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Bush lean on sharon { May 27 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-meast27.htmlhttp://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-meast27.html
How hard will Bush lean on Sharon?
May 27, 2003
BY LINDA FELDMANN
WASHINGTON--In recent decades, no American president has taken office seeking major involvement in the Middle East. Just as invariably, American presidents have been sucked into the issue and, at times, become entwined in negotiations.
President Bush is no exception, as he plans a likely Middle East summit for early next month, following the Israeli government's historic acceptance Sunday of a Palestinian claim to statehood.
"This is an extraordinarily important time and one that we ought not to let slip away," said Sandy Berger, who was national security adviser to President Bill Clinton. "This is only going to move forward with leadership from the United States, and ... from the president."
The Israeli Cabinet's decision to back the international Middle East "road map" to peace revived hope for the plan's future.
But that approval came with U.S. concessions to Israel, a wrinkle that makes the Palestinians suspicious. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was willing to submit the plan to his Cabinet only after a public U.S. commitment that Israeli concerns would be considered as the plan was being implemented.
Nor were many Israelis happy. Sharon told his stunned country Monday he was determined to end 36 years of rule over the Palestinians. The speech marked the first time the veteran hawk publicly used the word ''occupation.''
Sharon told angry conservatives: ''To keep 3.5 million people under occupation is bad for us and them."
The Palestinians have already accepted the road map to a secure Israel and an independent Palestine by 2005. Secretary of State Colin Powell reassured the Palestinians Friday that there was no intention of amending the plan.
Still, Washington's apparent hand-holding of Sharon reinforced a central question on the U.S. role: How hard will the Bush administration push Israel to make peace?
"Will [Bush officials] be willing to use political capital? That's the question," said Shibley Telhami, a Mideast analyst at the University of Maryland. "They have built a very close relationship with Sharon, and they see that as a political asset. Would they want to jeopardize it?"
Thus far, Telhami says, he is not convinced that the administration is willing to make the Middle East a top priority in the remaining months of this term.
"The perception in this administration is that it's a losing issue," Telhami said. "But I think it's also clear to the president that he has to do something for the sake of U.S. credibility, even with close allies like Britain."
Last week's United Nations vote, which essentially granted the U.S. control of Iraq, also increases pressure on America over the Arab-Israeli issue, he says.
Philip Wilcox, president of the Foundation for Middle East Peace, says talk of a Bush visit to the region suggests that the administration understands the gravity of the situation.
"This is not something they would want to undertake unless there was a plan for some follow through, because this cannot simply be imagery and symbolism," Wilcox said. "There has to be substance, or the frustration and disappointment will be even greater, and that will reflect negatively on the administration."
Christian Science Monitor, with AP contributing
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