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U.S. Senators Call on Bush to "Not Restrain Israel"
With additional reporting by Neveen A. Salem and Ayesha Ahmad
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Members of the U.S. Senate revealed last week that 89 senators sent a letter to President George W. Bush commending his policy of refusing to meet with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat until "violence is halted", and urged him not to restrain Israel from "defending itself against terrorism".
"The American people would never excuse us for not going after the terrorists with all our strength and might," the letter said. "Yet that is what some have demanded of the Israeli government after every terrorist incident they suffer.
"No matter what the provocation, they urge restraint. We would never accept that response for ourselves."
The letter, proposed by Senators Christopher "Kit" Bond (R-MO) and Charles Schumer (D-NY) and issued Friday, "complained" about State Department warnings to Israel to use restraint in responding to Palestinian attacks, according to a report by the British weekly, the
Sunday Times.
"We cannot understand how some can urge such a course upon Israel, our one reliable and democratic ally in the entire Middle East," the letter said.
In a Saturday article in the New York Times, one of the signatories expressed the concern behind the senators' letter.
"There is constant concern about the administration's wavering," Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), said in the
New York Times article. "[Secretary of State Colin] Powell talks about the cycle of violence that suggests one produces the other and that there is a moral equivalency, which is not true. Terrorists killing civilians is totally unjustified, and Israel's response is self-defense."
Although the letter did not refer to specific statements or positions taken by the State Department, the senators unambiguously stated their position on those issues, the
NY Times article said.
In line with its view of Israel's right to defend itself against attacks by Palestinians, the letter commended Bush's pressing of Arafat to halt the violence.
"We applaud the firm stand you have taken in urging Chairman Arafat to do all he can to rein in terrorist groups operating in Palestinian territories, and pointing out that he has not done enough to stop the violence," the senators said.
The letter also urged Bush to maintain the "correct course" of "not meeting with [Arafat]" as he met with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in the White House this summer.
"You have followed the correct course in not meeting with him until he has fulfilled these minimal obligations," the letter said. "We urge you to continue your policy of not meeting with Chairman Arafat until he has taken the necessary steps to end the violence and terrorism against Israel."
Last week, former South African president Nelson Mandela urged Bush to meet with Arafat, saying that his refusal to do so promoted the image of the U.S. as an unequal partner for peace.
"That confirms a perception that the United States is the friend of Israel and is therefore not an impartial negotiator," Mandela said during a lecture at the University of Maryland outside of Washington D.C., where he discussed his meeting with Bush.
"I have never doubted the integrity [of U.S. presidents George Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush]," he added, "but this is the perception, and the failure to see Arafat strengthens that perception."
U.S. policy regarding Israel was part of the focus at Powell's Monday speech at the University of Louisville, in which the Secretary of State addressed issues surrounding the Middle East peace process.
Powell's criticism of Israeli occupation, and of the "checkpoints and raids and indignities" that Palestinians suffer under that occupation, provide fodder for the letter's dissatisfaction with the State Department's position, although much of Powell's address focused on his call for Palestinians to stop violent attacks.
The New York Times article said that the senators' letter was intended to prevent Powell from criticizing Israel directly or indirectly, and from offering incentives to Palestinians, and the
Sunday Times article suggested that because of the letter, Powell's speech "may now be severely watered down."
Powell delivered his speech on the Middle East yesterday; it fell short of providing any concrete new steps towards gaining a just and fair peace in the region.
Activists in Washington D.C. were disappointed that Powell failed to mention the future status of illegally occupied Jerusalem and that his statements on the plight of the refugees failed to provide concrete solutions. The right of return of the Palestinian refugees was never mentioned.
"While we welcome the fact that the U.S. is willing to become more engaged in peace-making efforts, Powell's statement offered little new in terms of policy," Margaret Zaknoen, Director of Programs of American Muslims for Jerusalem (AMJ) told IslamOnline.
"It was the first time, in a long time, that a high-level U.S. official has cited the [Israeli] occupation as the root cause of the conflict, but no time table was given and no new steps were outlined to bring that occupation to an end."
"We don't want this to be a repeat of the Madrid conference, when America's need for Arab allies [during the Gulf War] led to a more active role on the Palestinian issue, but endless negotiations got nowhere on the core issues of the problem," she concluded.
Senators Bond and Schumer could not be reached for comment by IslamOnline.
Full text of letter and partial list of co-signers follows:
November 7, 2001
The Honorable George W. Bush
President
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
Please accept our sincere expression of admiration and support for the way you are leading our nation at this time of war. We will stay the course with you for however long it takes to rid the world of the scourge of global terrorism. We also want to indicate to you our shared commitment for the enduring security of the State of Israel, our close ally in the fight against terrorism.
We applaud the firm stand you have taken in urging Chairman Arafat to do all he can to rein in terrorist groups operating in Palestinian territories, and pointing out that he has not done enough to stop the violence. You have followed the correct course in not meeting with him until he has fulfilled these minimal obligations. We also share your conviction that no solution can be imposed upon the parties, that they must negotiate an agreement themselves following a cessation of the violence.
We have suffered first hand the kind of terrorism that Israel has been subjected to since its birth. We are resolved to do whatever it takes to fight terrorist groups of global reach, as the leaders of Israel are resolved to defend their people from such groups. There is no excuse, no justification for terrorism. Whatever the grievance, the killing of innocent civilians to advance political goals can never be countenanced.
The American people would never excuse us for not going after the terrorists with all our strength and might. Yet that is what some have demanded of the Israeli government after every terrorist incident they suffer. No matter what the provocation, they urge restraint. We would never accept that response for ourselves. We cannot understand how some can urge such a course upon Israel, our one reliable and democratic ally in the entire Middle East. We are confident that you support Israel's efforts to defend itself.
We know you will remain steadfast in standing with our ally, Israel, and hope you will find an opportunity soon to express that solidarity with Israel publicly. We urge you to continue your policy of not meeting with Chairman Arafat until he has taken the necessary steps to end the violence and terrorism against Israel.
Again, you have our full support in the long struggle we face, and we are confident that, with your leadership, we will prevail.
Sincerely,
Kit Bond
Daniel Akaka
Wayne Allard
George Allen
Max Baucus
Evan Bayh
Robert Bennett
Christopher "Kit" Bond
Barbara Boxer
John Breaux
Sam Brownback
Jim Bunning
Conrad Burns
Ben Nighthorse Campbell
Maria Cantwell
Jean Carnahan
Thomas Carper
Lincoln Chaffee
Max Cleland
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Susan Collins
Kent Conrad
Jon Corzine
Larry Craig
Mike Crapo
Tom Daschle
Mark Dayton
Mike DeWine
Pete Domenici
Christopher Dodd
Byron Dorgan
Richard Durbin
John Edwards
John Ensign
Mike Enzi
Russell Feingold
Dianne Feinstein
Peter Fitzgerald
Bill Frist
Bob Grahm
Phil Gramm
Charles Grassley
Tom Harkin
Orrin Hatch
Jesse Helms
Ernest Hollings
Tim Hutchinson
Kay Bailey Hutchison
James Inhofe
Daniel Inouye
Tim Johnson
Edward Kennedy
John Kerry
Herbert Kohl
Jon Kyl
Joesph Lieberman
Mary Landrieu
Carl Levin
Blanche Lincoln
Trent Lott
John McCain
Mitch McConnell
Zell Miller
Barbara Mikulski
Bill Nelson
Benjamin Nelson
Don Nickles
Jack Reed
Harry Reid
John Rockerfeller
Rick Santorum
Paul Sarbanes
Charles Schumer
Jeff Sessions
Richard Shelby
Gordon Smith
Bob Smith
Olympia Snowe
Arlen Spector
Debbie Stabenow
Ted Stevens
Craig Thomas
Fred Thompson
Strom Thurmond
Robert Torricelli
George Voinovich
John Warner
Paul Wellstone
Ron Wyden
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