JERUSALEM, May 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George
W. Bush's ongoing Mideast visit may bring winds of comfort rather than peace
agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, said political analysis, though
premier Ehud Olmert promised Thursday an Israeli parliament approval of
Palestinian statehood once the time arrives.
"President Bush's visit can not assist in overcoming
the grave and serious difficulties of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process,"
Shlomo Avineri, Professor of Political Science at the Hebrew University of
Jerusalem, told Xinhua on Thursday.
U.S. President George W. Bush pauses
during applause in his speech to the Knesset in Jerusalem May 15,
2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
The main purpose of Bush's visit is to salute Israel's
60th birthday and to show U.S. supports for Israel, which just carries a
symbolic meaning, he said.
In his point of view, the gap between Israel and the
Palestinians is too deep regarding the final-status issues including the return
of Palestinian refugees, Jerusalem and the borders.
"There is no meaning to the agreements that were
achieved or will be achieved as long as Hamas controls the Gaza Strip," Avineri
said, adding "it is hard to see a peace agreement being achieved anytime in the
near future."
"The Palestinians need to reach peace among
themselves before they sit around the negotiation table in an attempt to reach
peace with Israel," he stressed.
U.S. President George W. Bush (L) hugs
Israeli President Shimon Peres (R) following a speech to the Knesset in
Jerusalem May 15, 2008. Speaker of the Knesset Dalia Itzik is in the
foreground. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
Almost half a year has passed since the U.S.-host
international conference on Mideast peace held at the Naval Academy in
Annapolis, Maryland.
It was orchestrated by President Bush who brought
together Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Minister TzipiLivni, and
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his premier Salam Fayyad.
For the first time since Camp David Summit in 2000, a
two-state solution marked as a mutually agreed-upon outline for addressing the
Israeli-Palestinian conflicts.
By the time the Annapolis conference was adjourned,
President Bush announced the solution would turn into reality by the end of2008,
around the time he is scheduled to step down.
However, six months passed and there is no signs of
ending the conflicts.
"This entire political negotiation is a waste of time
because we negotiate with a powerless part of the Palestinian National Authority
(PNA) who can not commit to anything," Israeli former Defense Minister and
former Foreign Minister Moshe Arens told Xinhua.
U.S. President George W. Bush shares a
laugh with Dalia Itzik (R), speaker of the Israeli parliament, during his
visit to the parliament in Jerusalem May 15, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters
Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
Arens echoed professor Avineri's view, saying Bush's
recent visit bears mainly strengthening and festive meanings, showing the world
the U.S. continuing support for its ally in the Mideast.
"It is quite possible that the U.S. president is not
completely aware of the problems this negotiation suffers, despite the undoubted
good intentions," said Arens.
When asked if Olmert's decision to continue the
Annapolis accords is an attempt to divert the media attention from his
corruption investigation, Arens said Olmert's recent declarations intended to
maintain the support of the coalition since the criminal affair received
publicity.
"Olmert is talking about this fictitious agreement, a
virtual agreement, and the remarks he made about giving back the Golan Heights
to the Syrians is a trial to maintain the support of the coalition and of the
left-wing parties such as Meretz, Labor and the Arab parties. It is possible
that the investigation affects his decision but he certainly does well in
maintaining a strong coalition that functions as usual," Arens explained.
He believed Israel should seize control over the Gaza
Strip and neutralize the rocket launchers.
Sattar Kassem, Professor of political science at the
An-Najah National University near Nablus, held that no agreement will ever be
reached as long as Israel does not recognize the Palestinians' rights of
returning to Israel in accordance with international law under the Geneva
Conventions.
The problem with the Israelis and the Americans is
that their stances emerge from "a Western state of mind". the United States and
Israel failed over and over to reach a peace agreement because they don't see
the big picture and don't understand it. What they really do is building up for
the next war, Professor Kassem said.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (R)
meets with U.S. President George W. Bush at the Prime Minister's Residence
in Jerusalem on May 14, 2008. Bush on Wednesday vowed to continue support
for Israel, which is "the strongest ally and friend" of the United States
in the Middle East. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
"There is no hope for a solution without the
Palestinian's return. If they don not accept it, war will continue," the
Professor added.
"A visit of the U.S. President is always accompanied
by an increased media coverage. This is a chance to expose Israel's positive
actions, unfortunately, the usual negative coverage Israel receives daily," an
official of the Israeli Prime Minister office told Xinhua on condition for
anonymity.
Despite the rough times ahead of Olmert, for Israel's
part, it is clear that the purpose of the visit at the end of Bush's mandate is
to keep the flame of a peace process, to make sure the platform of the peace
talks exists and it will serve future discussions when one of the sides decides
to return to the negotiation table.
"Israel understands perfectly that it faces a complex
situation. On one hand Hamas controls the Gaza Strip, on the other hand, both
sides are determined to continue the peace efforts," the official added.
Though the American presence in Israel's 60th
anniversary infuses sparks of hope, it is clear that a peace agreement is not
coming soon, according to the political analysts.
JERUSALEM, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Visiting U.S. President
George W. Bush on Thursday reiterated an "unbreakable" relationship with Israel,
vowing to stand by the Jewish state's side against its enemies.
"Some people suggest that if the United States would just
break ties with Israel, all our problems in the Middle East would go away. This
is a tired argument that buys into the propaganda of the enemies of peace, and
America utterly rejects it," Bush told a special session of the Knesset, the
Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem. Full story
JERUSALEM, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Visiting U.S. President
George W. Bush on Thursday said in an address delivered to Israeli Knesset
(parliament) that the United States has an unbreakable bond with Israel.
"Some people suggest that if the United States would just
break ties with Israel, all our problems in the Middle East would go away," Bush
said. Full story
JERUSALEM, May 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W.
Bush on Wednesday vowed to continue support for Israel, which is "the strongest
ally and friend" of the United States in the Middle East.
Bush, who arrived in Israel earlier Wednesday on the
occasion of the Jewish state's 60th anniversary, made the remarks during a
meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres at the latter's official residence
in Jerusalem. Full story
TEL AVIV, Israel, May 14
(Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush arrived in Israel on Wednesday,
starting his three-day visit to the Jewish state on the occasion of its 60th
anniversary.
The U.S. president was greeted at Ben-Gurion international
airport by the Israeli leadership, including Prime Minister Ehud Olmert,
President Shimon Peres and opposition leader Member of Knesset (parliament)
Benjamin Netanyahu. Full story
