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Never smile at a crocodile... Bush welcomes Olmert (Flash90)
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| By Israel Insider staff November 26, 2007 |
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| Bush and Olmert meeting in the White House on November 26, 2007 (Flash90) |
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Reports out of Annapolis indicate that heavy pressure is being brought to bear on PM Olmert to allow the US to assume a deciding role in all disputes. Israeli reporters say that US secretary of state Rice is pushing for final status talks to begin under American supervision in Washington, starting on Wednesday. It is unclear whether Israel has already conceded the Palestinian insistence the the US be the arbiter of disputes.
Olmert contented himself with beating around the Bush, avoiding the growing rift between Washington and Jerusalem on this issue. But he did make a pointed attempt to express the Israeli position that bilateral negotiations must be conducted in Israel and, specifically, its capital:
"Thank you very much, Mr. President. I'm delighted to come with my colleagues to -- another time to the Oval Office. This time it's different, because we are going to have lots of participants in what I hope will launch a serious process of negotiations between us and the Palestinians. This will be a bilateral process, but the international support is very important for us.
"And I thank you for the efforts that you, President, made in order to make it possible, and the Secretary of State, together with us, in order to come to this point where from we and the Palestinians will sit together, in Jerusalem, and work out something that will be very good to create a great hope for our peoples."
But Israeli Channel Two reports growing tension with Condoleezza Rice, who wants the sides to commence final status negotiations in Washington already on Wednesday. Towards the end of the day a possible compromise emerged which might suffice with a ceremonial opening at the White House. The more substantive issue, however, concerns whether the U.S. will have the power to judge, deciding points in dispute between the two sides -- effectively all points between the sides.
While George Bush, in his statement after meeting with PA chieftain, who controls only parts of the West Bank after having lost all control to Hamas in Gaza, said: "The United States cannot impose our vision, but we can help facilitate." That may be the silk gloves that are presented to the world. The question remains whether the Bush Administration, either in speeches, documents, or private conversation, will become judge and jury, satisfying the Arab League's longstanding desire to impose a solution on Israel, and depart from its traditional positions on Jerusalem, refugees, borders and other core issues.
And if it does, the question remains whether Olmert will continue whistling past the graveyard or maintaining his "it will be okay" attitude as Israel's diplomatic position is subverted before the onlooking eyes of the world. |
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