Military

DATE=11/08/2000

TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT

TITLE=MIDEAST PEACE

NUMBER=5-47347

BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL

DATELINE=JERUSALEM

CONTENT=

VOICE AT:

/// EDITORS NOTE: PLEASE ADJUST INTRO AS EVENTS WARRANT ///

INTRO: Palestinian and Israeli political analysts say the election of a new U-S president will have a major impact on the Middle East peace process. They say American interest in the Middle East will remain high, especially after six weeks of Israeli-Palestinian violence that is threatening regional stability. V-O-A Correspondent Meredith Buel has more in this background report from Jerusalem.

TEXT: Israelis and Palestinians have been watching the U-S presidential contest closely, because they know American foreign policy has a major impact on the Middle East.

The head of the Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs, Mahdi Abdul Hadi, says it is not so important which political party wins the White House, because the United States is not likely to change its strategic relationship with Israel.

/// ABDUL HADI ACT #1 ///

People usually will tell you it is not a big difference, whether Republicans or Democrats, because there is a strategic alliance with Israel. It has been there. It is documented. It has been implemented. It has been building up. No matter who comes to the White House, he has to take into consideration that pact, that alliance with Israel. Security, stability, and the future of Israel in the region is a major priority for American foreign policy, whether we like it or not.

/// END ACT ///

Professor Abraham Diskin of Hebrew University's Department of Political Science says with President Clinton leaving office, there are likely to be changes in America's approach to the Middle East peace process.

/// DISKIN ACT #1 ///

I am quite sure that whoever is the president, the whole situation is going to be quite different. Among other reasons, not only because of policy, but also because of personalities. As we all know, Bill Clinton was a very active kind of person, who was very, very interested to have a final achievement for his presidency in the Middle East. And, of course, it is quite different as far as both George Bush and Al Gore are concerned.

/// END ACT ///

Many in the Arab world caught up in the decades-old conflict with the Jewish state, feel the current U-S administration has a strong bias toward Israel.

Palestinian analyst Mahdi Abdul Hadi says many Palestinians are looking forward to a new U-S president, and what they hope will be a new American approach to the peace process.

/// ABDUL HAID ACT #2 ///

We come to realize, yes we want a change. Mr. Clinton for the past eight years, he has been dealing with the Middle East from his own personal perspective, and maybe the new man will realize what's at stake. At stake here in the Middle East - there are three major elements: history, religion and nationalism. You can not deal with history as a fiction, and religion as symbols and nationalism as a love affair, as was the case with Mr. Clinton. We hope the new president will realize what history means for us, what religion means for us, and why nationalism is needed in this part of the world.

/// END ACT ///

Both Israeli and Palestinian analysts believe the current bloody conflict between both sides may continue for months, and therefore could be an immediate problem for a new U-S president when he takes office in January.

Abraham Diskin of Hebrew University says the violence will force the United States, and the new president, to intervene.

/// DISKIN ACT #2 ///

Given the fact that we are now in a stage of violent conflict, in the face of the fact that the situation may deteriorate, the United States, given its global function today, cannot really abstain from intervening. So, I think just the very fact that the situation is so tense now in Israel itself, between Palestinians and Israelis, and in the Middle East, actually, means that any administration will have to interfere.

/// END ACT ///

During his eight years in the White House, President Clinton has become a central figure in the Middle East peace process. It is not yet known whether his successor will show the same level of interest and play such an active role in the region. (SIGNED)

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