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Last update - 02:49 30/03/2008 Responding to the final effort By Haaretz Editorial Tags: Condoleezza Rice, Israel  The weeks are passing and the Bush administration is approaching the end of the road. The seven months until the presidential and Congressional elections are spurring the president and his staff to focus on improving their balance sheet before the next administration takes over. It is in this context that we should observe the visit by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Although its importance is limited and the expectations are low, it reflects American recognition of the need to invest in promoting an Israeli-Palestinian agreement, even when the chances of a high and immediate yield are small. In a conversation with journalists in Washington before leaving for Israel, on her way to joining President George W. Bush at the NATO summit in Bucharest and from there to a meeting with Russia's Vladimir Putin, Rice placed the efforts for the conflict's solution in a respectable place on the administration's list of goals. But not at the top of the list. Russia, the NATO alliance, the nuclear disarmament of North Korea and an improvement in the tendencies in the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan - Ramallah and Gaza only come afterward. Bush and Rice are sincerely interested in solving the problem that also influences other troubles, but in case they fail, they want to repel in advance those who accuse them, as if to say "Don't say we didn't try." Neglect of the conflict characterized the Bush administration in its early years, with the exception of flashes that quickly died down - the two-state speech in June 2002 and the road map that followed it, as well as support for the unilateral evacuation of Gaza in exchange for consideration of the settlement blocs in the West Bank. Neglect of the conflict was replaced at the end of last year by feverish activity, entitled "the Annapolis process," whose success is not yet clear. Advertisement Rice's present journey is designed, like its predecessors, to spur Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas not only to build a bridge between themselves, but also to climb on it finally and move toward a meeting that will produce an agreement. For that purpose the secretary of state is both visiting Israel frequently and increasing her criticism of Israeli policy, particularly on the issue of construction beyond the Green Line. Her criticism includes construction in East Jerusalem and the interruption of the Palestinians' fabric of life in the West Bank. Abbas' weakness in the Palestinian community in general and in light of the Hamas military takeover of Gaza in particular has caused Rice to address most of her demands to Israel. Responding to these demands will improve the atmosphere, even if it does not affect the core issues, does not necessarily increase the strength of the moderates vis-a-vis the extremists in Palestinian society and does not lead to unity in the divided Arab world, as reflected by the summit in Damascus. The four months of the Annapolis process do not herald any favorable developments, but the process is expected to continue, in an identical or similar format, in the next administration, whether Democratic or Republican, with or without survivors from the present administration. (Rice is a possible candidate for vice president to Republican frontrunner John McCain.) The visits to Israel and the criticism will not fade away. Israel has a genuine interest, not a tactical one, in working harder for the success of Bush and Rice's belated, final effort. Bookmark to del.icio.us   WHO knows? The WHO says Israel lets Gazans die in 'avoidable tragedies'. Friendly faces Google, Facebook and Yahoo heads will attend a J'lem technology summit.   1.   Why make Israeli concessions if Abbas won`t accept Jewish state? 08:38  |  Sam 30/03/08   2.   Abbas is in Damascus attacking Israel 10:40  |  Shalom Freedman 30/03/08   3.   The only thing that will bring peace 11:06  |  Palestinian Prince 30/03/08   4.   "Rice placed the efforts.....in a respectable place" 11:20  |  Swiss (Dino) 30/03/08   5.   WHAT A PROUD BLACK WOMAN 11:33  |  indrajaya 30/03/08   6.   Bottom line? Israel prefers west bank expansion to peace 12:12  |  Natallie Durson 30/03/08   7.   haaretz never quits cloud cuckoo land 12:21  |  v hardman 30/03/08   8.   Bush, Rice beating a dead horse 12:52  |  Walter 30/03/08   9.   Well, they won`t get History lessons from Talkback 13:13  |  sh 30/03/08   10.   Haaretz Kamikazi Editors 13:52  |  Proud Israeli 30/03/08   11.   There used to be a story about Sindbad,and how when he was on an 14:01  |  lakshmi 30/03/08   12.   The vultures keep attacking 14:08  |  Hilda 30/03/08   13.   PeePee 14:47  |  x-ray 30/03/08   14.   # 2 Shalom Freedman 16:07  |  George Kaplan 30/03/08   15.   What Israel MUST do 16:18  |  Simcha 30/03/08   16.   Bush and Rice should boot the upstarts out! 16:22  |  Dutch 30/03/08   17.   If that what Haaretz declares... 16:29  |  No wimp 30/03/08   18.   same old 16:43  |  Curious George 30/03/08   19.   "Rush" Never Worked: Wait for McCain - Netanyahu Alignment 16:48  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 30/03/08   20.   Rice A VP Candidate???? 16:49  |  Mark of Lewiston 30/03/08   21.   lakshmi, just curious... 16:57  |  Bruce 30/03/08   22.   Responding to the final effort 17:02  |  Bruce 30/03/08   23.   15 Simcha - Protecting Sderot 17:14  |  Mark of Lewiston 30/03/08   24.   Genuine interest but not tactical 17:21  |  American Christian 30/03/08   25.   Israel must help Israel by ending the fraudulent "peace process". 18:38  |  Chaim 30/03/08   26.   Agreement should not be in context of U.S. ongoings 18:43  |  Smadar 30/03/08   27.   Annapolis 19:39  |  Mark Lincoln 30/03/08   28.   Mark of Lewiston 19:41  |  Mark Lincoln 30/03/08   29.   Who is the Abominable Slowman? 20:12  |  Edit Haar 30/03/08   30.   peace depends 99% on the Arabs... 20:48  |  felix 30/03/08   31.   # 5. Indy. She is a first class politician. 20:51  |  Stephen. 30/03/08   32.   21Bruce,if you have been following my posts I am a 2 stater 21:09  |  lakshmi 30/03/08   33.   what peace 21:31  |  dale 30/03/08   34.   RICE PUSHING ANTI-ISRAEL AGENDA OF STATE DEPT ARABISTS 21:31  |  G. Marcus 30/03/08   35.   ABU-MAZEN`S TRUE FACE & "PEACE" CHARADE: MUST READ ARTICLE 21:39  |  Joel Stein 30/03/08   36.   Don`t open the gates of the Zoo. 21:49  |  Akram Zekaria 30/03/08   37.   28 Mark Lincoln 21:53  |  Mark of Lewiston 30/03/08   38.   Rice: "We will be monitoring and verifying" 00:49  |  Heinz 31/03/08   39.   Bush wants 1 achievement on his dismal record.. 01:12  |  PK 31/03/08   40.   #2.S.F. NO. Abbas in Damascus telling the TRUTH. 01:26  |  Sandy Mich. 31/03/08   41.   Sandy Mich- no mention of refugees. What have Pals decided there? 01:48  |  Sam 31/03/08   42.   Detailing PA state regardless of Gaza conduct assures endless war 01:56  |  Dr. L. Brnd 31/03/08   43.   Mark of Lewiston 02:28  |  Mark Lincoln 31/03/08   44.   40Sandy Mich&41Sam,Sandy,The PLO Declaration of Independence 1988 03:08  |  lakshmi 31/03/08   45.   Why is peace so elusive?. 04:17  |  Stig Soren 31/03/08   46.   #32, lakshmi, If you are a two stater... 04:45  |  Bruce 31/03/08   47.   Sandy Mich, you are not asking for 22% 04:56  |  Bruce 31/03/08   48.   lakshmi, Anthony D`Amato is not a judje 05:03  |  Bruce 31/03/08   49.   #47 Bruce, that`s what I said to lakshmi 07:06  |  Smadar 31/03/08   50.   To Stig Soren 07:09  |  Jim Brooks 31/03/08   51.   43 Mark Lincoln 07:30  |  Mark of Lewiston 31/03/08   52.   #1 Coz he can offer something else, Sam. 08:32  |  Johnboy 31/03/08   53.   WHAT/ TO SACRIFICE ISRAEL...... 08:44  |  Dagma 31/03/08   54.   To PALESTINIAN PRINCE #3 - S.Africa was Different.... 08:55  |  Dolly 31/03/08   55.   #47 Yes, exactly right, Bruce 09:05  |  Johnboy 31/03/08   56.   Sense at last 11:25  |  English Resident 31/03/08   57.   OLMERT AND BUSH WILL SELL OUT FOR ARAB OIL MONEY 07:06  |  ROB GOTTESMAN 02/04/08

Today Online Meshal: Hamas backs state along '67 lines, right of return Responses: 57 Dutch Jews louder than Muslims in slamming 'Fitna' film Responses: 52 Survey: Israel second to Iran as worst viewed in world Responses: 32 Uzi Benziman: Public forced to bear the burden of settlements Send response More Headlines 09:55 Meshal: Hamas backs state in '67 lines, right of return 09:23 Survey: Israel second to Iran as most negatively viewed in world 10:52 Report: Syria calling up reserve forces over fears of IDF offensive 10:11 Intelligence officers: Hezbollah may strike Israel via third party 07:40 Dutch Jews louder than Muslims in condemning 'Fitna' film 10:14 Congress recognizes Jewish refugees from Arab countries for 1st time 03:38 Dream team: Which President-Prime Minister combo works best? 10:20 Amid Israeli siege, Palestinian businesses look east to China 10:22 Sensing affront, Arabs seek to close Security Council doors 08:46 Seattle prosecutor: Much of Jewish center shooter's statement inadmissible 04:43 Organic farming hits billion-shekel mark 07:33 Social worker: Most ultra-Orthodox children who were sexually abused not treated 07:34 Needy Holocaust survivors to receive one-time government grant of NIS 6,000 10:36 Jewish values can fight world poverty Previous Editions Select Day 01 apr 31 mar 30 mar 28 mar 27 mar 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar

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