WASHINGTON, 9 August — The State Department yesterday rejected Palestinian requests for US intervention in the Middle East, saying that the Palestinian appeal for international monitors would “not stop the shooting,” instead, it would “put more people in harm’s way.”
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the United States intends to continue supporting the peace plan put forward by former Sen. George Mitchell, adding there were no new plans for intervention. He said there should be an end to the violence first and then an easing of the Israeli blockade of Palestinians towns.
“This decision is extremely unfortunate because there seems to be an increase in provocation that’s occurring on the Israeli side, especially as this appears to be a bona fide effort (by the Palestinians) to try to get some assistance from the United Nations to create a buffer, rather than react to the provocation,” said Linda Malone, Professor of law at the College of William and Mary Law School. “And, in terms of putting people in harm’s way, that is exactly what UN forces do — put themselves in harm’s way — so that harm will not occur.”
Regarding yesterday’s news that the Israeli Army has given soldiers permission to shoot — with live ammunition and less restrictions — Malone said: “If the violence continues to escalate, it puts the Palestine in an impossible position. Because if they are asking for assistance from the world community. To avoid reaction to this policy of unleashing more violence — and the world community does not respond — what are they to do?”
Ibrahim Hooper, communications director at Council on America-Islamic Relations (CAIR), was less cautious in his condemnation of the decision: “The idea of US monitors has never been a good one, because the US is so obviously biased in favor of the State of Israel that any American observers would just act as another set of jailors for the Palestinians.” “It’s far better to have international and neutral observers.”
“I think the Americans have to realize that no matter what pro-Israeli spin Congress, or other organizations, are putting out, the root cause of the problem is the illegal occupation of Palestinian land. Until that is acknowledged, efforts at restoring stability will go nowhere,” said Hooper.
Internationally, the State Department decision came as a surprise. “What we’ve saying is that the deployment of observers is in the interest of both parties, and impartial observers in the framework of a monitoring mechanism is a good way to resume real political dialogue. This is what was stated by the heads of state the Genoa conference,” said Remy Marichaux, spokesman at the French Embassy in Washington.
“We’re talking about impartial monitoring, international observers to implement the recommendations of the Mitchell Committee,” Marichaux said. Calls to the State Department and the PLO office were not returned.
