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The news  12-18 April 2004

the assassination of Rantissi

Following the assassination of Rantissi, Hamas vowed revenge: The PA blamed Bush.

Before the assassination, Hamas was in discussions on a shared responsibility agreement for a post-withdrawal Gaza, including an end to attacks beyond the Green Line.

The Bush statement

The first international reaction to Bush’s support for Sharon agreed that by-passing the Palestinians would only worsen the situation.

A visibly marginalised Tony Blair was reduced to appealing to Bush to be more even-handed.

Blair claimed Bush’s statement did not contradict the road map. But EU leaders were more critical.

The policy change was rejected by the Arab League.

The political situation in Gaza now suits Hamas just fine.

Dennis Ross, formerly Bill Clinton’s Middle East envoy, argued that although Bush should have involved the Palestinians too, his statement leaves their options open. But Dore Gold expressly argued that the Bush statement represents a significant retreat from Clinton’s policies.

At one point Sharon threatened to call off his trip to Washington if Bush did not give him what he wanted.

Triumphant Israeli officials were boasting of what they saw as the US policy shift towards Israel’s positions, and were threatening to destroy the settlements if they were not used to ‘resettle’ refugees.

The New York Times talked to one typical Palestinian refugee about his dream of ‘return’.

The Washington Post thought Bush’s stand would strengthen his position with Jewish voters in the Presidential election.

The New York ‘Forward’ also saw the tactical advantages to Bush and Sharon, as they face mounting crises, over Iraq and corruption respectively.

Leading US Reform Rabbi Eric Yoffie explains why as a ‘dove’, he supports the Sharon plan.

Marwan Bishara - Palestinian academic and political analyst for Abu Dhabi television - explains his view that Sharon’s plan will provide only temporary benefits for its author.

MIFTAH, the Palestinian think-tank headed by Hanan Ashrawi, slated the Bush policy shift, in a statement which also includes links to the Bush-Sharon statement and exchange of letters.

An article in the Lebanese paper Dar al-Hayat set out the unpalatable choices facing the Palestinians.

Akiva Eldar pointed to the obvious parallels between Sharon’s Gaza and Apartheid South Africa’s Bantustans.

meanwhile...


Aviv Lavie reports on the little-publicised but significant non-violent ‘third intifada’ which is involving Palestinians and some Israelis, including even retired generals, in protests against the route of the wall.

Palestinians have also been demonstrating against the PA’s inaction on the issue.

2002

 

 

 

 


 

 

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