Bush tires of peace efforts
in 'no-win' war
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Friday, July 6, 2001
WASHINGTON Ñ The Bush administration is expressing frustration over
its failure to stop the Israeli-Palestinian war and is considering
decreasing U.S. efforts.
Administration officials said President George Bush has been dismayed
that Secretary of State Colin Powell and CIA George Tenet have failed in
their missions to stop the war. They said they are considering ending their
intensive efforts to mediate a ceasefire between the two sides.
"We are being criticized by all sides," an administration source said.
"The Arabs say we are colluding with Israel and the Israelis say we are
ignoring their position. It's a no-win situation."
The officials said implementation of the Mitchell commission
recommendations have been stymied by the continuing Palestinian attacks and
Israeli retaliation. They said their efforts have also been hampered by
inaccurate claims by both Israeli and Palestinian security officials.
Officials said the administration wants to launch talks with Israel on a
roadmap for implementation of the commission. A key demand is for the
Israeli suspension of all construction in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Israel, however, is not being pressed to immediately implement the
Mitchell commission recommendations, the officials said.
"I would say that we are still looking for them to exert further
efforts," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said. "We are looking
for maximum effort from the parties, looking for continued security
cooperation from the parties, to really make the quiet take hold."
The New York Times reports that since Powell returned from his Middle
East tour last month he has not been in touch with either Israeli Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon or Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat. Bush
has also refused to maintain telephone contact with Israeli or Palestinian
leaders.
On Thursday, a Palestinian was killed and an Israeli soldier was injured
during a firefight near Ramallah. The battle began with Palestinian fire
toward the nearby Jewish settlement of Psagot.
In another shooting, three Palestinians were injured in a drive-by
ambush near Ramallah. Palestinian sources said the attackers were Israelis.
An Israeli police official said authorities suspect that the shooting was in
revenge for Palestinian attacks on Jewish motorists in the West Bank.
Palestinian gunners fired mortars and rocket-propelled grenades toward
several areas of the Gaza Strip. This included the Katif bloc of settlements
and Israeli military posts along the Egyptian border.
Sharon wraps up his European tour on Friday. Sharon met with German
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in Berlin and French President Jacques Chirac
in Paris.
Friday, July 6, 2001
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