|
|
November 19, 1999/10 Kislev 5760, Vol. 52, No.12
U.S. raises profile in Mideast talks
MICHAEL SHAPIRO
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
On the eve of Ehud Barak's first trip to Washington as Israel's new prime minister in July, he made clear he wanted to reduce the level of U.S. involvement in the peace process that had been necessary during the tenure of his predecessor.
But with only three months until the date Israel and the Palestinians have set for an outline of a final peace settlement - and 10 months for a final deal - that appears unlikely. A number of recent actions and statements by the United States and the desire of President Clinton to broker a peace deal to cap off his presidency before he leaves office in early 2001 signal that the United States will play a key role in the final-status n
egotiations that began last week.
Trying to end what he called a "false" debate over how to characterize the exact nature of the U.S. role, Sandy Berger, Clinton's national security adviser, said the United States will play a "central" role in the peace process.
"I've considered it an artificial question from the beginning," he said. "But labeling seems to be the order of the day, so labels there have been. Are we or should we be facilitators or rather mediators or perhaps brokers or partners or catalysts or middlemen? I view this discussion as academic because it is wholly divorced from reality."
The United States will be "central to the peace process not only because the parties want it that way, but because it is a strategic imperative for the United States," Berger said.
While in Oslo earlier this month for talks with Barak and Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat, Clinton said the United States was prepared to host a Camp David-style summit early next year to help the sides reach a broad outline of a final deal. U.S. officials also have said that Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is expected to travel to the Middle East early next year and that Dennis Ross, the U.S. special Middle East coordinator - who was in Israel and the Palestinian territories this week - is expected to travel to the region frequently as the negotiations continue. "Barak knows nothing is going to happen without a Camp David-style summit," said IPF's Washington director, Tom Smerling, who added the Palestinians are looking for the close involvement of the Americans to help balance the power between them and the Israelis.
Another key move signaling that the United States will play an intimate role is President Clinton's decision - reportedly at the request of Barak - to send Martin Indyk back for a second stint as U.S. ambassador to Israel. By going back to Israel, Indyk, currently the assistant secretary of state for Near East affairs, a position that deals with the entire region, will be able to focus on his specialty - the peace process.
At his Senate confirmation hearing late last month, Indyk said the key for the United States is to "provide a safety net" by suggesting ideas to break deadlocks on difficult issues. But Indyk, who was confirmed last week by the Senate, also made clear that the president is ready to play a more active role in the talks.
Michael Shapiro writes from Washington, D.C.
|
