The palestinian press is kvelling today. Don't you just love this headline?
Rice: Peaceful Change Could be Achieved if Israel Fulfills its Obligations
Say, what??? And it justs gets worse from there.
Rice played down the fallout from last week’s bus bombing in Jerusalem, . . .
She said Israel should fulfill its responsibilities to help achieving a peaceful change in the region, making clear that it is in Israel’s interest for Palestinians to govern themselves in a state being viable, peaceful, democratic and committed to fighting "terror".
Notice the scare quotes around the word "terror." Well, that certainly made my morning. Naturally, I figured the article must be a distortion of Dr. Rice's words. Or that she at least made similar references to the importance of palestinian compliance with their obligations.
No such luck.
Here's a complete transcript of Dr. Rice's speech (scroll down to the end of the story). The above characterization is, unfortunately, all too accurate. And you won't find a single word about palestinian obligations anywhere.
The relevant part:
Despite the horrific events of recent days, we have seen real progress toward peace for Israelis and Palestinians. At the Red Sea Summits in June, Israelis, Palestinians, and neighboring Arab states united behind the vision the President has set forth -- a vision for two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. Israeli leaders increasingly understand that it is in Israel's interest for Palestinians to govern themselves, in a state that is viable, peaceful, democratic, and committed to fighting terror. Israel has to fulfill its responsibilities to help that peaceful state emerge.
A new Palestinian leadership is emerging that understands -- and says, in Arabic and English -- that terror is not a means to Palestinian statehood, but rather the greatest obstacle to statehood.
Amidst this progress came last week's familiar images of bloodshed and violence by those who would use terror to destroy the hopes for peace. But the terrorists will not succeed -- and terrorist networks must be dismantled. President Bush remains committed to the course he laid out at the Red Sea Summits because it is the only course that will bring a durable peace and lasting security.
"The terrorist networks must be dismantled." But by who? Is that a palestinian "responsibility" that must be fulfilled? Or just a general expression of how Dr. Rice would like the world to be. Given the strong, imperative language directed at Israel here, it's hard to find any sense of a corresponding obligation on the other side.
Condi's been using this sound bite a lot lately.
Israeli leaders increasingly understand that it is in Israel's own interest for Palestinians to govern themselves in a viable state that is peaceful, democratic and committed to fighting terror.
Notwithstanding the embedded oxymoron, it's sort of become her mantra in recent weeks. Well, as least she doesn't put scare quotes around the word "terror."
