...... ~'71 J :\] Sharon Meet
financially and won't send troops until the
UN passes an Iraq resolution
• The terrorism war has helped throw the Not a Good Day I
U.S. budget into record deficits
• His relationship with Saudi Arabia is at the White
currently under close scrutiny I was in attendance July
Why else would the White House apply 29, 2003 for the Bush -
pressure on Sharon in order to help prop Sharon White House Rose
up Mahmoud Abbas, which has only
Garden event. President empowered Yasser Arafat and the
Palestinian militant organizations? Bush and Prime Minister
While Bush appears sensitive to certain Sharon gave brief speeches,
pro-Israel Christian and Jewish voters, he and then they took ques-
is also subtly applying more pressure on tions from the U.S. and
Israel, while at the same time emphasiz- Israeli press.
ing a secure Israel to attempt to satisfy You could tell from
part of his constituencies. the very beginning the
It is very likely that as times become interaction between the two
more challenging for him politically, both was very tentative, the
nationally and internationally, President worse by far in Sharon's
i Bush will continue to increase his pres-
eight trips to the White sure on Israel, with the help of the State
Department. History shows his effort will House. Bush kept attempt-
ing to get a positive despite their concerns for Israel's security.
response from Sharon, but The White House made sure that both
it wasn't forthcoming. the Abbas and Sharon meetings and
Sharon acknowledged Bush a few speeches started at the same time. There
times only out of politeness, but he was was energy in the Bush-Abbas meeting;
reluctant. Sharon couldn't hide his dismay there was not in the Bush-Sharon meet-
and he seemed very troubled. ing. Abbas was all smiles, whereas
What a contrast to the exuberance we Sharon seemed dejected. Bush went out
witnessed in Sharon's last visit to the of his way to be friendly to both leaders,
White House on October 16, 2002, when Abbas responded, Sharon was reluctant.
he said that Israel has never had a better I even noticed Bush try to nudge next to
friend in the White House than Bush. The Sharon for a smiling photo-op when
Israeli media was also very exuberant on Sharon smiled for a brief second when he
October 16, but on this date there was no lost his place in his speech and Bush
life - you could sense their dismay. I helped him recover. Even the photos on only worsen his situation and compound
spoke with two friends with the Israeli the White House web site showed smiles, his problems.
media, they tried to be positive, but they but don't let those or any other reports
couldn't hide their inner feelings. fool you, this was not a good day. Turning Point for Sharon
Sharon, who is a genius strategist,
knows he has been maneuvered into a Bush under Pressure The turni0_g point for Ariel Sharon began
very dangerous position by the White Israel Feeling the Brunt on May 15 th when Secretary of State
House. The sad irony is that this is the Colin Powell blamed Sharon for the
result of the White House and State President Bush has a very difficult impasse over his refusal to freeze and
Department's desire to help prop up situation to deal with in Iraq: dismantle settlements. Below are the
Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud • American lives continue to be lost events that transpired:
Abbas aka Abu Mazen. Abbas has been • The reconstruction of Iraq is going to
under great political pressure imposed by cost the U.S. $7.3 billion this year • Powell meets with Middle East leaders
PLO Chairman Yasser Ararat, the heads • Troops stationed in Iraq will increase on the Road Map
of Hamas and other terror groups. the bill by another $4 billion a month • Powell had meetings with King
Bush, Colin Powell and Condoleeza • Capitol Hill has attacked him because Abdullah II in Jordan - May 12
Rice's micromanagement of the situation of these costs • U.S. offered to finance Palestinian
in Israel will come back to haunt them, • Other countries have refused to help Authority Security forces - May 12
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2003 ,JEWISH VOICE TODAY PAGE 7
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