By Joel C. Rosenberg
 (Washington, D.C., March 25, 2008) -- Despite the fact that thousands of missiles are being fired at Israel from Gaza as a "thank you" present from Hamas after Israel withdrew its military forces in the summer of 2005, the Bush administration seems determined to push Israel to divide Jerusalem, give away the West Bank, and create a sovereign Palestinian state.
Consider these headlines:
* Cheney says a Palestinian state is 'long overdue' (Los Angeles Times)
* Cheney calls for painful concessions for Mideast peace (Reuters)
* Rice: Now Is Time for Palestinian State: Rice Says Time for 'A Palestinian State' Is Now, Describes Peace Efforts As a Top Priority (AP)
* Rice says Palestinian state within reach (CNN)
* Olmert hints Jerusalem division is inevitable (Reuters)
* Olmert drawing plans to split Jerusalem with the Palestinians (AP)
* Netanyahu: Olmert government taking measures to cede Jerusalem (Haaretz)
* Palestinian PM Wants U.S. to Pressure Israel (AP)
Vice President Cheney in Israel over the weekend insisted the U.S. wasn't trying to pressure Israel, but the evidence suggests the opposite. Just as the Clinton White House intensified efforts to pressure then-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak to cut a deal with Yasser Arafat in 2000 -- a move that had disastrous repercussions -- so, too, the Bush White House is intensifying efforts to pressure current-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to cut a deal with Mahmoud Abbas. This despite the never-ending Palestinian violence against Israel along with real and growing fears of a coming war with Iran, Syria and Hezbollah.
I applaud President Bush's desire to make peace in the Middle East. And I want the Palestinians to be able to live in peace, security and with full human rights and civil rights -- including freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom of religion. I do not support a sovereign Palestinian state that could form military alliances with radical regimes in Iran, Syria or elsewhere. I do support full autonomy in which Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza can govern themselves with honor and dignity.
But at this point, to achieve anything close to this, all pressure should be applied to forcing Abbas to successfully crack down on Hamas and end all the missiles, mortars and rockets that are being fired from Gaza into southern Israeli towns. According to the "Road Map," no further steps are supposed to be taken until the Palestinians stop the violence. Why isn't the Bush team following their own plan?
Now consider this new headline: "US Ambassador: Jews will just have to leave Jerusalem." Excerpts from the Israel Today and One Jerusalem websites: "US Ambassador to Israel Richard Jones suggested during a tour of overcrowded Jewish neighborhoods in Jerusalem on Monday that many Jews will just have to move out of the capital rather than expand into parts of the city claimed by the Palestinians. Jones told said in an interview with The Jerusalem Post that Washington is growing increasingly displeased with Jewish housing projects on the eastern side of Jerusalem, which are certain to hinder efforts to conclude a peace deal along the lines of US President George W. Bush's vision for the region. The American envoy said he is well aware of the lack of Jewish housing in Jerusalem, but in a remark betraying a lack of understanding regarding Jewish historical and spiritual connection to the city Jones concluded that 'sometimes people do have to move to a different location. They cannot always stay close to their families.'"
I am sorry, this makes no sense. Jerusalem is Israel's capital. It always has been. It always should be. It should not be carved up like a Thanksgiving turkey. Repeated Congressional votes have urged the U.S. to move our Embassy to Jerusalem in recognition of this. Yet the Bush administration refuses to get it done.
Our President has done many brave things to safeguard our security and defend our allies in the Middle East. This, however, is not one of them.
Original Source