Outgoing US Ambassador Martin Indyk said Thursday that Israel should not trust Palestinian President Yasser Arafat but he remains Israel's only course to pursue negotiations, said reports.
Arafat is Israel's best hope for peace since the alternative is Hamas or Hizbollah, Indyk said in his final public address as ambassador, delivered at Tel Aviv University.
"We've been through many efforts to create a Palestinian leadership that is more to your liking," Indyk was quoted by The Jerusalem Post as saying.
"There was the Jordanian option, now you are more likely to get Hamas or Hizbollah as partners than reliable Palestinian leadership."
AFP quoted the envoy as warning Israel not to put total trust in Arafat despite calling the Palestinian leader the only viable option for peace.
"Don't trust Arafat," Indyk said in his farewell address at a Tel Aviv think tank. "But what choice have you got?"
Indyk, who has served twice as US ambassador to Tel Aviv, insisted that the Jewish state must continue to deal cautiously with Arafat, whom he called "the least worst alternative" for Israel and the region.
Continuing on the negotiation track would also allow Israel to gain international legitimacy, which is important for Israel's future, he added. Indyk specifically advised Israel to open itself to the international community and respect the advantages it would gain from international involvement led by the United States. "Israel does not need to be afraid of international monitors," he said.
Despite the failure of Oslo, Indyk believes that the agreement negotiated by CIA Director George Tenet has resulted in concrete steps toward ending the violence.
"This week, for the first time, Palestinian security services have begun arresting people," Indyk said.
He claimed that Arafat is still not doing enough to end the violence while warning Israel that it must "live up to its own commitments under the Tenet work plan, which includes limiting damage to property, including the demolition of houses in Rafah which happened two days ago." Indyk ended his address with a message of optimism for the future. He expressed confidence that the relationship between the United States and Israel will remain "rock solid," and will help combat those who want to use violence against Israel.
Indyk also warned Israel against pursuing any unilateral moves, including the establishment of a new border with the Palestinians, said the Jerusalem Post.
"Just because the Middle East peace process failed does not mean it should be abandoned," Indyk said. "If you pursue a unilateral course you abandon a course to an agreement and set a precedent that unililateralism is okay for them too." By drawing a new border, Israel would simply establish a new battle front from which Palestinians would continue to attack, Indyk said. The Palestinian state would fail since the Palestinian economy "will surely face collapse."
Indyk returns to Washington next week, and is to be replaced by Daniel Kurtzer, said the paper.
During his visit to Italy Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, speaking in the Italian presidency building, accused Arafat of "practicing a strategy of terror while wanting to negotiate" a peace deal with Israel.
He was quoted by TV reports as saying that Arafat “is a great actor who deserves many Oscars.”
He also accused Arafat of being "directly implicated in acts of terrorism," said AFP – Albwaba.com
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