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Guest Commentary April 30, 2002
Bold Leaders Needed in the Mideast
The Honorable Dianne Feinstein
In the wake of Israel's military campaign in the Palestinian areas of the West Bank, it appears that an opportunity exists -- if bold leaders are willing to take hold of it -- to forge peace in the region and bring the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to an end. The time is ripe for leadership.
Twenty-five years ago, Anwar Sadat, Menachem Begin and Jimmy Carter did what history demanded. Sadat later gave his life for his commitment to peace -- as did Yitzhak Rabin seven years ago. More recently, Ehud Barak sacrificed his political career for peace.
Yet today, with tragic consequences for Israelis and Palestinians alike, leaders on all sides have yet to stand up for peace. Historically, only when the United States has been involved, has any progress been made in the region.
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The plan that Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia laid down at the Arab League summit creates a window of opportunity for peace. Despite all the terrible events that have taken place, President Bush must seize the initiative to move the Palestinian and Israelis back to the negotiating table and away from terror and retaliation.
Ariel Sharon -- regardless of the tactical success of the West Bank incursions -- has yet to put forward a strategic vision that will achieve his pledge to bring security to the people of Israel. And Yasser Arafat and the PLO continue to fund terrorism and harbor terrorists to achieve their political goals.
When offered a comprehensive peace plan including a Palestinian state on 97 percent of the territory of the West Bank, a Palestinian capital in East Jerusalem, and a $30 billion fund for compensation and resettlement costs for refugees, Arafat rejected everything that was asked of him. As President Clinton's Middle East Envoy, Dennis Ross, said of the last Oval Office meeting with Arafat, shortly before Clinton left office: "It's very clear to me that [Arafat's] negotiators understood this was the best they were ever going to get. They wanted him to accept it. He was not prepared to accept it." And because of Arafat's failure, the region has fallen into violence and chaos.
For the Palestinian people, Arafat's failure has meant continued poverty and continued suffering, and the postponement of achieving their legitimate aim for a Palestinian state. For the Israeli people, it has meant 18 months of terror. In response to the suicide bombings and other terrorist attacks that have killed more than 460 people, mostly civilians, and injured thousands more, Israel launched a campaign to immobilize the terrorist network. This has resulted in the apprehension of 400 terrorists fugitives, the demolition of 12 bomb factories, and the seizure of thousands of weapons, including Kassam missiles and rocket-propelled grenades.
Although some have raised questions about how this campaign was executed, I believe there is no moral equivalency between Israel's military actions, taken in self-defense and responding to terrorism, and the Palestinian suicide bombings, targeted at Israeli civilians. There is no way to rationalize these suicide bombings as a legitimate tool for achieving national liberation.
Yet, despite the recent violence, I fundamentally believe both the Israeli people and the Palestinian people still want peace. And if it is true that all the Palestinians want is their own state and government, then I believe a peace agreement can be worked out along the lines of the Clinton plan offered last year.
Given all that has happened over the past year and a half, some believe that the chance for peace has ended entirely. I, on the other hand, believe there is still hope. I believe only the United States can still bring together the moderate Arab nations and our European allies to support a plan to end the violence. Thousands of hours have already been spent in negotiation. Every permutation of a settlement has been discussed. There is no need to repeat that history. There is, however, a real imperative for the Bush administration to build on what both sides have already negotiated and cement that into a strong agreement.
Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat, is a U.S. Senator from California. The above column has been adapted from a statement Sen. Feinstein issued, April 29, 2002. To contact her, Click Here.
The above column has been distributed by PoliticsOL.com.
