A rchive Date
[ 30-04-2003 ]
Category
[ International Relations ]
sub-Categoy
[ U.S ]
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[http://www.canoe.ca/Columnists/mansur_london.html
Determined Bush improves peace prospects
By SALIM MANSUR -- For the London Free Press
April 30, 2003
The dismantling of Saddam Hussein's brutal regime by the Americans has opened the road to a final settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In appointing Mahmoud Abbas as prime minister of the Palestinian Authority, so soon after the fall of Baghdad to American forces, the mainstream Palestinian leadership has indicated it understands the implications of the war in Iraq and what this means for the final settlement of their conflict with the Israelis.
The connection between Iraq and Palestine was obvious, for the U.S. could not make credibly the case for Iraqi freedom without making a commitment to help Palestinians achieve freedom from Israeli occupation.
President George W. Bush understood after 9/11, if he did not before, that politics of the Middle East being connected despots, such as Saddam Hussein, exploited for their own purpose the genuinely felt distress of Arabs and Muslims with the appalling situation of Palestinians.
In his UN speech one year after the terrorist attacks on America, Bush declared, "In the Middle East there can be no peace for either side without freedom for both sides."
Then Bush went farther than any previous American president, declaring, "America stands committed to an independent and democratic Palestine, living side by side with Israel in peace and security. Like all other people, Palestinians deserve a government that serves their interests and listens to their voices."
Again last February, a few weeks before the war for Iraqi freedom began, Bush spoke in Washington at the American Enterprise Institute, a think-tank connected with the Republican Party. He said, "Success in Iraq could also begin a new stage for Middle Eastern peace and set in motion progress towards a truly democratic Palestinian state."
He then described how his administration felt the new situation in the Middle East may end the sort of violence that has plagued the region.
"The passing of Saddam Hussein's regime will deprive terrorist networks of a wealthy patron that pays for terrorist training, and offers rewards to families of suicide bombers. And other regimes will be given a clear warning that support for terror will not be tolerated. . . . without this outside support for terrorism, Palestinians who are working for reform and long for democracy will be in a better position to choose new leaders. A Palestinian state must be a reformed and peaceful state that abandons forever the use of terror."
Bush also made clear what was expected of the Israelis. "For its part, the new government of Israel will be expected to support the creation of a viable Palestinian state and to work as quickly as possible toward a final status agreement."
The late president of Egypt, Anwar Sadat, counselled a generation ago that only Americans could broker the final settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Sadat acted accordingly and paid with his life.
Yasser Arafat and the leadership of his group, the Palestinian Liberation Organization, soon after the first Gulf War of 1991, realized for themselves how corrupt Arab tyrants and religious fanatics made a political game out of the tragedy of their people.
But the resulting Oslo Accord of 1993 itself became a casualty of the spiralling violence of Israeli occupation and counter-violence of Palestinians. Religious fanatics on all sides played against the sanity and moderation of the centre that had achieved an historic breakthrough in making for the politics of accommodation between two peoples in a common territory.
Palestinians have made a new beginning with the appointment of a reformist, Mahmoud Abbas, who is publicly opposed to religious fanaticism and terrorism.
It is now left for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to demonstrate his government will not let continuing occupation of West Bank and Gaza become the grave of final settlement with Palestinians.
Bush has declared his position. Moreover, he is a man of his word.
A religious fanatic and a tyrant, or their ghosts, ironically bear witness for those Arabs and Jews alike who yearn for peace, that there is an American president for now who means what he says.
Salim Mansur is a professor of political science at the University of Western Ontario. His column appears alternate Wednesdays. Letters to the editor should be sent to letters@lfpress.com
 World Fact Book (CIA)]
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