State Department spokesman Philip Reeker seemed to go out of his way, in his press briefing on Monday, to take Israel's side. He first waved off Arafat's appointment of Jibril Rajoub as his new security chief by saying that Abu Mazen "needs to be given all available security elements [and] to have those elements under his control so that they can allow progress to be made on the Road Map."
Reeker then quoted President Bush and National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice as saying that "the Palestinian Authority must dismantle and disarm terrorist organizations that take innocent lives in order to prevent the peace process from going forward. These terrorists, these murderers who perpetrate these acts are the enemies of peace, they are the enemies of the ultimate goal of the Palestinian people and the Israelis and all of us in the international community to see two states living side by side with secure borders in peace..."
Rice herself, however, also said some other things. In the very speech quoted by Reeker, Rice said, "Israeli leaders increasingly understand that it is in Israel's interest for Palestinians to govern themselves, in a state that is viable, peaceful, democratic, and committed to fighting terror. Israel has to fulfill its responsibilities to help that peaceful state emerge." ZOA reports that Dr. Rice made a general reference to the fact that "terrorist networks must be dismantled" - without specifying that it is the PA that must dismantle them - and stressed that "transforming the Middle East" will take "many years," implying that the Administration is not seriously insisting that the PA take immediate steps.
Reeker then quoted President Bush and National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice as saying that "the Palestinian Authority must dismantle and disarm terrorist organizations that take innocent lives in order to prevent the peace process from going forward. These terrorists, these murderers who perpetrate these acts are the enemies of peace, they are the enemies of the ultimate goal of the Palestinian people and the Israelis and all of us in the international community to see two states living side by side with secure borders in peace..."
Rice herself, however, also said some other things. In the very speech quoted by Reeker, Rice said, "Israeli leaders increasingly understand that it is in Israel's interest for Palestinians to govern themselves, in a state that is viable, peaceful, democratic, and committed to fighting terror. Israel has to fulfill its responsibilities to help that peaceful state emerge." ZOA reports that Dr. Rice made a general reference to the fact that "terrorist networks must be dismantled" - without specifying that it is the PA that must dismantle them - and stressed that "transforming the Middle East" will take "many years," implying that the Administration is not seriously insisting that the PA take immediate steps.