Jerusalem Watchman

US President George W. Bush hosted the International Middle East Peace Conference at Annapolis on November 27. He was now pursuing, said CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, “one of the most ambitious goals of his presidency:” striving to bring into reality his dream of a Palestinian state.

Listening to his opening speech, I was exasperated yet again at the way Bush - like all those other western leaders who support this land-for-peace process - is able to justify the course he is pursuing - this theft of Jewish lands.

Here are his words and, in parenthesis, my comments on them:

PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you for coming. Prime Minister Olmert, President Abbas, Secretary General Ban, former Prime Minister Blair, distinguished guests: Welcome to one of the finest institutes we have in America, the United States Naval Academy. We appreciate you joining us in what I believe is an historic opportunity to encourage the expansion of freedom and peace in the Holy Land [this process has repeatedly been proven to encourage the expansion and spread of terrorism and violence in the Holy Land].

We meet to lay the foundation for the establishment of a new nation — a democratic Palestinian state that will live side by side with Israel in peace and security. [Here Bush acknowledges - not for the first time - that the Palestine he wants to build is a brand new entity that has never existed before. He does not say why he believes that the people of this Palestine will choose to live in peace alongside what will be left of Israel.] We meet to help bring an end to the violence that has been the true enemy of the aspirations of both the Israelis and Palestinians. [To be accurate, he should have had the courage to say "to help bring an end to the Arab violence and terrorism that has been the true enemy of the aspirations of both the Israelis and the Palestinians."]

We’re off to a strong start. I’m about to read a statement that was agreed upon by our distinguished guests [The statement was cobbled together at the last minute after weeks of fruitless effort to get something, anything, down on paper in time]:

HERE PRESIDENT BUSH READS OUT THE JOINT STATEMENT. THEN HE CONTINUES HIS SPEECH.

The Palestinian people are blessed with many gifts and talents. They want the opportunity to use those gifts to better their own lives and build a better future for their children. [Israel has never deprived the Palestinian Arabs of the chance to pursue these goals; Israel never asked them to hate the Jews and engage in terrorism against them.] They want the dignity that comes with sovereignty and independence. [More than this, they want to see Israel removed from lands they covet but have no historic national rights to.] They want justice and equality under the rule of law. They want freedom from violence and fear. [Only they, and their brother Arabs, are to blame for the fact that theu have enjoyed none of these things. It is unjust for Bush to infer (for the sake of pampering Arab pride) that Israel is responsible for any of these things.]

The people of Israel have just aspirations, as well. They want their children to be able to ride a bus or to go to school without fear of suicide bombers.

They want an end to rocket attacks and constant threats of assault. They want their nation to be recognized and welcomed in the region where they live.

Today, Palestinians and Israelis each understand that helping the other to realize their aspirations is key to realizing their own aspirations — and both require an independent, democratic, viable Palestinian state. [Israelis don't realize anything of the sort - they simply feel as if the world is demanding this and they are powerless to refuse.] Such a state will provide Palestinians with the chance to lead lives of freedom and purpose and dignity. [They have had nothing but chance after chance - Madrid, Oslo, "Gaza-Jericho First," the creation of the PA and IDF withdrawals from 98 percent of "Palestinian" population centers, the international infusion of billions of dollars into the PA; 100 percent Israeli withdrawal from Gaza - but have never made use of any of these opportunities - Bush gives no reason, because he cannot give any reason, why things will be any different after Israel gives them more land and the world gives them more money.] Such a state will help provide the Israelis with something they have been seeking for generations: to live in peace with their neighbors. [Again, a baseless, empty promise; every concession Israel has made since 1991 has only been used by the PLO to intensify its terrorism against the Jews.]

Achieving this goal is not going to be easy — if it were easy, it would have happened a long time ago. To achieve freedom and peace, both Israelis and Palestinians will have to make tough choices. [Israel's tough choice is the surrender for all time of great chunks of its patrimony, and the placing in grave danger of its civilian population centers; all the Arab side is asked to do is stop hating Israel and stop killing Jews. Is Bush simply recognizing that to thus eschew violence will be hard for a people who have revelled in violence and terrorism for so many years?] Both sides are sober about the work ahead, but having spent time with their leaders, they are ready to take on the tough issues. As Prime Minister Olmert recently put it, “We will avoid none of [the historic questions], we will not run from discussing any of them.” As President Abbas has said: “I believe that there is an opportunity not only for us but for the Israelis, too. We have a historic and important opportunity that we must benefit from.” It is with that spirit that we concluded [whoops! a revealing slip of the tongue] — that they concluded this statement I just read.

Our purpose here in Annapolis is not to conclude an agreement. Rather, it is to launch negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians. [Negotiations have been going on for months; they were not launched at Annapolis. What Annapolis did was make sure the Israelis and everyone else knows what the final outcome of this "peace" process is going to be.] For the rest of us, our job is to encourage the parties in this effort — and to give them the support they need to succeed.

In light of recent developments, some have suggested that now is not the right time to pursue peace. I disagree. I believe now is precisely the right time to begin these negotiations — for a number of reasons:

First, the time is right because Palestinians and Israelis have leaders who are determined to achieve peace. [Nothing Abbas has said justifies such a statement; the "Palestinian" side has not taken a single conciliatory step up until now.] President Abbas seeks to fulfill his people’s aspirations for statehood, dignity and security. [What his people aspire after is the eradication of Israel.] President Abbas understands that a Palestinian state will not be born of terror, and that terrorism is the enemy standing in the way of a state. [It's nice of Bush to put these words into Abbas' mouth but that does not make them the PLO leader's words.] He and Prime Minister Fayyad have both declared, without hesitation, that they are opposed to terrorism and committed to peace. They’re committed to turning these declarations into actions on the ground to combat terror. [The only thing they have shown a willingness to do is try and enforce a ceasefire against Israelis for as long as it suits them.]

The emergence of responsible Palestinian leaders has given Israeli leaders the confidence they need to reach out to the Palestinians in true partnership. [No-one in Israel is saying they believe Abbas and Co. are truly partners for peace - they see him (and Olmert) as weak leaders whose decisions will not stand the test of time.] Prime Minister Olmert has expressed his understanding of the suffering and indignities felt by the Palestinian people. [This does not mean, and Bush should have spelled this out instead of leaving it unclear, that Israel has acknowledged that it is responsible for this suffering and indignity.] He’s made clear that the security of Israel will be enhanced by the establishment of a responsible, democratic Palestinian state. With leaders of courage and conviction on both sides, [Bush's saying so does not make it so.] now is the time to come together and seek the peace that both sides desire.

Second, the time is right because a battle is underway for the future of the Middle East — and we must not cede victory to the extremists. [There is no new battle underway, only the 60-year-old battle between Muslim Arabs and the Jewish state. It is the State Department that insists on attributing the turmoil to a new battle between "moderate" and "extremist" Muslims.] With their violent actions and contempt for human life, the extremists are seeking to impose a dark vision on the Palestinian people — a vision that feeds on hopelessness and despair to sow chaos in the Holy Land. If this vision prevails, the future of the region will be endless terror, endless war, and endless suffering.

Standing against this dark vision are President Abbas and his government. [What rot!] They are offering the Palestinian people an alternative vision for the future — a vision of peace, a homeland of their own, and a better life. [What they are offering is an alternative route to the same goal Hamas has - the eventual erasure of Israel.] If responsible Palestinian leaders can deliver on this vision, they will deal the forces of extremism a devastating blow. And when liberty takes root in the rocky soil of the West Bank and Gaza, it will inspire millions across the Middle East who want their societies built on freedom and peace and hope. [A pipe dream, for which Israel has to gamble with its precious soil and precious, Jewish lives.]

By contrast, if Palestinian reformers cannot deliver on this hopeful vision, then the forces of extremism and terror will be strengthened, a generation of Palestinians could be lost to the extremists, and the Middle East will grow in despair. We cannot allow this to happen. Now is the time to show Palestinians that their dream of a free and independent state can be achieved at the table of peace [even if this demonstration is made at Israel's expense] — and that the terror and violence preached by Palestinian extremists is the greatest obstacle to a Palestinian state.

Third, the time is right because the world understands the urgency of supporting these negotiations. We appreciate that representatives from so many governments and international institutions have come to join us here in Annapolis — especially the Arab world. We’re here because we recognize what is at stake. [Most of them are here because they can smell Israel's blood.] We are here because we each have a vital role to play in helping Palestinians forge the institutions of a free society [and we each have a vital role to play in squeezing Israel to relinquish its land]. We’re here because we understand that the success of these efforts to achieve peace between Israelis and Palestinians will have an impact far beyond the Holy Land. [He doesn't begin to understand just how terrible an impact the realization of his vision will have.]

These are the reasons we’ve gathered here in Annapolis. And now we begin the difficult work of freedom and peace [and land theft and coercion].

The United States is proud to host this meeting — and we reaffirm the path to peace set out in the road map. Yet in the end, the outcome of the negotiations they launch here depends on the Israelis and Palestinians themselves. America will do everything in our power to support their quest for peace, but we cannot achieve it for them. The success of these efforts will require that all parties show patience and flexibility — and meet their responsibilities.

For these negotiations to succeed, the Palestinians must do their part. They must show the world they understand that while the borders of a Palestinian state are important, the nature of a Palestinian state is just as important. They must demonstrate that a Palestinian state will create opportunity for all its citizens, and govern justly, and dismantle the infrastructure of terror. They must show that a Palestinian state will accept its responsibility, and have the capability to be a source of stability and peace — for its own citizens, for the people of Israel, and for the whole region [the PLO has repeatedly committed itself to following this path, but has steadfastly refused to do so.]

The Israelis must do their part. They must show the world that they are ready to begin in return [the Israelis have repeatedly shown their readiness to begin, only to be served more violence and terrorism in return. Israel pulled out of Gaza and Jericho, Bethlehem and Shechem, Hebron and Kalkilya, and offered to pull out of more land; the PLO paid them back with the Second Intifada; Israel carried out the "disengagement" from Gaza, the PLO paid them back with unrelenting Kassam rocket attacks] — to bring an end to the occupation that began in 1967 through a negotiated settlement. This settlement will establish Palestine as a Palestinian homeland, just as Israel is a homeland for the Jewish people [Bush could at the very least have had the grace to acknowledge that whereas the Jews have a three-millennia claim to its land, the Palestinian Arabs have no historic claim whatsoever to the land they are demanding]. Israel must demonstrate its support for the creation of a prosperous and successful Palestinian state by removing unauthorized outposts, ending settlement expansion, and finding other ways for the Palestinian Authority to exercise its responsibilities without compromising Israel’s security.

Arab states also have a vital role to play. Relaunching the Arab League initiative and the Arab League’s support for today’s conference are positive steps [not for Israel they're not]. All Arab states should show their strong support for the government of President Abbas — and provide needed assistance to the Palestinian Authority. Arab states should also reach out to Israel, work toward the normalization of relations, and demonstrate in both word and deed that they believe that Israel and its people have a permanent home in the Middle East. [Bush might have here reprimanded the Saudi officials present at Annapolis for their government's vehement rejection of the suggestion that the Arab states were ready to start even TALKING about normalizing relations.] These are vital steps toward the comprehensive peace that we all seek.

Finally, the international community has important responsibilities. Prime Minister Fayyad is finalizing a plan to increase openness and transparency and accountability [yet again!?] throughout Palestinian society – and he needs the resources and support from the international community. With strong backing from those gathered here, the Palestinian government can build the free institutions that will support a free Palestinian state.

The United States will help Palestinian leaders build these free institutions — and the United States will keep its commitment to the security of Israel as a Jewish state and homeland for the Jewish people [this is the only commendable thing Bush said in the entire speech].

The United States strongly feels that these efforts will yield the peace that we want — and that is why we will continue to support the Lebanese people. We believe democracy brings peace. And democracy in Lebanon is vital, as well, for the peace in the Middle East. Lebanese people are in the process of electing a president. That decision is for the Lebanese people to make — and they must be able to do so free from outside interference and intimidation. As they embark on this process, the people of Lebanon can know that the American people stand with them — and we look forward to the day when the people of Lebanon can enjoy the blessings of liberty without fear of violence or coercion.

The task begun here at Annapolis will be difficult. This is the beginning of the process, not the end of it — and no doubt a lot of work remains to be done. Yet the parties can approach this work with confidence [just because he says they can?]. The time is right. The cause is just [No, the cause is unjust, bitterly unjust, which is why the United States will pay a price for what it is trying to force Israel to do]. And with hard effort, I know they can succeed.

President Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert, I pledge to devote my effort during my time as President to do all I can to help you achieve this ambitious goal. I give you my personal commitment to support your work with the resources and resolve of the American government. I believe a day is coming when freedom will yield the peace we desire. And the land that is holy to so many will see the light of peace.

The day is coming when Palestinians will enjoy the blessings that freedom brings — and all Israelis [who will have been forever deprived of the heartland of their nationhood] will enjoy the security they deserve. That day is coming. The day is coming when the terrorists and extremists who threaten the Israeli and Palestinian people will be marginalized and eventually defeated. And when that day comes, future generations will look to the work we began here at Annapolis. They will give thanks to the leaders who gathered on the banks of the Chesapeake for their vision, their wisdom and courage to choose a future of freedom and peace. [Mark my words and, more importantly, mark the Bible's words: Peace will never come in this way to the Middle East.]

Thanks for coming. May God bless their work [Allah might bless this work, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob cannot; for Annapolis aimed at accomplishing the scattering of His people and the division of His land].