Middle East Peace Process
Sheinbaum said that he and the other four self-appointed foreign ministers who met with Arafat in Stockholm a year and a half ago asked Arafat if his rejection of terrorism applied to all groups in the PLO. Arafat affirmed that it did and went on to say that the PLO agrees to all conditions required by the United States in order to open dialogue with the U.S. government. The condition that Arafat clearly violated was his unwillingness to condemn the act of one of his factions. Arafat’s flagrant rejection of his own commitment cannot be blamed on anyone other than Arafat.
It is totally absurd for Sheinbaum to accuse the Bush Administration of reacting immorally and without principle when, by discontinuing our dialogue with the PLO, our President finally responded to the constant abuses of the PLO’s obligations.
No long-term, comprehensive solution can be achieved for all parties in the region, including the Palestinians, without peace between Israel and her neighboring Arab states. Shamir’s overture to Assad is a bright light in a bleak part of our world.
JONATHAN E. MITCHELL
Los Angeles
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