USA/ISRAEL : With Israel on verge of elections, analysts say U.S. in search for policy with lack of Palestinian partner for peace.

Record ID: 401093

  • Title: USA/ISRAEL : With Israel on verge of elections, analysts say U.S. in search for policy with lack of Palestinian partner for peace.
  • Date: 24th March 2006
  • Summary: (AM) NORTHERN ISRAEL (RECENT) (REUTERS) OLMERT AND ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER SHAUL MOFAZ LOOKING THROUGH BINOCULARS DURING TOUR IN NORTHERN ISRAEL ISRAELI FLAG WAVING NEAR GROUP
  • Embargoed: 8th April 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVACMBNB9NQP46JFJ5MJHK3XEVIH
  • Story Text: The U.S.-backed road map to peace is a rhetorical policy that analysts agree never existed. With Israeli elections drawing near and Hamas in government, new realities raise questions for U.S. policy makers.
    A week before Israelis head to polls to cast a land for peace ballot or a tight security grip on land ballot, U.S. Ambassador Dennis Ross, who played a leading role in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, reviewed U.S. policy towards Israel and its new "partner", the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority.
    "I think the American policy is still a vision, a vision of two states living side by side in peace and security but obviously how you pursue that when one party is led by a group that rejects the very idea of a two state solution raises questions about what the American policy is," said Ross, counselor at The Washington Institute on Near-East policy, during an interview with Reuters Television.
    "My guess is the administration will stick to it as a rhetorical policy, now I think it has to decide what it's going to do".
    United States President George W. Bush along with Quartet members, designed the Israeli-Palestinian road map to peace. The road map, a performance based and goal driven plan, was sponsored by President Bush in June 2002, and was endorsed by components of the Quartet - Russia, the European Union and the United Nations - in September 2002.
    "I view the road map as part of the vision that I described, it is a way forward," said Bush during a meeting of the Quartet in the White House in 2002.
    United Nations Secretary Kofi Annan emphasized the necessity that both sides fulfill their obligations in order to bring hope to the conflict-torn region.
    "It also has to be hope-driven and I believe that this vision of two states, living in peace and security will be the dream that will keep that hope alive," said Annan during the 2002 meeting in Washington D.C.
    To date, Israel and the Palestinians have failed to adhere to the plan drawn up three years ago, which includes a call on Palestinians to dismantle "terrorist infrastructures" and on Israel to halt settlement construction. Furthermore, the 2003 road map was drafted before Israel started erecting its controversial West Bank separation barrier, which has drawn international condemnation.
    David Makovsky, Director of the Middle East Peace Project at the Washington Institute on Near-East Policy, says the document was never endorsed by the two parties involved; therefore, the peace plan was never implemented.
    "People say the road map died if it wasn't born, it was a document that was never negotiated between the parties, therefore, they don't have a sense of ownership," said Makovsky, adding that new realities on the ground today raise even more fundamental issues, marginalizing the road map vision.
    Maintaining unity among the international community on policies towards the Hamas-led Palestinian government is the key question, Makovsky contended.
    The Islamic militant group Hamas won a shock victory in the January ballot, raising questions revolving around the mere recognition of the Jewish state's existence. Today, the vision of a two state solution appears to be a distant illusion.
    Israel says it will not negotiate with a government led by Hamas, which is sworn to destroy the Jewish state and has carried out nearly 60 suicide bombings against Israelis since a Palestinian uprising erupted in 2000.
    Since its victory, Hamas has been under pressure from the United States, the European Union and Israel to give up violence and recognise Israel or lose crucial financial aid to the Palestinian Authority.
    "If the leaders of Hamas desire the help of America and the international community to build an independent, prosperous Palestinians state, then the way forward is very clear. The Palestinian government must recognize Israel's right to exist," said United States Vice President Richard Cheney in remarks at the start of the annual convention of The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
    Israelis are heading to elections on March 28. Should opinion polls prove true, Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will sweep the vote at the head of a centrist Kadima Party which vows, in the absence of peace with the Palestinians, to evacuate isolated Jewish settlements in the West Bank and set Israel's border.
    Olmert reiterated that he would seek to consolidate Israel's borders after the election. He said Israel would maintain the major settlement blocs of Maale Adumim, Gush Etzion and Ariel and would keep the Jordan Valley as a security zone. He did not say which of the dozens of isolated West Bank settlements would be evacuated.
    Palestinians see the settlements as a hated symbol of occupation and fear they will not be able to establish a viable state if Israel keeps major blocs in the West Bank.
    Kadima, formed by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon weeks before he suffered a crippling stroke on Jan. 4, is forecast to win between 35 and 40 seats in the 120-member parliament and centre-left Labour trailing with 19 and Likud, now under the leadership of former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, finishing in third place with around 16.
    Ambassador Ross reiterated U.S. support for Israel and said any elected prime minister will strive to maintain close ties.
    "The fact is the United State and Israel have a long standing relationship, whoever is prime minister is going to want to have a relationship with the American administration and I think because of that whatever is being said you'll probably see something develop that allows a basis on which to work together," said Ross.
    With opinion polls agreeing Olmert's Kadima party will run away with Tuesday's vote, analysts say the contest is shaping up into a referendum over his pledge to set Israel's permanent borders by 2010.
    "Israelis...will negotiate among themselves over what kind of border they want in the future and clearly this election is a referendum on that concept and then they'll negotiate it with the United States," said political analyst Doug Bloomfield.
    With Hamas on course to govern the Palestinian Authority, the U.S. is still seeking an internationally unified policy towards the Palestinians. For now, the Bush Administration will not negotiate with a government that calls for the destruction of Israel but it is seeking ways to funnel financial aid to the people through alternative channels.
    The U.S.-backed road map to peace will remain a vision. So, where is U.S. policy?
    "It's sort of like stealth, you can't see it, you can't hear it but it's probably there," said Bloomfield.

    ends
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