U.S. Faults Shamir’s Peace Stance but Downplays Effects

The State Department on Thursday criticized tough conditions set by Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir for a Palestinian election but downplayed Shamir’s stance as unofficial and a matter of partisan politics.

“Partisan declarations, particularly if they appear to be more restrictive or impose conditions, do not advance the process,” spokesman Richard Boucher said of the position announced Wednesday by Shamir under pressure from hard-line members of his political party, Likud.

At a party meeting in Tel Aviv, Shamir had pledged that his election plan, announced in May, will not result in Palestinian independence or control of the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip by any Arab government.

He said Arab residents of East Jerusalem would be excluded from the vote and barred any negotiations until the 19-month-old Arab uprising ends in the territories.

Talking to reporters in Washington, Boucher stressed that the May plan, which would allow Arabs to elect delegates willing to negotiate an autonomy arrangement with Israel, has the endorsement of the Israeli Cabinet and the Bush Administration and still provides “the most realistic way to advance the peace process.”