Prime Minister Sharon is meeting with U.S. President Bush in the White House today, as Sharon makes his eighth visit in Washington since taking office 28 months ago. Bush and Sharon are meeting for a half-hour, and are scheduled to dine together afterwards.
Yesterday, Sharon informed U.S. National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice that Israel would freeze construction of the partition anti-terrorism wall in the controversial areas for six months. He said that he would build only the sections of the wall that are adjacent to the Green Line.
The Jerusalem Post's lead editorial today had some advice for Ariel Sharon:
"...[I]t is understandable and even wise not to walk into the White House with a list of complaints and requests, but [rather] in a more cooperative spirit. At the same time, however, Sharon should remember that at some point the cost of building a relationship can exceed the benefit, and that the relationship is, after all, a means not an end... Israel is not doing the United States or itself any favors if Sharon does not explain to Bush where he is going wrong, and how to get back on track.
"The first thing Sharon should say to Bush is that he should, regardless of how evenly he attempts to calibrate his pressure on Israel and the Palestinians, remember the reality of the situation. The reality is that Israel is not the source of the conflict; the Palestinians and the Arab world are.
"The only purpose of Israeli concessions is to provide an excuse, though none should be necessary, for the US to put maximum pressure on the Arab side. If the US is not willing to be sufficiently demanding of the Arab side, Israeli concessions are worse than useless.
"So far, the signs that the US is willing to be demanding of the Arab world are not encouraging. After setting the standard of "new leaders... not compromised by terror" in June last year, Bush has settled for an Abbas-Arafat partnership, in which Abbas lobbies for Arafat's release and admits that Arafat must approve all decisions. After demanding the immediate dismantling of the terrorist infrastructure, the US has been supporting extraneous Palestinian demands and seems to be backing down on the need to dismantle Hamas...
"In the White House today, Sharon should say he is willing to take risks for peace, but only if the Arab states do so as well, and if the Palestinians are held to their side of the bargain. The purpose of building a relationship is not the relationship itself, but being able to speak with candor and effect when one's ally seems to be losing his way."