US, Israeli hawks worried over peace moves

US, Israeli hawks worried over peace moves

By Jim Lobe

WASHINGTON—Middle East peace activists are seeing rays of hope for the first time since pro-Likud neo-conservatives grabbed control of US policy toward the region after the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and the Pentagon.

The specific focus of those hopes lies with two “unofficial” peace plans put together by leading Israelis and Palestinians that have begun transforming the debate over US Mideast policy from demands that the Palestinian Authority (PA) “dismantle the terrorist infrastructure” in the occupied territories before further steps toward peace, to what should be the shape of a final settlement between Israelis and Palestinians.

The two most prominent promoters of the former approach, US President George W. Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, have both seen their popularity plummet in recent months, according to polls.

And two key US officials, Secretary of State Colin Powell and Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, have already offered encouraging words for the new peace efforts, as has key Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein, who has long taken an interest in the conflict.

Both initiatives are circulating as the Palestinian intifada enters its fourth year, and the right-wing Likud government headed by Sharon races to build a controversial security fence in and around the West Bank to wall off Israel and many Israeli settlements there from the surrounding Palestinian population.

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2003/nov/19/yehey/opinion/20031119opi5.html

too much trouble I guess

discussing "The Clean Break" plan here: http://www.irmep.org/Defaults.asp

"A Clean Break, A New Strategy for Securing the Realm" is an ambitious 1996 Middle East policy paper. A Clean Break recommended toppling the government of Iraq, "rolling back" Syria and Iran, and "electrifying" support for Israel in the US Congress in exchange for new missile defense contract opportunities. Three of the eight authors have since become prominent policymakers in the U.S. government. The study leader, Richard Perle, is the former chair and a current member of the Defense Policy Board of the Pentagon. Douglas Feith is Undersecretary of Defense and David Wurmser is Vice President Richard Cheney's recently hired Middle East advisor.

These right-wing psychopaths are so afraid of peace! When will they wake up and decide to join humanity?