shamsery
20-01-03, 10:26 AM
In his first public comments regarding U.S. policy in the Middle East on the "day after" the anticipated war in Iraq, Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz said the administration will intensify its focus on the establishment of a Palestinian state.
In an interview in the Washington Post on Friday, Wolfowitz said, "Our stake in pushing for a Palestinian state will grow" after the war, and he noted that he preferred "concrete steps, like dealing with the settlements" over the advancing of diplomatic issues as part of a "process."
Wolfowitz is the most senior Jewish member of the political and defense branches of the current U.S. administration. He is considered to be the architect behind the current closing in on Iraq, a clear supporter of Israel, and a leading member of the Jewish right in Washington, which includes Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Doug Feith, and the National Security Council adviser on the Middle East, Elliot Abrams.
Wolfowitz has family, including a sister, in Israel, and is well-acquainted with many members of the government, including Nathan Sharansky and former ambassador to Washington, David Ivry…
A senior government source surprised by Wolfowitz's comments on the settlements, attributed them to his desire to rally Arab and European support for the war against Iraq.
"There is no other way to explain it," he said, since the administration has yet to present Israel officially with its expectations on "the day after."
The dominant opinion in Israel is that even after the war in Iraq, the U.S. administration will not rush to pressure Israel into making concessions, because there will be other priorities, and President George Bush will be facing an election year and will need the Jewish vote…
In an interview in the Washington Post on Friday, Wolfowitz said, "Our stake in pushing for a Palestinian state will grow" after the war, and he noted that he preferred "concrete steps, like dealing with the settlements" over the advancing of diplomatic issues as part of a "process."
Wolfowitz is the most senior Jewish member of the political and defense branches of the current U.S. administration. He is considered to be the architect behind the current closing in on Iraq, a clear supporter of Israel, and a leading member of the Jewish right in Washington, which includes Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Doug Feith, and the National Security Council adviser on the Middle East, Elliot Abrams.
Wolfowitz has family, including a sister, in Israel, and is well-acquainted with many members of the government, including Nathan Sharansky and former ambassador to Washington, David Ivry…
A senior government source surprised by Wolfowitz's comments on the settlements, attributed them to his desire to rally Arab and European support for the war against Iraq.
"There is no other way to explain it," he said, since the administration has yet to present Israel officially with its expectations on "the day after."
The dominant opinion in Israel is that even after the war in Iraq, the U.S. administration will not rush to pressure Israel into making concessions, because there will be other priorities, and President George Bush will be facing an election year and will need the Jewish vote…