Bush speech lightly fans hope for peace in Middle East

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July 2002

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Bush speech lightly fans hope for peace in Middle East
"It is unfortunate," said Drew Christiansen, S.J., after President Bush's June 24 speech on his administration's plan for a Palestinian state, "That the media has chosen to focus on the call for new Palestinian leadership, or the removal of Arafat, when there were so many more positive things Bush had to say that will lead us closer to a peaceful settlement."

Christiansen is advisor to the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops on international affairs. He said the media focus on the possibility of Arafat's ouster, coupled with the lack of a strong statement to halt further Israeli encroachment on occupied lands, has framed the debate as though Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon were pulling the strings of Bush policy.

"In fact, there are many Palestinians who want new leaders and reform, who feel that Arafat has failed to bring them peace and independence," Christiansen said. "The Palestinians are a very well educated people, but they had no real election last time because [Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon] Perez didn't let them. They have a real capacity to have democracy and self-rule, but that ability has been reduced by autocratic rule and the effects of repression.

"They would be grateful if the international community would help them achieve this."

During the speech, Bush mentioned several ways that the U.S., European Union, and United Nations would assist Palestine in becoming an independent state. He said the U.S. would "help the Palestinians organize and monitor fair multiparty local elections by the end of the year, with national elections to follow." Within three years, Bush said, an agreement could be reached to establish a Palestinian state. Part of this agreement would include an end to the current Israeli occupation of West Bank communities.

In the meantime, Bush said that Israel must "withdraw fully to positions they held prior to September 28, 2000. And consistent with the recommendations of Mitchell Committee, Israeli settlement activity in the occupied territories must stop." He also said that freedom of movement must be restored to Palestinians as soon as possible.

Christiansen said he wished Bush had made a stronger statement that Israel must immediately withdraw from the occupied lands. The U.S. Bishops called for such a withdrawal in November 2000 and June 2001, and strongly support any measure that will end the current violence. "Until Israel withdraws," he said, "Palestinians will feel the right to resist."

Christiansen says Bush made positive steps toward peace by creating two timeframes for progress—elections by the end of the year and independence within three years—but failed to draw a roadmap to lead the Middle Eastern people to these goals. In particular, Christiansen says that if new Palestinian leadership is to be the lynchpin of peace negotiations, the U.S. will need to do more to engage the Palestinian population toward democratic elections.—Tara Dix

For more information:
One Land, Two Peoples
USCCB resolution on peace in Middle East
Other USCCB links
Promises: a documentary about children of the conflict

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