Haaretz
July 3, 2004
WASHINGTON - In a position
paper outlining his stance on Israel, Democratic presidential candidate
John Kerry promises not to negotiate with Yasser Arafat and expresses
support for Israel's right to defend itself by attacking terrorist
organizations.
The paper, entitled "John Kerry: Strengthening
Israel's Security and Bolstering the U.S.-Israel Special Relationship,"
was sent in mid-June to a group of people in the Jewish community as part
of the Kerry attempt to maintain contact with Jewish supporters in the
United States and to clarify his positions on Israel.
Kerry, who
previously spoke against the separation fence at a gathering of the
Arab-American Institute, is now seeking to correct that impression: "The
security fence is a legitimate act of self-defense erected in response to
the wave of terror attacks against Israeli citizens."
The
presumptive Democratic nominee also declares his opposition to
transferring debate on the fence to international forums. The paper shows
consistent support for Israel on all the issues at hand: Kerry backs
Israel's disengagement plan and also the two central points in President
Bush's letter to Prime Minister Sharon - the resettlement of Palestinian
refugees in the Palestinian state, not within Israel, and recognition of
Jewish population concentrations in the West Bank when establishing the
permanent borders. "In light of demographic realities, a number of
settlement blocs will likely become a part of Israel," Kerry wrote his
supporters.
He further declared support for Israel's actions
against Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other terror organizations and recalled
that he was a signatory to the motion of support for Israel passed by the
Senate during Operation Defensive Shield.
On the issue of
Palestinian leadership, Kerry declared that "Yasser Arafat is a failed
leader and unfit partner for peace" and called for "his total isolation."
He thereby aligned himself with Bush administration policy, and in
contrast to former president Bill Clinton, who recently stated that
despite his disappointment with Arafat, negotiations should be conducted
with him.
Kerry lists additional issues on which he supports
Israel: the battle against cutting foreign aid to Israel; calling upon the
United Nations to evince a more balanced approach to the conflict; support
for moving the American embassy to Jerusalem; international action against
regimes that support terror; and maintaining Israel's military
supremacy.
Seeking to set himself apart from Bush on several
issues, Kerry blasts Saudi Arabia and promises to act against anti-Semitic
statements by senior Saudi government officials. "As president, he will
never permit these kinds of attacks to go unanswered," the paper
promises.
Sources in his campaign said that the paper and other
letters sent in recent weeks to supporters in the Jewish community are
intended "to educate and inform on his views, so there will be no doubt
about his support for the state of Israel."