Peace And Nione

To
1947 ith Plan
the Clinton admin-

6 No5

istration getting set for
another
major Mideast
have this increase of expectations and
MATTHEW DORF
peace
push,
U.S. offi-
nothing happens, four or five months
Jewish. Telegraphic Agency
cials are also beginning to speak out
down the line frustration could have
more about the latest Palestinian
an even worse backlash," he said.
Washington
maneuver in the stalled talks.
Abdullah,
who
met
with
Barak
last
rdan's King Abdullah stepped
At a session of the American Israel
month, spoke warmly of the prime
out from his father's shadow
Public
Affairs Committee conference
minister-elect. "I think that there's a
on his first visit here since
on
Monday,
special Mideast envoy
trust and confidence between the both
assuming the throne of the
Dennis
Ross
made the strongest
Hashemite Kingdom in
statement
yet
on United Nations
early February.
Resolution
181.
He rejected recent
Sounding much like
Palestinian
claims
that U.N.
King Hussein, and wear-
Resolution
181
—
the original U.N.
ing a beard that remind-
partition
plan
that
was
rejected by
ed many of his late
the
entire
Arab
world
when
it was
father, Abdullah staked
1947
—
should
be
the basis
passed
in
out familiar territory by
for
new
negotiations.
pledging support for the
Ross told the group that the only
peace process and
relevant U.N. guidelines are resolu-
promising to do all he
tions 242 and 338. "Any other basis
can to help the
is not relevant," he said.
Palestinians and Israelis
Ross' comments came only hours
reach a peace agreement.
after
Vice President Al Gore used less
Abdullah, who has
direct
language to reject the 181 push.
repaired relations with
Under 181, Israel would have to
many Arab states
accept the internationalization of
strained by Jordan's
Jerusalem and concede vast amounts
peace treaty with Israel,
of territory; in contrast, 242 and 338
carried messages from
simply set forth the commonly
Syria.
accepted principle of land-for-peace
Israel and Syria are
negotiations.
at the threshold of a
Many pro-Israel activists have crit-
breakthrough,"
icized the administration's slow
Abdullah told a delega-
response to the 181 gambit; Ross'
tion of some 18 Jewish
comments suggests U.S. officials have
officials at a meeting
finally decided to act, now that Prime
Monday at the Blair
Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is on
House in Washington.
his way out.
He said Syrian
But a top Israeli diplomat, while
-
President Hafez Assad
welcoming Ross' comments, said they
referred in a recent
King Abdullah of Jordan signs a guest book in Washington May 19, as House International
didn't go far enough.
meeting to "when" Syria Relations Committee chairman Rep. Benjamin Gilman, R-N Y, watches. Queen Rania is
"It's the closest they've come to a
has peace with Israel,
behind the king; the man at right was not identified.
rejection" of 181, he said. "But for
not "if," according to
some reason they're still skirting the
participants.
issue; they don't want to come right
Jordan "was a direct result of a stagna-
of us. And I am very excited that I
Abdullah's visit to Washington
out
and say this is an inappropriate
tion
in
the
peace
process,''
think he is the type of man to take
came in the middle of a tour of
and
harmful strategy on the part of
Abdullah
said,
"If
we
could
move
Israel into a new phase of peace and
European states, where the king is
the
Palestinians."
Administration
things
ahead,
I
think
that
the
whole
stability in our region."
seeking billions of dollars in debt for-
insiders say they're not sure if the
area
will
bloom.
Clinton
expressed
support
for
giveness. He met with President
recent focus on 181 represents a gen-
The king noted that his late father,
Abdullah's request that Japan and sev-
Clinton the morning after Israeli
uine change in the Palestinians' nego-
an avid motorcycle rider, had formed
eral European countries forgive bil-
Prime Minister-elect Ehud Barak
or is simply another
tiating stance
an unusually close relationship with
lions of dollars in Jordanian debt. The
defeated Binyamin Netanyahu.
negotiating
ploy
by
Palestinian
the
Washington
Metropolitan
Police,
U.S. Congress is poised to pass a mea-
Abdullah said he has high hopes for
Authority
Chairman
Yasser Arafat.
which
escorts
visiting
dignitaries.
After
sure that includes an additional $100
the peace process in the wake of
Israeli
officials
say
it
doesn't matter;
meeting
with
Clinton,
Abdullah
bor-
million in U.S. aid to Jordan.
Barak's victory. "We see eye to eye on
either way, the new Palestinian
rowed
a
Harley-Davidson
motorcycle
Three
years
ago
the
United
States
many issues and we're very optimistic
rhetoric can only erode Israeli confi-
and rode with the police from his
forgave millions in Jordanian debt and
of taking the peace process forward,"
dence
in the peace process. 11
hotel in downtown Washington to
increased annual U.S. foreign aid to
he told reporters Tuesday. But, he cau-
Maryland in a tribute to King
— James D. Besser
Jordan to $250 million. Clinton
tioned, "We must be vigilant in sup-
Hussein. El
promised to help Abdullah convince
porting our friends, because if you

other countries to forgive some of
Jordan's outstanding debt.
Even with increased aid and debt
forgiveness, the growth of Jordan's
economy comes down to the success
of the peace process, Abdullah said.
The lack of movement on the eco-
nomic front between" Israel and

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