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America in the Middle East

US won't recognize Olmert's borders

American position highlights dangers of 'convergence'


By Ryan Jones
April 26, 2006

Senior American government sources told reporters this week that the Bush Administration will not recognize Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's intended withdrawal lines as Israel's final borders.

If accurate, the revelation effectively demolishes the primary plank in Olmert's election platform - the promise to create a new secure reality by 2010 by unilaterally drawing final borders that will ensure Israel's ability to defend itself for decades to come.

Olmert knows he cannot implement that plan without full backing from the United States, and so will set off for Washington later next month in an effort to secure support from President George W. Bush for his "convergence" plan, which will see Israel surrender more than 90 percent of Judea and Samaria to the Hamas-led Palestinian Arabs.

While the Israeli is likely to receive US backing, the details will render obsolete his promise of Israel deciding what borders best suit it's needs.

One US official quoted by Ha'aretz said American support would be given under the assumption "that any reduction of the occupation is good for both sides, but it certainly won't be support for a new border."

Israel's permanent borders would only be set "following future negotiations between Israel and the PA," said another.

Bush and his top aides have repeatedly stated that the US will not recognize any resolution of the conflict that does not enjoy the full consent of the "Palestinians." And neither PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas nor the new Hamas government are about to settle for anything less than a 100 percent withdrawal from Judea and Samaria, including eastern Jerusalem, the release of all "Palestinian" security prisoners, and the right to flood the Jewish state with millions of Arab "refugees."

As such, Olmert's convergence plan is reduced to a policy that risks Israel divesting itself of its most valuable bargaining chips before final negotiations have even begun.

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