Robert Novak reports that the President thinks he needs to get to work on the Israel-Palestine peace process.
Meeting privately with the Baker-Hamilton commission before its report on Iraq was released, President Bush did not seem pleased. So, when a Republican member said he believed it was imperative to get moving on the stalled Israel-Palestine peace process, a negative response from the president was expected. Instead, he replied: “I do, too.”
…Colin Powell’s departure as secretary of state two years ago eliminated the administration’s last major figure who was at all serious about the peace process. Bush has been seen by his Arab allies as letting the junior partner in the U.S.-Israeli alliance dominate the senior partner.
Consequently, if Bush really meant it when he said, “I do, too,” it would entail a radical change in policy that would engender severe opposition. The Baker-Hamilton report and Hagel’s speech each reiterated the truth that there is no chance whatsoever for essential Israeli-Palestinian peace without American brokerage. The Israeli ruling class and its U.S. outriders do not want that to happen, which explains the bitter opposition to the commission’s recommendations. It would be an act of courage for Bush to risk an assault from these forces, and it is a central decision of his last two years.
Here is my question: why do the “Israeli ruling class and its U.S. outriders…not want that to happen”? That’s what I want to know. I want to work with the Israelis and with their staunch defenders here in America. I want to create the basis for a stable and secure Israel. But I can’t do that if they don’t want to engage in peace talks with the Palestinians.
The exact degree to which the Iraq invasion was intended to advance Israeli interests is a matter of heated controversy, but it should be clear that the war has not had the intended effect. Israel is more isolated than it has ever been. There is going to be an inevitable backlash with an attendant questioning of the wisdom of American policy towards Israel. Israel’s position in not going to get any stronger than it is right now. Now is the time to make concessions. The longer they wait, the worse the situation will grow.
On the other hand, things in Palestine have deteriorated to such a point that it isn’t clear that Israel can even find a coherent party to negotiate with. This is another legacy of neo-conservatism. They thought they could break the will of the Muslim world by ignoring the peace process, dismantling the Palestinian authority, and toppling Saddam Hussein. They were wrong. If George W. Bush is going to have any chance at a decent legacy we needs to do one of two things in his last two years. Either he needs to provide every American with health insurance, or he needs to iron out a comprehensive peace settlement in the Holy Lands. He should get on it.
