News analysis: Bush's visit brings winds of comfort rather than peace agreement(1)

2008-05-16 09:40:16 [ Big Normal Small ]    　Comment

JERUSALEM, May 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush's ongoing Mideast visit may bring winds of comfort rather than peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, said political analysis, though premier Ehud Olmert promised Thursday an Israeli parliament approval of Palestinian statehood once the time arrives.

"President Bush's visit can not assist in overcoming the grave and serious difficulties of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process," Shlomo Avineri, Professor of Political Science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, told Xinhua on Thursday.


U.S. President George W. Bush pauses during applause in his speech to the Knesset in Jerusalem May 15, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

The main purpose of Bush's visit is to salute Israel's 60thbirthday and to show U.S. supports for Israel, which just carries a symbolic meaning, he said.

In his point of view, the gap between Israel and the Palestinians is too deep regarding the final-status issues including the return of Palestinian refugees, Jerusalem and the borders.

"There is no meaning to the agreements that were achieved or will be achieved as long as Hamas controls the Gaza Strip," Avineri said, adding "it is hard to see a peace agreement being achieved anytime in the near future."

"The Palestinians need to reach peace among themselves before they sit around the negotiation table in an attempt to reach peace with Israel," he stressed.


U.S. President George W. Bush (L) hugs Israeli President Shimon Peres (R) following a speech to the Knesset in Jerusalem May 15, 2008. Speaker of the Knesset Dalia Itzik is in the foreground. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Almost half a year has passed since the U.S.-host international conference on Mideast peace held at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

It was orchestrated by President Bush who brought together Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Minister TzipiLivni, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his premier Salam Fayyad.

For the first time since Camp David Summit in 2000, a two-state solution marked as a mutually agreed-upon outline for addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflicts.

By the time the Annapolis conference was adjourned, President Bush announced the solution would turn into reality by the end of2008, around the time he is scheduled to step down.

However, six months passed and there is no signs of ending the conflicts.

"This entire political negotiation is a waste of time because we negotiate with a powerless part of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) who can not commit to anything," Israeli former Defense Minister and former Foreign Minister Moshe Arens told Xinhua.


U.S. President George W. Bush shares a laugh with Dalia Itzik (R), speaker of the Israeli parliament, during his visit to the parliament in Jerusalem May 15, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Related: