As the whips for our respective parties in the House of Representatives, we have been among Congress’ strongest supporters of Israel and most ardent defenders of her right to protect its people.
We have joined to work on numerous issues relating to the U.S.-Israel relationship. And, we have consistently and forcefully maintained that Israel’s security and well-being are an absolute precondition for peace in the Middle East.
Last December, we traveled together to Israel, where we met with Israeli and Palestinian officials in advance of elections in the Palestinian Authority. We recognized then the historic opportunity presented to the Palestinians, Israelis and all parties involved in pursuing a peaceful and lasting resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
During our visit, Israeli leaders – including Ariel Sharon and Shimon Peres – expressed optimism that Mahmoud Abbas could finally represent an honest and committed partner with whom they could work to advance the cause of peace. In a subsequent meeting in the U.S. Capitol, President Abbas repeated his commitment to ending Palestinian violence against the Israeli people.
The issue, as the Israelis pointed out in December, and as Abbas candidly acknowledged in Washington, is whether Abbas in fact has the ability to end the violence and implement the reforms necessary for the peace process and the ultimate creation of an independent Palestinian state. The most critical reforms include dismantling the Palestinian terrorist infrastructure, establishing transparency in PA finances and ending decades of corruption, and building democratic institutions and establishing civil society.
As the Palestinian Authority made the transition from Yasser Arafat to Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Sharon continued moving forward with his disengagement plan to withdraw Israeli settlements and troops from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank. Sharon determined nearly two years ago that the economic and security costs of maintaining the settlements in Gaza, and defending an ever-shrinking minority of Israelis, had begun to outweigh the benefits of maintaining an Israeli presence there. In effect, he determined the security of Israel would actually be enhanced by withdrawing from the Gaza Strip, even without any accompanying concessions by the Palestinians.
We again traveled to Israel this summer, this time leading separate delegations of House members to view the preparations for – and the implementation of – the disengagement plan. And we were struck by the maturity of Israel’s young democracy, as well as the commitment of Israelis to go forward with this bold and courageous initiative.
We also felt it important to be in Israel to demonstrate American support for Prime Minister Sharon’s initiative. But we recognize that words and well wishes alone will not bring peace to this troubled region of the world. The United States, in our view, can and should take specific concrete actions to foster long-lasting peace.
For example, it is essential that Congress seriously consider Israeli requests for assistance in the planned development of the Negev and Galilee, lightly populated regions inside Israel’s internationally recognized borders that we visited this summer. Bringing Israel’s world-class agriculture and water distribution technology to the country’s substantial interior will be a costly endeavor, but one worthy of American support. We believe that the development of these areas is crucial to Israel’s long-term security and success.
Equally important, the United States should consider appropriate and targeted assistance to the Palestinian Authority. If Palestinian poverty and hopelessness continue unabated, political reforms will fail and extremist groups like Hamas will continue to persuade the Palestinian people that Israel and the United States are responsible for their plight – rather than the years of corruption in the Palestinian leadership.
Clearly, such assistance ought to be directed to specific programs and projects, and must be accompanied by meaningful economic reforms and transparency in the PA’s finances. The PA’s Finance Minister, Salam Fayad, is trying to do just that. It is our belief that conditioning aid on these reforms will help Fayad in this effort. It is also imperative that the United States continue to push the Palestinian Authority to consolidate and reform its security forces.
Ultimately, for this historic opportunity to result in a Palestinian state living peacefully alongside Israel, Abbas must demonstrate the same leadership, strength and determination in reforming his government and reining in extremist Palestinian elements that Ariel Sharon demonstrated in forging ahead with the withdrawal of Israel’s presence in Gaza.
Unilateral disengagement from Gaza proves Israel is willing to take political and security risks to create opportunities for peace. Sharon has challenged the new Palestinian leaders to turn tough talk into serious action in a politically autonomous territory.
If they do, and if they succeed, history will judge 2005 as a watershed year in the development of peace in the Middle East. If they fail, Israel’s citizens are probably still safer than they were before. But the Palestinians will have missed one of their best opportunities to show the world they are serious about peace.
Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., is the House majority whip. Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., is the House Democratic whip.
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