Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., January 16, 2008 Shvat 9, 5768 | | Israel Time: 10:01 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Advertising
Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Former U.S. envoy to Israel, Daniel Kurtzer (Alon Ron / Archives)
Last update - 09:03 15/01/2008
Ex-U.S. envoy: Slim chance for Mideast peace by end of year
By Daphna Berman, Haaretz Correspondent

U.S. President George Bush's tenure has been largely characterized by a "lack of commitment" to the Arab-Israeli peace process, and it seems unlikely that the outgoing president will be able to bring peace to the region before the end of his term, former U.S. ambassador to Israel Daniel Kurtzer said on Monday.

Speaking in Herzliya at the two-day conference, "An Agreement within a Year," sponsored by the Geneva Initiative, Kurtzer said that "Bush inherited a much more challenging [situation] than Clinton, yet throughout his seven years, he failed to look for or exploit opportunities that presented themselves - and there were opportunities."

His remarks - which included performance report cards for former President George H.W. Bush, as well as former President Bill Clinton  were based on extensive research conducted for his new book, "Negotiating Arab-Israeli Peace: American Leadership in the Middle East," which he
c
Advertisement
o-wrote with Scott Lasensky. Due out later this year, the book is also highly critical of the Clinton administration's handling of the peace process, which Kurtzer found to have been marked by "unfocused and ad-hoc strategy."

The former U.S. ambassador said that Bush's tenure was characterized by "unsupported envoys and diplomats," but nevertheless pointed to the recent Annapolis summit as one of the administration's "positive points."

Still, he says, the White House is preoccupied with other matters.

"The first five [foreign policy] items on the agenda of Washington are Iraq, Iraq, Iraq, Iraq and Iraq," he said "It consumes an enormous amount of time and financial and political resources," and so a serious investment in Israel "may be asking too much."

Kurtzer, now a professor at Princeton University, also said that future attempts to bring peace to the region should involve building bipartisan support within the U.S..

"The American Jewish community does not speak in one voice as is perceived in Washington," he said.

Related articles:
  • ANALYSIS: Palestinians believe Bush won't pressure Israel
  • Netanyahu to Bush: Israel has only 'virtual partner' in Abbas
  • What else can Israel ask of President Bush?
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Diskin's faulty math
    Haaretz finds the Shin Bet estimate of Palestinian civilian casualties is too low.
    Wooing minorities
    The color of Barack Obama's skin has returned as an issue to the campaign.
      1.   Kurtzer and the "Peace Process" 23:24  |  Dr. David Feigenbaum 14/01/08
      2.   Kurtzer - This Is the Kind of Idiot Hillary Will Appoint 23:49  |  Tod Zuckerman 14/01/08
      3.   Little Chance of Mid-east Peace EVER! 00:19  |  Optimist 15/01/08
      4.   now there is a shock 00:23  |  slowly but surely 15/01/08
      5.   what do you teach your kids, doctor? 00:51  |  Eleni 15/01/08
      6.   Bush worst President ever 00:52  |  Milo 15/01/08
      7.   Kurtzer is probably correct 00:53  |  Chris Linthwaite 15/01/08
      8.   No peace process just unilateral moves by Israel 00:57  |  Avi 15/01/08
      9.   Failure to look at the historical record # 1 01:02  |  Myles 15/01/08
      10.   and futhermore... 01:05  |  Avi 15/01/08
      11.   #2 - Lets have real peace not Islamic fundamentalism 01:21  |  Avi 15/01/08
      12.   To slowly but surely (who used to be #2) 01:29  |  Avi 15/01/08
      13.   there will be peace when 01:32  |  vik 15/01/08
      14.   Hi Chris L 01:34  |  Avi 15/01/08
      15.   The "peace" process was a trap 02:01  |  Frank 15/01/08
      16.   # 2 Tod Zuckerman of San Francisco...!!! 02:13  |  Stephen. 15/01/08
      17.   we live on planet u.s. you`re either on it and 02:46  |  balkas bozhidar 15/01/08
      18.   Reply to Stephen (16) 03:02  |  Tod Zuckerman 15/01/08
      19.   Peace - Schmeace 03:36  |  Peter Wallace 15/01/08
      20.   Re:Mayles 03:39  |  e.m.Jordan is Palest 15/01/08
      21.   # 15 Frank. To make peace, we have to fight. 03:58  |  Stephen. 15/01/08
      22.   Bush needs Clintonian commitment & involvement to peace 07:46  |  matt 15/01/08
      23.   There has been major progress but no peace in sight 08:25  |  Natallie Durson 15/01/08
      24.   There will not be peace here so long as two elements are missing: 09:46  |  Avihu 15/01/08
      25.   THE CHANCE WILL BE 100% "ZERO" 10:20  |  indrajaya 15/01/08
      26.   Arabs are not interested in peace 11:15  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 15/01/08
      27.   #18 Tod Zuckerman. See post · 21 11:24  |  Stephen. 15/01/08
      28.   ENTIRE CONFLICT EXPLAINED IN LESS THAN 20 LINES 12:13  |  G. Marcus 15/01/08
      29.   #6 Milo 12:13  |  Sarah 15/01/08
      30.   KURTZER: JEWISH PAWN OF STATE DEPT ARABISTS 12:31  |  G. Marcus 15/01/08
      31.   kurtzer get this peace is available within 5 years 12:48  |  v hardman 15/01/08
      32.   INDRAJAYA better chance than getting your murderers OUT of PAPUA. 13:22  |  PETER SM 15/01/08
      33.   # 32, PETER SM 13:37  |  indrajaya 15/01/08
      34.   Indrajaya on Iranian payroll? 13:53  |  joe 15/01/08
      35.   INDRAJAYA .There is nothing excellent about a post of evasions 13:58  |  PETER SM 15/01/08
      36.   Cipora unfortunately you`re right 14:08  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 15/01/08
      37.   # 34, JOE 14:11  |  indrajaya 15/01/08
      38.   JOE Indrajaya has admitted he is paid to.WRITE HERE 14:18  |  PETER SM 15/01/08
      39.   There Out to Lynch Him 15:38  |  yaakov sullivan 15/01/08
      40.   Margie in Tel Aviv unfortunately you are right too... 15:49  |  S 15/01/08
      41.   Kurtzer 16:06  |  sabra 15/01/08
      42.   Mr. Kurtzner from your lips to G-ds ears! 16:14  |  Petra 15/01/08
      43.   # 34 JOE, LOL YOU"RE A BLAST! 16:17  |  Petra 15/01/08
      44.   # 19 Dream on Lucifer 16:24  |  Petra 15/01/08
      45.   ATTENTION ALL WHO HATE ISRAEL 16:26  |  Petra 15/01/08
      46.   # 9 Myles we have this book 16:35  |  Petra 15/01/08
      47.   # 4 Shock? LEARN TO SPELL I-S-R-A-E-L 16:36  |  Petra 15/01/08
      48.   # 21 Stephan if I may. 16:39  |  Petra 15/01/08
      49.   Reply to Stephen (27) 18:27  |  Tod Zuckerman 15/01/08
      50.   Bush`s wisdom on Slowman`s education 18:52  |  Daphna Berman 15/01/08
      51.   daniel kurtzer has a personal interest in israel bless him 19:22  |  purplehaze 15/01/08
      52.   Peace !! WHAT PEACE?? 20:20  |  Harrison Joe 15/01/08
      53.   disarm iran and syria completely, and there will be peace 00:18  |  frenz 16/01/08
      54.   It makes a good Jew cry these days ! 01:08  |  Akram Zekaria 16/01/08
      55.   This Princeton University Professor is talking rubbish. 01:56  |  Akram Zekaria 16/01/08
      56.   Cipora # 26 Palestinians refuse to trade Land for Peace. 02:58  |  American in NY 16/01/08
     Today Online
    Gaza militants fire at least 25 Qassams at southern Israel
    Responses: 18
    IDF troops kill Islamic Jihad's top West Bank commander
    Responses: 12
    Rosner: PM tells U.S. Jews he wants to hear their voice on J'lem
    Responses: 4
    Amira Hass: Israelis don't get the extent of their domination over the Palestinians
    Send response
    Alexander Yakobson: Horrors of Amona leaves gov't too scared to evacuate outposts
    Responses: 2
    Rosner's Domain
    Jewish leaders: "falsehood and innuendo used in mischaracterization of Obama" (WTR)
    Olmert to American Jews: I want your voice on Jerusalem
    The case for bombing Iran (WTR)
    The Israel Factor: Let McCain deal with Iran
    Poll: Does Bush still placing the promotion of democracy at the top of his agenda?


    More Headlines
    09:36 Gaza militants fire at least 25 Qassams at southern Israel
    09:38 IDF soldiers kill Islamic Jihad's top commander in West Bank
    08:13 Defense officials fear IDF raids in Gaza could threaten Shalit deal
    09:58 Bush: Olmert's coalition strong, can withstand peace process
    09:53 German archives' opening helps Israeli man track his father's death in Holocaust
    09:44 Thai satellite company stops airing Hezbollah TV broadcasts
    05:32 ANALYSIS / Despite raid, Hamas, Israel don't seek escalation
    08:12 Yisrael Beitenu head Lieberman likely to leave coalition Wednesday
    05:58 Haaretz's Gideon Levy wins prize for cultural dialogue
    06:02 Jerusalem approves controversial Mughrabi bridge project
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers