While the Middle East matters to all United States senators, for Joe Lieberman it’s up-close and personal.
As perhaps the most visibly Jewish member of the Senate, the Connecticut Democrat and one-time vice presidential candidate has strong opinions about the latest developments from the region.
Lieberman was in San Francisco this week to attend a fund-raiser and to meet with supporters.
How does he view the prospects for real peace today? “It’s better than it was a couple of years ago and even a year ago,” he says. “The main change was Arafat’s death and the coming to leadership of a new group in the Palestinian Authority who make this a moment of opportunity.”
Lieberman is convinced Israel can work with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. “Obviously there are points of disagreement and disappointment with the conduct of the new Palestinian leadership,” he adds, “but at least there’s dialogue.”
Among the chief obstacles to progress are Palestinian foot-dragging in dismantling terrorist infrastructure and uncertainty about Israel’s looming pullout from Gaza. Lieberman has been studying those issues as well.
“The Sharon government is absolutely right to demand that the P.A. dismantle the terrorists,” says Lieberman, “and that includes Hamas, particularly as they participate in the electoral process. Hamas has never abandoned its determination to destroy Israel and remains heavily armed.”
As for the Gaza disengagement, Lieberman says, “I was there a month ago and the most important thing is to make sure it goes well. There has been some cooperation between the Israelis and Palestinians on it. [President Bush] has reached a conclusion that there was a need for more, so he sent [special envoy] General Ward to work with the Israelis and Palestinians to make sure it goes smoothly.”
A related issue that concerns Lieberman is the continued teaching of hatred in Arab media, mosques and Islamic schools, not only in the Middle East and Muslim world, but here in the United States as well.
“Too often they label incitement as education,” he says, “and it’s got to stop. Ultimately if the Palestinians don’t stop educating their children in hatred, their promises aren’t going to count for very much. But that is part of the ‘road map.’ They’re committed to end that.”
Even with such thinly veiled anti-Semitism rampant in the Muslim world, Lieberman maintains that his relationships with regional leaders have been uniformly good.
“I’ve been greeted by Palestinian leaders and leaders throughout the Arab world, and treated with great respect. They know I’m Jewish. But their own belief is in the rule of law and tolerance, and that the spawning of hatred must stop.”