groups," a Greek diplomat quoted EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana as saying.

"The road map has been presented and we must now work towards its implementation," Greek EU presidency sources said. "We are sending Israel and the United States a clear message that this plan must be implemented without any conditions because no changes will be made."

The U.S. statement, obtained by The Associated Press, also welcomed the decision by the Palestinian Legislative Council to confirm Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) as its first prime minister. This was crucial for the United States, which will not meet with Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat and refused to agree to publication of the "road map" until Abu Mazen became prime minister.

The plan, which aims to achieve Palestinian statehood within three years, was drafted by a Quartet of Middle East peace makers- the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia

Sources said European foreign ministers unanimously agreed that Arafat is a necessary player in the Middle East peace process.

"Arafat is a historical figure and necessary player in the peace process and any effort to decrease his role would have negative effects on the peace process," the sources said.

The sources said it was also up to the Palestinians to prevent extremists from derailing the peace process.

 

Palestinian Prime Minister Abu Mazen is expected to meet soon with PM Ariel Sharon. (Reuters)

Related Links

* Palestinian council confirms Abu Mazen and his cabinet  

* Army intelligence: Abu Mazen unable to halt terror  

Top Articles

Every dog has his day  

Finance Minister Netanyahu has been discovering that it's easier to package and sell political material than economic stuff.  

By Guy Rolnik

Slump forces Ra'anana Anglos to join welfare line  

A growing number of Anglos in the affluent city of Ra'anana are seeking emergency welfare assistance.  

By Charlotte Halle

Growing cost of the strike

Unlike Israel's political and security problems, solving the economic problems is entirely in our hands.  

Editorial

[Guest Charles Hinson]

Excellent information concerning what pro-Israel Christians are thinking about the road map.

Chuck

[tsth]

Don't know if this is relevant or not, but thought I'd post it anyway.

It is from the Whitehouse website, of upcoming presidential meetings.

President Bush to Welcome President Aznar of Spain

Statement by the Deputy Press Secretary

President Bush Will Welcome Spanish President Jose Maria Aznar of Spain to the White House on May 7, 2003 for a meeting and working dinner. Spain stands among America's closest allies in the war on terrorism and the effort to bring peace and democracy to Iraq. Spain is a leader within Europe, a valuable member of NATO and the U.N. Security Council, and an important proponent of close Transatlantic relations.

# # #

In His Love,

Suzanne

[tsth]

Here's what's happening Thursday.

President to Welcome Foreign Ministers of Central and Eastern Europe

Statement by the Deputy Press Secretary

Rose Garden Event with the Foreign Ministers of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia,

Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia

On May 8, President Bush will welcome the Foreign Ministers of the seven nations invited to join NATO at the November 2002 NATO Summit in Prague. He will be joined by leaders of the United States Senate, which is considering a resolution to provide its advice and consent to the ratification of the Protocols which will formally admit these nations as members of NATO.

The new democracies of Central and Eastern Europe treasure the freedom they have regained following the end of the Cold War. They have already acted as Allies in providing strong support to the United States in the war on terrorism, and bringing peace and democracy to Afghanistan and Iraq. Their membership in NATO will strengthen the Alliance, which remains the central pillar of transatlantic relations. The President has called upon the United States Senate to join him in advancing the cause of freedom by providing its prompt advice and consent to the ratification of these Protocols of Accession.

# # #

In His Love,

Suzanne

[tsth]

From the Jerusalem Post today:

Sharon: Israeli comments on road map to be reviewed in Washington

By THE JERSUALEM POST INTERNET STAFF

[tsth]

For those who do not get the Koenig News:

Ironic Twist as Peace Spotlight Focuses on Powell

Date:  5/7/2003

By Bill Koenig

Isn't it ironic that the point man for the Bush Administration, Secretary of State Colin Powell, is the number one proponent of the Quartet Road Map?

Isn't it ironic that the State Department and Colin Powell's efforts helped keep Yasser Arafat in office five different times until President Bush nullified him in his June 24 speech? Surprisingly or not, Colin Powell now has the main role in the Israeli-Palestinian talks.

Could Powell and the State Department fail miserably in their peace efforts? History says they will. Everyone else who has been involved in the attempted parceling of God's covenant land has met with total failure. Israel has had six prime ministers and the United States has had three presidents since the "land for peace" process began in Madrid, Spain October 30, 1991.

However, the spotlight is now on the State Department and they have a lot riding politically on the outcome. The Department of Defense believes they have the solution, which is the eradication of the terror groups who are interfering with the peace process and the democratization of the Middle East. They are also not backers of the Quartet's Road Map.

Moreover, in the past two weeks former Presidential candidate Gary Bauer and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich have both spoken out harshly against the State Department (please see Frank Gaffney's commentary on Gingrich below).

President Bush's Original Plan

As a reminder, President Bush originally wanted to be a facilitator and not an active participant in the ongoing Middle East talks. After violence worsened in Israel in early 2001 and at the urging of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarek and Jordan's King Abdullah II, President Bush became more involved. The State Department, in the summer of 2001, in cooperation with the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Daniel Kurtzer convinced President Bush to develop a comprehensive Middle East plan. This was to be given by Colin Powell to the UN General Assembly on September 23, 2001. The 9-11 terror events halted the delivery of the speech. Powell eventually gave a message in November 2001, which was followed by months of horrific violence in Israel and failed peace efforts by retired Marine General Anthony Zinni.

President Bush, again frustrated with the terror and violence in Israel, brought Zinni home in late March and stopped actively working on the peace process. On April 3, 2002, the EU called on the United States to step down and let them take over the Middle East peace talks. President Bush hastily called a Rose Garden press conference the next day, April 4. He called on the Israelis and the Palestinians to get back to the peace table and said he was sending Colin Powell to the region the following week to discuss ways to jump-start the peace process again.

The violence continued and President Bush finally gave his long-awaited Middle East plan on June 24. Remember that the June 18 and 19 addresses were postponed due to two major suicide bombings in Jerusalem.

The Quartet (EU, UN, Russia and the U.S) designed their plan in late September and the plan was completed at the December 20 meeting at the White House. However, there were still differences between the Quartet Plan and the Bush plan. Primarily, the Palestinians would be required to stop terror first and then the talks would continue. The World community continues to want Israel to stop the settlement construction in conjunction with the cessation of terror.

We know if the settlements are tampered with America will be shaken to its core.

The Bush Peace Effort and Terror

President Bush believes the terror issue is one of the main reasons the peace talks have not been successful. He has stated the terrorists are attempting to stop the peace process, but we have shown how the Lord consistently seems to rebuke any attempt at peace using His covenant land.

President Bush knows the terror incidents are problems and has made cessation of terror the main contingency before starting the talks. Over 350 Members of Congress have stated the same contingency in a letter calling for no talks until the terror stops.

Suicide Bombings

We have documented that 20 out of 22 major suicide bombings (loss of multiple lives and many injuries) in Israel since December 2001 have all occurred on the same day or within 24-hours of either former Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres or Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon stating Israel was in favor of a Palestinian state. Peres and Sharon numbered three times each for a total of six bombings. Sharon stated, "We will do whatever necessary for peace" (three bombings.) President Bush had one of his senior officials in Israel to meet with the Israelis and the Palestinians on peace and there were twelve bombings while Sharon was at the White House. Otherwise, 90% of the bombings were averted with very little loss of life or injury. It appears the Lord lifts His hand of protection for a brief moment to send a message: Do not tamper with covenant land!!

Also, it appears President Bush desires to remain in the key role, via the State Department, rather than turning over the peace efforts to other members of the Quartet. Moreover, the EU, the UN and Russia favor the Palestinians. Israel is not comfortable with having them in charge of the peace talks as she feels their hostility. British Prime Minister Tony Blair and British Foreign Minister Jack Straw have been actively trying to force the sides to the table. The main point man now is Colin Powell, but EU representative Javier Solana has stated in the last few days they want a greater role. We shall closely watch as this new stage unfolds.

---

Key Middle East News

Powell due in Israel on Saturday (Excerpt)

Click here for the full article.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell is expected to visit Israel on Saturday for talks about implementing the Road Map peace plan, an Israeli Foreign Ministry official said.

The official said that Powell was expected to arrive in the country on Saturday night, May 10.

---

US Asks UN to Make "Road Map" Call (Excerpt)

Click here for the full article.

The U.S. has asked the UN Security Council to officially call upon Israel and the Palestinian Authority to adopt the Road Map plan. The US proposal called on both sides to "act together to stop terrorism."

The Foreign Ministers of the European Union were more adamant in their demand. Meeting in Rhodes over the weekend, they said that the argument over Arafat's fate should not hold up the "complete implementation" of the plan, and that in any event they do not want Arafat "out of the picture." Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou even said that Arafat is "a historic figure, a critical player in the Middle East who can still have influence over the peace process." Javier Solana, the EU's Foreign Minister, said that Israel must be pressured to "implement the Road Map without conditions or changes," and that the Palestinians must "promise to stop the suicide attacks."

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will meet with Abu Mazen after Independence Day, which will be celebrated on Wednesday. Negotiations on security issues with the PA will resume afterwards, headed on the Israeli side by Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz.

Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, who served in the past as a US mediator in the Middle East, will meet with Israeli leaders today and this evening, including Sharon, Mofaz, and Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom.

Powell: U.S. watching Syria closely (Excerpt)

MSNBC News Services - Click here for the full article.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said Sunday the Bush administration would be carefully watching Syria's "performance" in response to demands that it stop supporting anti-Israeli guerrillas and heed American plans for the Middle East after the war in Iraq. But a day after Powell met with Syrian President Bashar Assad and reported that the country has begun forcing groups the Bush administration considers terrorist organizations to close their offices in Damascus, several Syria-based militant groups said it was business as usual on Sunday.

DURING AN INTERVIEW Sunday on NBC's "Meet The Press," Powell again underscored his message to Damascus.

"My clear message to President Bashar Assad is that some of the policies you've been following in the past will not take you anywhere in the future," Powell said. "It's performance that we'll be looking at in the days and weeks and months ahead and he (Assad) knows that."

He said he made clear that the U.S. commitment to Middle East peace "would include Syria and Lebanon, and would include the Golan Heights," particularly sensitive issue for Syria. The Golan Heights are a rocky frontier plateau held by Israel since 1967.

Powell Rejects Syria's Proposal

On Saturday, Powell rejected Syria's request for immediate U.S. support for an Arab-backed U.N. resolution on ridding the Middle East of weapons of mass destruction -- a proposal obviously aimed at Israel.

Before his meeting with Assad, Powell said clearing destructive weapons from the region is a long-standing U.S. goal, but now is not the time to address that matter.

Shooting the messenger (Excerpt)

Frank J. Gaffney Jr. -

Click here for the full article.

Official Washington is notorious for its tendency to respond to unwelcome performance assessments by "shooting the messenger." The reaction to Newt Gingrich's recent, scathing critique of the State Department's conduct of diplomacy in recent months, however, seems closer to the gruesome punishment of "drawing and quartering" - in which the victim's arms and legs were chained to, and then pulled apart by, four horses.

Frank J. Gaffney Jr. is the president of the Center for Security Policy and a columnist for The Washington Times.

[Matthitjah]

Amen Sister,

I was going to post this as well.

You beat me to the punch.

Keep up the good work.

The only thing I might add is I was going to ask the question?

Do you think G-d will judge those who mess with His covenant land?

In light of the recent Tornado swarm in the midwes.

GBU

Peace :il: Amen