[Peace-discuss] Kerry on Israel

[C. G. Estabrook]

[From Haaretz today. Kerry tries to move to the right of the Bush
administration on Israel, giving yet more reason to vote for Nader or Cobb
in Illinois. --CGE]
  	
	Kerry position paper outlines support for Israel
	By Nathan Guttman

WASHINGTON - In a position paper outlining his stance on Israel,
Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry promises not to negotiate
with Yasser Arafat and expresses support for Israel's right to defend
itself by attacking terrorist organizations.

The paper, entitled "John Kerry: Strengthening Israel's Security and
Bolstering the U.S.-Israel Special Relationship," was sent in mid-June to
a group of people in the Jewish community as part of the Kerry attempt to
maintain contact with Jewish supporters in the United States and to
clarify his positions on Israel.

Kerry, who previously spoke against the separation fence at a gathering of
the Arab-American Institute, is now seeking to correct that impression:
"The security fence is a legitimate act of self-defense erected in
response to the wave of terror attacks against Israeli citizens."

The presumptive Democratic nominee also declares his opposition to
transferring debate on the fence to international forums. The paper shows
consistent support for Israel on all the issues at hand: Kerry backs
Israel's disengagement plan and also the two central points in President
Bush's letter to Prime Minister Sharon - the resettlement of Palestinian
refugees in the Palestinian state, not within Israel, and recognition of
Jewish population concentrations in the West Bank when establishing the
permanent borders. "In light of demographic realities, a number of
settlement blocs will likely become a part of Israel," Kerry wrote his
supporters.

He further declared support for Israel's actions against Hamas, Islamic
Jihad and other terror organizations and recalled that he was a signatory
to the motion of support for Israel passed by the Senate during Operation
Defensive Shield.

On the issue of Palestinian leadership, Kerry declared that "Yasser Arafat
is a failed leader and unfit partner for peace" and called for "his total
isolation." He thereby aligned himself with Bush administration policy,
and in contrast to former president Bill Clinton, who recently stated that
despite his disappointment with Arafat, negotiations should be conducted
with him.

Kerry lists additional issues on which he supports Israel: the battle
against cutting foreign aid to Israel; calling upon the United Nations to
evince a more balanced approach to the conflict; support for moving the
American embassy to Jerusalem; international action against regimes that
support terror; and maintaining Israel's military supremacy.

Seeking to set himself apart from Bush on several issues, Kerry blasts
Saudi Arabia and promises to act against anti-Semitic statements by senior
Saudi government officials. "As president, he will never permit these
kinds of attacks to go unanswered," the paper promises.

Sources in his campaign said that the paper and other letters sent in
recent weeks to supporters in the Jewish community are intended "to
educate and inform on his views, so there will be no doubt about his
support for the state of Israel."

	***