Bush needs to be firm with Israel

Peace between Israel and Palestine now seems closer than it has since the beginning of the Second Intifada in September of 2000, possibly closer than it has since the not-quite-good-enough 1993 Oslo Accords. However, for there to be any genuine hope of achieving peace, Israel must be willing to make some concessions to the Palestinians, something that will not happen without President Bush upping the pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to make a more concerted effort for peace.

Israel was attacked from all sides during its first week in existence in 1948. Since then, the country has existed in a continual state of war. The latest degeneration of the peace process just before President Bush was sworn into office in 2000 brought on some of the most devastating terrorist attacks the country has ever seen. However, in the past months there have been huge steps taken along the road to peace. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, often seen as one of the biggest roadblocks to peace, died in November of 2004 and Mahmoud Abbas, a far more moderate Palestinian who seems to be genuinely interested in peace, was democratically elected to take his place. Additionally, Sharon's agreements to move troops out of the contested Gaza Strip and President Bush's renewed interest in the peace process bring new hope into the region.

President Bush stated that Israel should make a stronger effort for peace at a recent meeting in Texas with Ariel Sharon, according to NPR. "Israel should remove unauthorized outposts and meet its road map obligations regarding settlements in the West Bank," he said. However, he refused to be any more severe with the Israelis. Bush should be placing more pressure on the Israelis to accomplish peace in the region.

Jerusalem and who will hold it is a central issue that Bush must be firmer about. Stephen Cohen, President of the Institute for Middle East Peace and Development, said in an NPR story that the proposed expansion of Israeli territories seems to indicate to Palestinians that any solution that is created will not allow for any Palestinian holding of Jerusalem. "Israel is taking steps to close the Palestinians off from thinking about their future as including any part of Jerusalem. And I think that it's going to be impossible for any Palestinian leader to accept a permanent agreement with Israel in which it does not have a foothold in part of Jerusalem," said Cohen. If the Palestinians feel they will have no hold of Jerusalem in any Palestinian state, they have little reason to bargain with Israel to gain one.

Peace will be difficult to achieve while Sharon insists on holding and even expanding certain territories in the West Bank, something he will not change without American pressure. While the Israeli government has reassured the Americans that there are no imminent plans to build an extension of these settlements in the West Bank, the world needs a more definitive answer on whether or not Israel will be allowed to build at all. David Makovsky from The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, as quoted in an NPR story, feels that the situation is currently being set up to gloss over the issue, something that will not work out in the long run. "I think it's wired right now for a fudge, frankly. But I don't think this wiring for a fudge is going to work over time. I think there has to be some clear understandings. Can Israel build on the blocks or not?" Makovsky stated.

Bush must make the Israelis see that without willingness to give up some of their West Bank settlements, peace will likely not be possible. According to an NPR story, Sharon has stated that all of the major Jewish population centers will remain in Israel. Although this is probably ideal for Israel, it will leave only small areas, separated by Israel, for the Palestinians. Sharon must be pressured into giving up some of these population centers in order to create peace with the Palestinians. If he fels it is truly necessary that these people remain part of Israel, the Israeli government should work to relocate them.

Sharon must know that making peace with the Palestinians is an important matter, and a priority of the American government. Bush must show Sharon that if Sharon intends to remain in his close relationship with he U.S., he must make concessions to the Palestinians. If required, Bush should threaten Sharon with revocation of American financial aid if Sharon does not work harder to realistically negotiate with the Palestinians. With new leadership for the Palestinians, peace finally seems possible, but only if Sharon is willing to make serious concessions - concessions that the Israelis likely will not make without significant pressure from the U.S.