Post by Moses on Jan 22, 2005 6:52:45 GMT -5
Rice: Palestinian State Must Be Economically and Territorially Viable
This week witnessed the confirmation hearings for Dr. Condoleezza Rice, President Bush's pick to replace Colin Powell as Secretary of State. While much of the media focused on the spirited exchange between the nominee and Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), largely overlooked was Rice's testimony regarding the Israeli - Palestinian conflict. Rice told the members of the Senate Foreign Relations committee that "We all believe, and most especially the president, that we have a really good opportunity here, given the election of a new Palestinian leader and given the Israeli-Gaza withdrawal plan, which is linked to the West Bank through the four settlements that would be dismantled in the West Bank as well." Rice continued: "I expect myself to spend an enormous amount of effort on this activity," and that she looked forward "to personally working with Palestinian and Israeli leaders and bringing American diplomacy to bear on this difficult but crucial issue." She added, "Peace can only come if all parties choose to do the difficult work, and the time to choose peace is now." Rice also stated, in regards to a Palestinian state, that "It has to have territory that makes it viable. It cannot be territory that is so broken up that it can't function as a state, and I think that that's now well understood. Has to have economic viability, and there it probably needs to have economic viability in relationship to other states around it - to Jordan, to Israel and to others." These words may be cause for cautious optimism. While many problems remain - how does Rice's testimony comport with President Bush's letter to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon regarding settlements, or Sharon's new "ditch," and the continuing confiscation of Palestinian lands? - as we said...cautious optimism. -- aaiusa.org
This week witnessed the confirmation hearings for Dr. Condoleezza Rice, President Bush's pick to replace Colin Powell as Secretary of State. While much of the media focused on the spirited exchange between the nominee and Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), largely overlooked was Rice's testimony regarding the Israeli - Palestinian conflict. Rice told the members of the Senate Foreign Relations committee that "We all believe, and most especially the president, that we have a really good opportunity here, given the election of a new Palestinian leader and given the Israeli-Gaza withdrawal plan, which is linked to the West Bank through the four settlements that would be dismantled in the West Bank as well." Rice continued: "I expect myself to spend an enormous amount of effort on this activity," and that she looked forward "to personally working with Palestinian and Israeli leaders and bringing American diplomacy to bear on this difficult but crucial issue." She added, "Peace can only come if all parties choose to do the difficult work, and the time to choose peace is now." Rice also stated, in regards to a Palestinian state, that "It has to have territory that makes it viable. It cannot be territory that is so broken up that it can't function as a state, and I think that that's now well understood. Has to have economic viability, and there it probably needs to have economic viability in relationship to other states around it - to Jordan, to Israel and to others." These words may be cause for cautious optimism. While many problems remain - how does Rice's testimony comport with President Bush's letter to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon regarding settlements, or Sharon's new "ditch," and the continuing confiscation of Palestinian lands? - as we said...cautious optimism. -- aaiusa.org