Military

DATE=8-6-03

TYPE=INTERVIEW

NUMBER=3-756

TITLE=ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS

BYLINE=DAVID BORGIDA

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

INTRODUCTION

Israel frees more than 300 Palestinian prisoners in what it calls an effort to advance the internationally backed 'Road Map' peace plan. But the move did not appease Palestinian leaders, who characterized it as an empty gesture. Liz Cheney, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State discusses the situation.

MR. BORGIDA

Earlier today I spoke with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Liz Cheney, and I asked her to assess the Middle East peace process.

MS. CHENEY

Well, I think that we are optimistic. I think that it's critically important that the United States continue to be very directly engaged. We saw both with President Bush's visit to Sharm al-Sheikh, Egypt and to Aqaba, Jordan, as well as the visits to Washington of the Prime Ministers, that the U.S. is playing a very involved role in helping to facilitate discussions between the two sides. And clearly it is the desire of both sides to work towards peace.

The Israeli people and the Palestinian people want to live in peace. And I think also you have a President of the United States who very much means what he says and is the very first U.S. President who has said that there can be a state of Palestine and it can happen within three years, and who has laid out a very clear road map of how we get from today to the establishment of two states living side by side.

MR. BORGIDA

Now, the United States is doing a lot to stimulate the economy in that region, particularly with the Palestinians. Tell us a little bit about what the Bush administration is doing these days.

MS. CHENEY

Well, I think it's very clear that in order for a Palestinian state to be viable, you have to have economic development in the West Bank and Gaza. And there are a whole range of reasons why the economies in the West Bank and Gaza are suffering today, including because of the Intifada, because of the security situation. But as we look at making improvements in the security situation, the U.S. is also working very closely with the Palestinian Authority to look for ways that we can help to improve economic conditions as well.

For the first time, just within the last month, the U.S. has committed to provide $20 million directly to the Palestinian Authority, which is a change for us. In the past, we've always gone directly to NGO's on the ground. But we think it's critically important that Prime Minister Abu Mazen's government be effective economically and be able to meet the needs of the Palestinian people. So we will continue to work both with the Palestinian Authority and with other international donors, such as the World Bank and the European Union, and with NGO's on the ground in the West Bank and Gaza, to help improve those conditions.

MR. BORGIDA

Now, President Bush has described this security fence that the Israelis are building as a problem. It appears that Mr. Sharon said during his visit that he would continue the construction of the security fence but they would try to work out arrangements so that Palestinian farmers and others who are working in Israel could do that. Is it your view still that this fence represents a bit of a problem, or do you think it's less of a problem now that Mr.~Sharon has visited?

MS. CHENEY

I think the security fence, like the roadblocks, like the checkpoints, limits the ability of the Palestinian people to do their jobs, it limits their ability to live normal lives. And I think that all of those issues clearly have to be dealt with. I think that the Israelis need to feel confident that their security situation is going to be protected. And there is not any way imaginable that you're going to get to two states unless the Israelis feel confident about their security.

So I think there are a whole range of changes that need to be made so that Palestinians can get their goods to market, can get to school, can get to hospitals. The way the situation is right now isn't tenable for the long term. And it's why it's so important that we focus on the security situation, we focus on making sure that the suicide bombings stop and that the Israelis feel safe and secure so that we can have two viable states.

MR. BORGIDA

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Liz Cheney, thanks for your time.

MS. CHENEY

Thank you very much.

(End of interview.)

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