Bush is playing politics with Middle East policy (again)

Bush has reversed long held US policy in the region by explicitly endorsing the idea that some West Back settlements will remain in the region, and that he believes Israel has a right to hold on to parts of the West Bank in any final status agreement with a new Palestinian state. This was all Sharon wanted and the Palestinians are outraged by all this.

The Washington Post correctly points out that this was an election year move by Bush to win over traditionally Democratic Jewish voters.

President Bush's embrace yesterday of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to unilaterally disengage from the Palestinians carries potential political benefits for Bush but also potential risk for his foreign policy.

In the same article John Zogby sends a chill through the spine of anyone concerned with our troops welfare in the Middle East.

Independent pollster John Zogby, who has surveyed extensively in the Arab world, said: "This is pretty much the final nail in the coffin of the peace process as far as Arabs are concerned." He said his polling indicates the Palestinian cause is among the top three issues for 90 percent of Arabs in all Arab countries he has surveyed. "It's not even a political issue, it's a bloodstream issue," Zogby said.

Is this administration so tone deaf that at the moment we are under fire in Iraq in part because we've stood by while Israel has pursued a ruthless policy in the Palestinian occupied territories, they do something sure to further inflame Arab opinion?

While I understand Kerry has no choice but to support this, I seriously doubt he would play with our long held views on the situation in Israel simply to win political points at a time when Arab resentment of the United States is at its peak.