May 6, 1998
Orthodox Organizations Dismayed by US Pressure on IsraelSeven Orthodox organization expressed their dismay today at the deadline posed by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright as an attempt to pressure Israel to agree to a specific percentage of territory in the next phase of redeployment.
AMIT, Emunah, the National Council of Young Israel, the Orthodox Union, Poale Agudath Israel, the Rabbinical Council of America, and the Religious Zionists of America have long maintained that U.S. pressure on Israel prejudices the peace negotiations and deprives the Palestinians of an incentive to negotiate in good faith. The following statement has been issued on behalf of all the aforementioned organizations:
"We are dismayed by United
States pressure on Israel to withdraw from a specific percentage of territory in spite of
past US assurances that no peace proposal would be enunciated or ultimatums issued and
that the issues of Israel’s security needs would be left solely to its democratically
elected government. This issuance of a deadline is also a violation of the US
Administration’s written commitments (on January 15, 1997) that ‘further
redeployment phases are issues for implementation by Israel rather than issues for
negotiating with the Palestinians.’
Public presentation of an American plan - especially one that includes a deadline and a
specific re-deployment figure - insinuates the US into the negotiations themselves and
violates Israel’s right to be the sole determinator of its security needs - Israel
alone is responsible for its safety and security.
"We appreciate America’s steadfast support for Israel and ask that she continue to demonstrate that support for its only reliable ally in the Middle East by not placing undue pressure on Israel to concede to conditions it views as a threat to her security. Israel is involved in delicate negotiations that entail giving land for peace, and risks ceding the tangible for the intangible, an act that is irrevocable and has great security dimensions. We urge the United States to continue its role as a facilitator in the peace process, which can succeed only as a result of direct negotiations between the parties, and which does not include the United States publicly presenting a plan or a deadline that is unacceptable to Israel."
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