(New York Jewish Week) James Besser - Edward Walker, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel who now heads the Middle East Institute, said that "in terms of boots on the ground, the ICJ decision won't make any difference. It will just give the Palestinians the false impression that they have actually won a victory. The reality is that this is just an advisory opinion." Walker, a strong peace process supporter, said he agrees with the dissenting opinion of American judge Thomas Buerghenthal, who said the court failed to take into account Israel's legitimate security concerns. "In terms of changing the wall, the High Court of Justice [in Israel] is making the change. And that's as it should be." Walker counseled the Palestinians to abandon the effort to castigate Israel over the fence and "get their act together and take advantage of the opening Sharon has offered them [with the Gaza disengagement plan] and create a rational, reasonable government which can be the basis for a state."
2004-07-15 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive