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Bush's Palestine Play Doomed

Prez's late peace push faces bigger problems than Clinton's failed effort

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 25, 2007 8:00 AM CST
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(Newser) – George Bush, like Bill Clinton before him, is making a last-minute push to broker Arab-Israeli peace, but with much steeper odds, says Reuters' Arshad Mohammed. Bush, Mahmoud Abbas, and Ehud Olmert are all unpopular, especially compared to their 2000 counterparts—Clinton, Yasser Arafat, and Ehud Barak. “When Clinton tried both sides actually felt they could do it,” said an Arab diplomat. Now, neither does.

Bush has long neglected the conflict, critics say, but he does have the advantage of starting talks eight months earlier than Clinton. He’s also made overtures to other major Arab states, hoping their attendance could help Abbas. What if, in spite of everything, Bush succeeds? “It would be a welcome irony,” said a Clinton aid.

President Bush, center, meets with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, left, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, June 19, 2007. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
President Bush, center, meets with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, left, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, June 19, 2007. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)   (Associated Press)
In this handout photo provided by the Palestinian Authority, U.S. President George W. Bush, right, shakes hands with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during their meeting in New York, in this Monday, Sept. 24, 2007 photo. The two leaders met before attending the United Nations General Assembly. (AP Photo/Palestinian Authority,...
In this handout photo provided by the Palestinian Authority, U.S. President George W. Bush, right, shakes hands with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during their meeting in New York, in this Monday,...   (Associated Press)
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, right, looks on as President Bush, center, meets with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, left, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York Monday, Sept. 24, 2007. The week after Thanksgiving Secretary Rice hosts a conference meant to commit Israel and the...
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, right, looks on as President Bush, center, meets with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, left, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York...   (Associated Press)
President Bush, right, shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, June 19, 2007. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
President Bush, right, shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, June 19, 2007. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)   (Associated Press)
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Israel • Ehud Olmert • Mahmoud Abbas • Palestine • Bill Clinton • Israel and Palestinians • Yasir Arafat • Annapolis • George W. Bush

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