Last week, in a clear attempt to placate his Arab partners in
his war on terror, U.S. President George W. Bush declared
that the Palestinians should have a state of their own.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair followed his lead on
Monday.
British Jews are taking Prime Minister Tony Blair's support
for a Palestinian state in stride, but they say Blair must
make clear to Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat
that terror against Israel is not acceptable.
Blair met Arafat in London on Monday as part of the former's
effort to maintain the U.S.-led coalition against terrorism.
At that meeting, Blair expressed his support for a
Palestinian state "as part of a negotiated and agreed
settlement which guarantees peace and security for Israel."
Blair also praised Arafat for "his efforts to control violent
rejectionist groups within the ranks of the Palestinian
people. "I recognize that Palestinian violence has
significantly reduced in the last week," he added.
Arafat's forces apparently killed three Palestinians last
week in suppressing a pro-Osama bin Laden demonstration in
the Gaza Strip, and recently detained a handful of Hamas and
Islamic Jihad militants wanted by Israel. Israel claims the
arrests are more a cosmetic measure and really designed to
shield the militants from Israeli reprisal.
Arafat, for his part, said that he condemned all forms of
terrorism, "including state-sponsored terrorism." He also
called for the immediate resumption of peace talks.
D.J. Schneeweis, a spokesman for the Israeli Embassy in
London said of Blair: "Not only has he expressed his support
for a Palestinian state, but Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and
former Prime Minister Ehud Barak have expressed willingness
to discuss the idea on the assumption that such a state would
be a force for peace and stability in the region."
But, he added, "this is a key test that Yasser Arafat's
Palestinian Authority has failed abysmally so far."
The terror attack on America put Arafat in an uncomfortable
position. Having used terror by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and
even by members of his private guard, during the yearlong
Palestinian uprising against Israel, Arafat is worried that
the Palestinian Authority might be targeted in a concerted
international anti-terror effort.
At the same time, as suspected terrorist mastermind bin Laden
tried to use the Palestinian issue to whip up Arab and Muslim
anger at America, Arafat had tremendous leverage over Bush in
his efforts to mollify the Arab world.
Bush, and now Blair, have made several statements in recent
weeks backing the idea of a Palestinian state. The Bush
administration reportedly has prepared a new Mideast peace
initiative, and Blair on Monday called on Sharon to return to
peace talks despite continuing Palestinian violence.
Arafat, for his part, is showing his support for the Western
coalition against bin Laden.
"The last thing he wants to do is repeat the mistake of the
Gulf War," when he backed Saddam Hussein, Kosmin said. "He's
been trying to work out who's going to win the war, and now
he's come down. He assumes the Americans are serious this
time."
A British vice president of the World Jewish Congress
welcomed any pressure Blair may have put on Arafat to stop
Palestinian terrorism.
"I hope the prime minister made clear to Arafat that all
terrorism, whether in the United States or in the Middle
East, must be condemned," said Lord Janner. "Suicide bombers
and extremists are a universal menace, and their fanaticism
should never be rewarded."
Israel has been furious at some recent British diplomatic
moves in the Middle East, such as comments made in an Iranian
newspaper by Foreign Secretary Jack Straw that appeared to
sympathize with terrorist attacks against Israel.
A spokesman for Blair said Blair and Sharon would meet in
London next month.
An Israeli source said Israel was prepared to be reasonable
regarding a Palestinian state. "Obviously, there will be
angry noises coming out of Israel from right-wingers who
believe that everything Arafat does is inherently bad," the
source said. "But fundamentally, Sharon and the Labor party
are willing to pay a political price to do what is
responsible and appropriate."
However, the source added that Britain had to press Arafat
for action, not just words.
