Saying 'No' to America

Today America is applying a different type of pressure aimed at preventing Israel from making concessions that would enable moving the peace wagon forward. But we shouldn't succumb to pressure of this type either.

Regarding the Palestinians, the Americans are insisting on full implementation of the international Quartet's roadmap. Anyone with eyes in their heads realizes that the first phase of the roadmap is not feasible in the atmosphere of the current balance of power between Fatah and Hamas. Mahmoud Abbas and his people are unable to dismantle the Hamas terror infrastructure.

If Israel is truly seeking a peace process it must suffice with a full ceasefire and cessation of Palestinian terror activities. When Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Chairman Mahmoud Abbas meet, in addition to an exchange of prisoners and the release of captive IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, it would suffice for them to announce the renewal of diplomatic negotiations based on existing agreements.

These agreements include the cessation of terror, recognition of Israel and a solution to disputes through negotiations and not violence.

What about Assad?

Regarding Syria, President Bush and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice unequivocally oppose Israeli-Syrian negotiations. We, however, have a strategic interest in dismantling terror in Iran, Syria, Hizbullah and Hamas. This we can do by means of diplomatic negotiations with the Syrians, a proposal occasionally being made by Syrian President Assad.

Clearly, in any preparations for talks it would be incumbent on us to demand that Syria end its support for Hamas and Hizbullah. These are crucial strategic interests for Israel. We have to heal the festering Palestinian wound and reach a settlement of two states living side by side in peace and security.

Moreover, we would do well to engage in negotiations with Syria in order to create leverage for a comprehensive settlement in the Middle East, which would guarantee Israel's security.

It appears that the Bush administration's policies are aimed at empowering the world towards democracy and ridding it of terror so that world countries would become part of the pro-Western spectrum. To this end, pressure is being exerted on various countries and attempts are being made to undermine their legitimacy.

Israel's interests, however, are different, particularly after the second Lebanon war when diplomatic settlements potentially became Israel's defensive shield. Once again we must not succumb to American pressure. In today's reality, we have to demonstrate more flexibility than is expected by our great friends.

Uri Savir is president of the Peres Center for Peace