THE US: Washington delays a much-awaited speech while the Middle East bleeds, writes Patrick Smyth
The reality that the US, no less than Israel, is being held hostage to the politics of the latest atrocity is evidenced yet again in delays and prevarication here surrounding a much-awaited Bush speech expected to suggest a path to peace in the Middle East.
Reports in Washington say President Bush, whose speech has been postponed both because of administration disagreements and because of the latest suicide bombings, is ready to back the establishment of an interim Palestinian state with provisional boundaries ahead of a three-year time-frame for negotiation on a final settlement.
These difficult talks would tackle the thorny issues of the status of Jerusalem, the final borders and the plight of refugees, issues which Mr Bush is unlikely to touch on in detail.
It is hoped that the announcement of interim statehood would be sufficient incentive to Palestinians to renounce terrorism.
Palestinian leaders are sceptical and yesterday both Jordan and Egypt also expressed reservations, seeing the proposals as a means of postponing real talks.
The Israeli Prime Minister, Mr Ariel Sharon, says even an interim Palestinian state is premature.
And Mr Bush appears to be backing away even from the idea of using a proposed September conference to announce the establishment of such an interim state.
A senior administration official involved in drafting the speech hinted that Mr Bush now wants to float the idea but make its establishment conditional on real evidence of Palestinian institutional reforms. These would see the creation of more democratic structures and, crucially, a centralised and effective security service, but could take another year.
Some of Mr Bush's advisers are opposed to specific time-frames in the initiative but the Secretary of State, Mr Colin Powell, has insisted that in the absence of one it will not fly with the Arab world.
"He may throw dates and numbers and time-lines out there, but everything is contingent on the Palestinians getting their act together," the official told AP.
Mr Bush's spokesman, Mr Ari Fleischer, added to the uncertainty yesterday by strongly defending Israel's right to respond to the suicide attacks: "The President understands Israel's right to self-defence, particularly in the wake of an attack of this severity."
But although he refrained from condemning the Israeli decision to reoccupy parts of the Palestinian territory, Mr Fleischer did appeal to Israel to "be cognizant of the fact that the path to peace must still be pursued and Israel has to remember the consequences of its actions today for what happens tomorrow".
Mr Bush is expected to couple his initiative with a decision to send Mr Powell back to the region to reinforce his message with Israeli and Arab leaders. Mr Bush is said to be liaising with regional leaders about the thrust of the speech, which is still uncertain.