Since presenting his latest vision for Palestinian/Israeli peace, President Bush has been criticized for parroting Israeli talking points. Immediately after the June 24th speech, Pat Robertson, hardline Israel-supporter and founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network, declared that he wouldn’t be happier if he wrote the speech himself. The Independent’s Robert Fisk wrote, "I Wonder why Bush Doesn’t Let Sharon Run His Press Office."
Today's Washington Post asked, "Is Natan Sharansky working in the White House speechwriting office?"
Consider the following excerpts from Sharansky's vision, published in the Jerusalem Post on May 3rd and President Bush's vision announced on June 24th:
Sharansky Jerusalem Post “Vision” on May 3, 2002
"The Palestinians must be encouraged to form an open and free society that is not burdened by the fear, hatred, and terror that have been sown in recent years by Arafat and his leadership. The time has come for a new leadership."
"I presented the following seven-point plan of action to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, defining the principles for a three-year Transition Period."
An "international coordinating body" led by the U.S., with Arab involvement, that would work with Palestinians to "develop the infrastructure for democratic life among the Palestinians" and an "international economic fund" for industry and infrastructure.
Only a "free and open" society "can serve as a solid guarantee for normal relations between the two peoples" and "we owe it to ourselves and to our future to help the Palestinians help themselves."
Bush’s policy speech on June 24, 2002
"Peace requires a new and different Palestinian leadership, so that a Palestinian state can be born. I call on the Palestinian people to elect new leaders, leaders not compromised by terror."
"With intensive effort by all of us, agreement could be reached within three years from now."
"I've asked Secretary Powell to work intensively with Middle Eastern and international leaders to realize the vision of a Palestinian state, focusing them on a comprehensive plan to support Palestinian reform and institution building" and "a major project of economic reform and development."
"a stable, peaceful Palestinian state is necessary to achieve the security that Israel longs for." Israel should "take concrete steps to support the emergence of a viable, credible Palestinian state."
