U.S. delivers a clear message to a host of Israeli visitors

By Aluf Benn




Foreign Minister Shimon Peres returned yesterday from a trip to the United States with many impressions. "The Americans have moved from one era to another," concluded Peres. "We haven't even begun to understand what happened there. They aren't thinking about how to defend Israel, but how to defend themselves in a crazy war."

Peres was the most senior of Israeli visitors to hold meetings with U.S. officials in Washington this past week. Among others were Minister without Portfolio Dan Meridor, envoy Zalman Shoval, national security adviser Uzi Dayan, director-general of Israel's Atomic Energy Commission Gideon Frank and about a dozen other officials and senior officers.

The U.S. administration was prepared for the air convoy from Israel and formulated a political message that was relayed to Jerusalem in numerous ways. The Israelis were told that America has changed. It is under attack from the anthrax bacteria and is busy attacking Afghanistan so it does not have time to deal with localized problems between Israel and the Palestinians. The administration is convinced Osama bin Laden is planning another big attack in the United States, and it is preparing to absorb the blow. The main parts of the three-pronged message are:

l Calmness. At this moment, U.S. President George W. Bush supports Israel, and the U.S. government has no intention to harm Israel or to "pay the Arabs with Israel." Bush promised Peres: "Even if you want to, you won't be able to ruin our relations." U.S. officials said they know Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat and do not consider him trustworthy. They also don't plan to give him any special breaks. Bush also will not meet with Arafat before the PA leader takes some tangible steps against terrorism and changes his ways. Washington had hoped that Arafat would improve his behavior after the June terrorist attack at the Dolphinarium in Tel Aviv, which led to the declaration of a cease-fire.

The United States expects to win the war against terrorism and impose a new international order, from which Israel can benefit. America has no illusions that the accomplices of terrorism in the Arab world have turned over a new leaf. Washington is continuing to carefully monitor Syria and Iran, and in coming days, new names will be added to the list of terrorist organizations and wanted terrorists. Among the newly listed will be those fighting against Israel, such as members of Hezbollah.

U.S. officials tried to calm Israeli fears that a new diplomatic plan will be released, with guidelines for a final status agreement, a move that would put Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in a corner. What the Americans are thinking about is not a detailed plan but only general ideas, such as the vision of a Palestinian state.

l Concern: All senior U.S. officials expressed concern of an escalation in Israeli-Palestinian violence and worry that Israel is trying to cause the PA to collapse. Jerusalem was sent a strong warning that the United States would not support such a move, which it believes would endanger the region's stability. That is America's "red line" vis-a-vis Israel. Sharon has tried to assure U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell that Israel will not bring down the PA or harm Arafat. The Americans considered the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to be a serious problem even before the September 11 attacks, because it caused friction in its standing among moderate Arab states. The administration's greatest fear is of regional deterioration and the danger of a war that would threaten American strategy.

l Expectations: Washington believes that Ze'evi's assassination cut short positive developments between Israel and the Palestinians that had emerged from the Peres-Arafat meeting at Gaza's Dahaniyeh Airport a month ago. This week's Israeli guests in Washington were asked to return the situation to the way it was before the assassination and to discuss ways to implement the Tenet understandings and the Mitchell Report.

According to Peres, "They [the Americans] had three requests: Get out of Area A, be careful of human life and create a cease-fire. They are anxious to get back to the Dahaniyeh process. They don't understand what we want, and here we live on another planet." The Americans explained to the visiting Israelis that comparisons between Palestinian terror and that of Osama bin Laden are not appropriate. The explanation for this is simple: The Americans fly thousands of kilometers to strike Afghanistan, but when all is said and done they come home. But Israelis will have to continue living alongside the Palestinians in the future and therefore they cannot afford to break the rules.

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اعتبر الزعيم الكوبي فيديل كاسترو أمس ان جرثومة الجمرة الخبيثة التي أشاعت الذعر في الولايات المتحدة، أقل خطورة من نزلة البرد العادية.

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Ha'aretz - Article The Knesset Constitution Law and Justice Committee on Tuesday approved by a large majority a bill banning supporters of terror organizations from standing for Knesset. MK Azmi Bishara (National Democratic Alliance) criticized the bill, saying that, "the authorization of this bill proposal is the beginning of a McCarthy era."

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جدد الرئيس الجزائري عبد العزيز بوتفليقة تأييده للضربات الأميركية البريطانية على أفغانستان. ودافع عن سقوط عشرات الضحايا في صفوف المدنيين الأفغان من جراء القصف المكثف، وقال إنه لا يزال في حجمه المقبول.

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Gaddafi Says U.S. Anthrax 'Worst Form of Terrorism'

TUNIS (Reuters) - Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi (news - web sites) condemned the use of anthrax in the United States on Thursday as ``the worst form of terrorism'' and called for international action to tackle the ``very dangerous'' situation.

``We are facing genuine terrorism this time, the worst form of terrorism, because this weapon is the worst weapon of mass destruction,'' he said in a statement received in Tunis.

``I cannot imagine that humans can use germs against other humans, whatever the degree of animosity between them,'' he said. ``It is a cowardly, evil and irresponsible action putting in danger the whole of humanity.''

Anthrax scares spread across the world on Thursday, and the first case of attempted contamination by the potentially deadly bacteria outside the United States was reported in Kenya.

Concern rose dramatically after 31 U.S. congressional staffers tested positive for exposure to anthrax. Five other people in the United States have been infected or contaminated and one has died.

Gaddafi, who has often assailed the United States for its policies in the Middle East and elsewhere, urged world leaders to put aside their differences and come together to ``pay whatever the price needed to stop the danger.''

``The situation warrants an international conference to express the conscience and the wisdom of the world... All rifts and animosities must be put aside to face this sheer danger,'' Gaddafi said.

Washington suspects, but has no firm evidence, that the anthrax scare is linked to Osama bin Laden (news - web sites), its chief suspect for the September 11 suicide attacks on the United States, which killed around 5,400 people.

Gaddafi has said Washington has the right to seek revenge for the September 11 attacks and offered his condolences for the victims.

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Schroeder, Jospin Say Inequality Breeds Terrorism

PARIS (Reuters) - Rich countries should aim to ease the global economic inequalities that act as a breeding ground for terrorism, French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said on Friday.

Speaking at a Franco-German discussion forum in Paris, the two left-leaning leaders said more initiatives like the 1999 agreement on debt relief for poor nations were needed, as well as a greater commitment to solving existing conflicts.

``You have a situation which is favorable to terrorism if you do not deal with these problems, such as the Middle East and inequalities of development,'' said Jospin, whose theme was sustainable economic development.

``Terror does not have poverty as its root cause,'' said Schroeder. ``But the idea of sustainability has got to include the people of the Third World, otherwise these people become radicalized.''

Schroeder noted that reforms under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative launched at the summit of G8 wealthy nations in Cologne two years ago had already resulted in billions of dollars' worth of debt relief.

``It's not enough, but it's something,'' he said.

The two leaders reiterated support for American action following the September 11 attacks on targets in New York and Washington, dismissing suggestions that Washington was not adequately communicating its plans to its allies.

``We are adequately informed for the decisions that we have to take,'' noted Jospin.

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Ha'aretz - Article The White House on Friday called "unacceptable" Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's comments that the United States risked appeasing Arab nations at the expense of Israel.

"Those comments made by the prime minister are unacceptable in the president's opinion," President George W. Bush's spokesman, Ari Fleischer, told reporters.

He said the U.S. view had been communicated to Sharon through the U.S. Embassy in Israel and the National Security Council.

Sharon called Thursday night for the United States and the West not to seek Arab support for a war against global terrorism at Israel's expense, citing the "dreadful mistake of 1938" when Europe "decided to sacrifice Czechoslovakia" to the Nazis.

Sharon stressed that "all of our efforts to reach a cease-fire were foiled by the Palestinians and the fire did not stop, not even for a single day. We can only rely on ourselves."

The prime minister's comments reflected the growing disappointment in the American administration's position regarding terrorism in the region, in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington. Particularly disturbing is the fact that Syria and Iran - who back the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah - are not being held accountable for their role in sponsoring terrorist activities against Israel.

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CNN.com - Russian jet hit by missile: theory - October 4, 2001
MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) -- A Russian plane flying 77 people from Israel to Russia has exploded before crashing into the Black Sea, Russian officials have said.
U.S. officials say they have "convincing" evidence that a Ukrainian surface-to-air missile shot down a Russian airliner Thursday that was en route from Israel to Siberia with 77 people aboard.
One informed U.S. source told CNN that "initial analysis indicates" that it is believed at least one SA-5 surface-to-air missile was fired from a shore-based, air-defence system during the Ukrainian exercise and appears to have downed the airliner.

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اكد رئيس الجمهورية اميل لحود ان "لبنان هو رسالة تقوم على المحبة والتسامح والعيش المشترك وتعيش فيه 17 طائفة مسيحية واسلامية في تناغم وانسجام قل نظيرهما.

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واشنطن تطالب قطر
التدخل لدى <<الجزيرة>>
لتعديل مواقفها
اعترف امير دولة قطر الشيخ حمد بن خليفة آل ثاني ضمناً امس بأن واشنطن طلبت من حكومته التدخل لدى شبكة <<الجزيرة>> الفضائية التلفزيونية التي تتخذ من قطر مقراً لها، لكي تكون تغطيتها الاعلامية اكثر تأييداً للولايات المتحدة.
ورداً على سؤال حول تدخل بهذا المعنى مع هذه الشبكة لتكون تغطيتها اكثر <<توازناً>>، اعلن الشيخ حمد، للصحافيين في ختام لقاء مع وزير الخارجية كولن باول في واشنطن، <<صحيح اننا استمعنا الى هذه الادارة كما استمعنا الى الادارات الاخرى حول هذا الموضوع>>. واضاف <<بمجرد ان يأتي ذلك من قبل اصدقاء، فإننا نعتبره بمثابة مشورة ودية ونستمع اليها>>.
واشار الشيخ حمد ايضاً الى الجهود التي تبذلها بلاده في مجال الديموقراطية، مؤكداً انه ستكون لقطر <<حياة سياسية برلمانية في غضون السنتين المقبلتين>> مع <<ديموقراطية تطبق حرية الصحافة>>.

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Bush2 Bush Speaks of Palestinian State
By BARRY SCHWEID, AP Diplomatic Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush (news - web sites) said Tuesday the idea of a Palestinian state has always been part of the peace process ``so long as the right to an Israeli state is respected.''
The Sept. 11 attacks on the United States sidetracked an initiative by the Bush administration to launch Israel and the Palestinians into a new peacemaking process that only now is beginning to take shape again, a senior U.S. official said Monday night.
It was understood by Israel as well as the Palestinians that the outcome, if successful, would include creation of a Palestinian state, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Bush addressed the issue after a meeting with congressional leaders Tuesday morning. ``The idea of a Palestinian state has always been a part of a vision so long as the right to an Israeli state is respected,'' he said.
First things first, he said - reducing the level of violence that has wracked the region this year. ``I fully understand that progress is made in centimeters in the Middle East,'' Bush said. ``And we believe we're making some progress.''
The administration planned to make its efforts public at the special session of the U.N. General Assembly set for Sept. 24, but the Sept. 11 attacks in New York and Washington temporarily sidetracked the plan.
At the U.N. meeting, which was postponed indefinitely, the Bush administration had planned to outline its overall view of a final settlement, including important questions about borders, the right of Palestinians refugees to return to Israel and possibly the future of Jerusalem, according to The New York Times, which first reported the initiative.

The newspaper also said Bush planned to meet with Arafat during that U.N. gathering in New York.

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بن لادن قبل الهجمات: " حدث جلل سيقع"
أفادت الأنباء بأن المنشق السعودي أسامة بن لادن الذي تتهمه الولايات المتحدة بالضلوع في تفجيرات نيويورك وواشنطن قد أجرى مكالمة هاتفية مع والدته أبلغها خلالها بأن شيئا عظيما على وشك الوقوع، وأنه لن يتمكن من رؤيتها لفترة طويلة.
ونقلت شبكة التلفزيون الأمريكية أن بي سي عن مصدر بارز في الحكومة الأمريكية قوله إن المكالمة الهاتفية التي تنصتت عليها أجهزة الاستخبارات أجريت قبل يومين من شن الهجمات الانتحارية على نيويورك وواشنطن.
وفي حالة التأكد من حدوث هذه المكالمة الهاتفية المشار إليها فإنها تصبح من أقوى الأدلة التي تربط بين أسامة بن لادن والهجمات الانتحارية.
وتفيد الأنباء بأن أسامة بن لادن أجرى المكالمة مع والدته خلال وجودها في العاصمة السورية دمشق.
ويقال إنه قال لها إنها ستسمع أخبارا ذات شأن كبير وإنه لن يتمكن من الاتصال بها أو رؤيتها لفترة غير قصيرة.
ويقال إن أفراد عائلة بن لادن عادوا إلى وطنهم في السعودية وإن السلطات السعودية استجوبتهم عقب الهجمات الانتحارية في الحادي عشر من الشهر الماضي.
وقالت صحيفة نيويورك تايمز إن والدة بن لادن أكدت تفاصيل المكالمة للشرطة السعودية ، ويذكر أن غالبية عائلة أسامة بن لادن قد تبرأت منه على أن أمه أبقت على الاتصالات مع ابنها، ويقال إن العائلة تتعاون مع المحققين.

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نفي للوعد بعدم ضرب أي دولة عربية
نفى المسؤولون الأردنيون والأمريكيون الأنباء التي ذكرت أن الرئيس الأمريكي بوش وعد العاهل الأردني الملك عبد الله بأن أمريكا لن تهاجم أي بلد عربي انتقاما للهجمات على نيويورك وواشنطن

وكانت وسائل الإعلام الأردنية قد ذكرت من قبل عن الملك عبد الله قوله أن الرئيس بوش أكد له أن الدول العربية ومن بينها العراق لن تتعرض للهجوم

وكان قد نقل عن العاهل الأردني أيضا القول بأن محادثاته مؤخرا في واشنطن ركزت على قضيتين هما إبعاد الدول العربية عن قائمة الدولة المستهدفة، وإيجاد حل للنزاع الإسرائيلي الفلسطيني

ولكن البيت الأبيض ومسؤولا في السفارة الأردنية في واشنطن قالا إن الرئيس بوش لم يقدم هذا الوعد

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