Press Room

Press Releases

Bush, Kerry Fail Leadership Test on US Middle East Policy

Posted on Monday April 19, 2004

Washington – The Arab American Institute (AAI) today expressed deep concern regarding the endorsement by both President George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s unilateral disengagement plan in Gaza. Of equal concern is President Bush’s and Senator Kerry’s recognition of permanent Israeli control of portions of the West Bank, their acceptance of Israel’s position regarding the right of return for Palestinian refugees, and their backing of Israel’s dangerous policy of assassination.

“Both President George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry failed to provide hope and leadership to those seeking to end violence and bring peace to the troubled Middle East. By embracing a unilateral Israeli imposed solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and by endorsing Prime Minister Sharon’s provocative assassination policy both the President and his Democratic challenger have failed the test of leadership,” said AAI President Dr. James Zogby.

Zogby continued, “By acquiescing to Prime Minster Sharon’s plans and policies they make our country appear as a weak accomplice to Israel’s actions. At a time when the United States is engaged in a troubling war in an unstable region, our national security interests and our people’s values demand that we do better.”

These troubling developments represent a significant reversal of decades of United States foreign policy vis-à-vis the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and run contrary to the so-called “road map,” which specifically calls for the freezing of all settlement activity and a negotiated settlement between the parties on final status issues such as Jerusalem, final border placement, settlements, and refugees.

Once more, the President’s comments last week and Senator Kerry’s unquestioning approval will have a prejudicial effect on subsequent negotiations, the results of which would be untenable. Settlements and the right of return are not arbitrary talking points in the arsenal of Palestinian grievances, they are fundamental questions of justice, family, and heritage that must be dealt with satisfactorily for any final settlement to be lasting. Regardless of the fact that some Palestinian leaders have accepted that the final status of Palestinian refugees will be negotiated with the Israelis, it is not for an American President or the presumptive Democratic nominee to give away what the majority of the international community sees as a fundamental human right – that of a refugee to return to his or her home. Nor is it President Bush’s or Senator Kerry’s place to determine the final status of Israeli or Palestinian territory.

Although it is true, as President Bush has suggested, that bold action is necessary to jump-start the peace process, President Bush’s near full-scale acceptance of Likudnik positions represents not bold, but rather reckless, action. For any final settlement to be viable and enduring, the basic needs of both parties must be met. This can only be accomplished through negotiations between the parties themselves. Peace cannot be negotiated between President Bush and Prime Minister Sharon alone.

The simple fact is that peace cannot be reached unilaterally. Palestinians must play an equal role in determining the final settlement of this conflict.