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U.S. playing low-key role in latest Mideast crisis
March 25, 1997
Web posted at: 4:59 p.m. EST (2159 GMT)In this story:
From Jerusalem Bureau Chief Walter Rodgers
JERUSALEM (CNN) -- For nearly a week, scenes of violence between Israelis and Palestinians have been repeated in Bethlehem and Hebron. Noticeably absent, though, are the American Middle East peace brokers who are usually so visible in such crises.
"I think Washington is assessing now what the best time would be for stepped up engagement," said Martin Indyk, U.S. ambassador to Israel. "But they'll make that decision in Washington."
Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat has refused to break off his tour of South Asia or take calls from Washington in the midst of the latest Middle East crisis, leading to an American perception that Arafat himself is indifferent to the growing danger in the region.
At the very least, the United States seems peeved with him.
"Chairman Arafat is not in Gaza, he's traveling around the world, and therefore one critical player in this process is not available to us at the moment," Indyk said.
Palestinians angry at Clinton
The decision by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to proceed with construction of a Jewish housing project in Arab East Jerusalem -- and two U.S. vetoes of U.N. resolutions that would have condemned Israel for the project -- also have left Arafat and the Palestinians angry with President Clinton.
"We have a U.S. administration that's seeking to see the process as crisis management here and there," said Saeb Erakat, the Palestinians' chief negotiator. "They're not telling Mr. Netanyahu to stop it."
While street clashes continue, there is a behind-the-scenes effort to arrange a summit meeting between Netanyahu and Arafat.
But Arafat says he doesn't want a meeting with no results, and the Israelis are demanding a summit that focuses on terrorism -- a club that Israel is increasingly using against Arafat.
Some in Israel have charged that Arafat, while not directly ordering or even condoning the attack, created an atmosphere or gave a "green light" for members of the radical Hamas organization to carry it out.
While the U.S. refused to fault Arafat for the bombing, the American government is demanding he make it absolutely clear to his people that he will not tolerate terrorism.
"Unless the green light is turned into a red light, unless there's a clear message (from) Mr. Arafat to stop terrorism, there can't be any peace process," said Dore Gold, senior adviser to Netanyahu.
Israeli ambassador, Albright meet
Meanwhile on Monday, Israel's ambassador to Washington, Eliahu Ben-Elissar, met with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to discuss Friday's bombing.
They also covered in a 45-minute conversation "the best ways to put the peace process back on track," said Israeli Embassy spokesman Gadi Baltiansky. He described the atmosphere as "very friendly" but declined to provide further details. U.S. officials declined to elaborate on the talks.
A senior administration official, meanwhile, says senior U.S. mediator Dennis Ross has no plans to travel to the region to attempt personally to put the peace process back on track.
Last week's suicide bombing in Tel Aviv has produced increasing Israeli criticism of the Clinton administration, especially after Washington cleared Arafat of blame for the bombing. That decision left some Israelis furious.
"The president of the United States has a role in the next terror attack," said one Israeli editorial. "When we bury the next to die here, we will remember who stood on the other side."
The outlook seems bleak. Positions have hardened on both the Israeli and Palestinian sides. The sharing of intelligence that could have helped stop terrorism has halted. Just as alarming, mainstream Palestinian groups have called for a new struggle and confrontation with Israel.
State Department Correspondent Steve Hurst contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- At least 8 injured in West Bank clashes - March 25, 1997
- Palestinian police move to restore order in Hebron - March 24, 1997
- Mideast peace process: dead, or merely ailing? - March 24, 1997
- Netanyahu: Fighting terrorism 'first condition for peace' - March 23, 1997
- Israelis, Palestinians trade blame for new wave of violence - March 22, 1997
- Palestinian security arrests Hamas leader - March 22, 1997
- U.S. again vetoes U.N. resolution on Israeli housing - March 21, 1997
- Bomber, 3 women killed in Tel Aviv blast - March 21, 1997
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