CIAO DATE: 05/06

Abbas's Missed Opportunities in Washington

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

By David Makovsky

Peace Watch #523
October 24, 2005

Abstract

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas returned to Ramallah from Washington last week having missed a key opportunity to spur President George W. Bush to reengage in the Roadmap. Instead, the October 20 joint press conference at the White House concluded with Bush acknowledging that his presidency may not witness the creation of a Palestinian state by 2008. His administration, Bush said, might merely "lay that foundation so that the process becomes irreversible." The same administration that two years ago endorsed the Quartet's Roadmap to Israeli-Palestinian peace based upon a detailed schedule of commitments now expresses hesitancy on committing to any "timetable" for the creation of a Palestinian state. Bush administration policy has always had a performance-based rather than a time-based approach, but now it is not putting down any time markers.

It did not have to be this way. Abbas arrived in Washington with two significant factors in his favor to encourage further American involvement. New Palestinian leadership and a stable Israeli government provide an opportunity for renewed U.S. diplomatic initiative.

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