07 December 2007
State’s Goldberger Discusses Steps After Annapolis Conference
USINFO Webchat transcript, December 6
Thomas H. Goldberger, director of the Office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs in the State Department's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, participated in a December 6 USINFO webchat on the next steps after the Annapolis Conference on the Middle East.
Following is a transcript:
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of International Information Programs
USINFO Webchat Transcript
After Annapolis: The U.S. Commitment to Peace
Guest: Thomas Goldberger
Date: December 6, 2007
Time: 9:00 a.m. EST (1400 GMT)
Moderator: Good day/afternoon/evening to those of you joining us. We do see your questions coming in. Just as a reminder, your questions will only appear on this screen after they have been answered by our guest speaker.
If you have more than one question, please ask each one separately.
Thomas Goldberger: Hello. I'm delighted to be here on a snowy, but sunny, morning in Washington, D.C. and to discuss the Annapolis Conference and what happens next.
There is already a large amount of information available about the Conference and how the United States views this signal event. If you are interested in an in-depth study of U.S. policy, I'd refer you to the speech President Bush gave in Annapolis and the closing statement by Secretary of State Rice. In addition, it would be very important to read the speeches of Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas, as well as the text of the joint understanding itself. The State Department's website has a comprehensive selection of documents and public statements on Middle East peace. This is one of the many excellent resources available on the Internet. It's actually very impressive how transparent this process is and how much information is so easily available through a simple Internet search.
I will say that having attended the conference myself, it was a very impressive, even moving, event. In addition to the leaders, 50 delegations from all continents came together to express their support for the efforts of the Israeli and Palestinian leaders to launch what they called a "vigorous, ongoing and continuous" negotiations with a goal of concluding a peace agreement before the end of 2008. Every single delegation made a constructive, positive contribution to the meeting. Most importantly, they gave their support to Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas as they agreed to end the bloodshed and conflict between their peoples and clearly stated their shared goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. This is a goal that the United States shares. President Bush expressed it in the speech he gave in June 2002, and Secretary of State Rice speech has described peace between Israelis and Palestinians as a strategic and national interest of the United States. Those are nice words. But more interesting is where we go from here to get to the creation of a Palestinian state. Yasser Khalil and egypt2 ask just the right questions: how can we build upon Annapolis and work to achieve its goals? We see three important areas of urgent work coming out of Annapolis:
1) A political process in which Israeli and Palestinian representatives meet to resolve all the outstanding issues between them. These include the core issues that must be resolved for the two states to live together. These are, of course, borders and refugees, security, water, settlements and Jerusalem. The first meeting of the negotiators will take place on December 12.
2) A confidence building process based on the Roadmap, in which both sides work to implement their commitments, and through which both Israelis and Palestinians see hope in a better tomorrow in which they are able, as Americans say, to enjoy "the pursuit of happiness" in the Charters of Freedom and achieve their unique potentials as individuals and peoples free of fear or coercion.
3) A massive international effort to support the creation of a Palestinian state that is able to carry out its obligations to the Palestinian people and to its neighbors. That process will also be launched next week in Paris, when over 90 countries gather to provide financial support and "write checks" in support of a new Palestinian budget and reform and development plan that will be presented by Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is playing a major role in organizing the international community to support this plan, as are the governments of France and Norway and the European Union.
The U.S. and the international community will remain fully part of this work. The Quartet (U.S., Russia, United Nations, European Union) will continue to meet frequently to provide international political support. We can expect frequent travel by senior U.S. officials to help the parties in their bilateral talks. At the request of both sides, we have agreed to assist the parties as they work to implement the Roadmap. And you can expect the United States to make a very impressive financial pledge (we're still working out the details) at the Paris meeting that will "put our money where our mouth is."
So, I'd be interested in hearing how others see this event and in responding to your questions and concerns. There is a lot of historical reason to be skeptical, but we see this as an unprecedented moment of hope and opportunity for Israelis and Palestinians. The world cannot afford to miss this chance, because the alternative to peace in today's world is awful to contemplate. But we are all going to have to work hard and change our mindsets for peace and prosperity to become reality.
Question [egypt2]: It is nice to have you to answer our questions. What grants did the U.S. give to the Arabs through Annapolis towards its commitment to peace establishment between the Israeli and Palestinians? And does USA really benefit from Israel and Arab countries going through full normal relations?
Answer [Thomas Goldberger]: Thanks for getting us started egypt2. The United States did not give anything to the many Arab countries that came to Annapolis. Those countries should speak for themselves, but I believe they came to support the efforts of the Palestinians and the Israelis to make peace and because they saw Annapolis as a serious and unprecedented chance to make progress to peace and normality.
The United States definitely benefits from peace and normal relations between Israel and its neighbors. It's in our best interest and in the best interest of peace, security and prosperity for the whole world. I'm glad that Egypt is leading the way in the Arab world.
Moderator: Welcome to everyone just joining us. Your questions are going into an inbox for Mr. Goldberger to review. We do see them coming in. We ask for your patience as he reviews them.
Q [Yasser Khalil]: Hello Dear Sir. I appreciate the role of USA in arranging and hosting the Annapolis conference while there are a lot of disappointment and challenges. As a person who lives in that hot area (Middle East), I am really now optimistic about the steps that had taken in the conference towards peace between Israelis and Palestinians. How can we invest those steps and work to perform the main goals? Thank you very much. (IRC, US Embassy in Egypt). Yasser Khalil, an Egyptian researcher and journalist.
A [Thomas Goldberger]: Thanks Yasser. I'm glad to hear that you're optimistic. Both as an American who has lived for a long time in your region of the world and as a U.S. diplomat, I'm happy to say that I share your optimism.
But you're definitely right that we need to capitalize on and build on what got started in Annapolis. In my opening statement, I described what we see as the three-part work agenda ahead of us. The Palestinians and Israelis, Arab countries and the whole world need to work hard and seriously on this agenda if we are going to get to peace and the creation of a Palestinian state living side by side with Israel in peace and security.
Q [Naimat Ullah Khan - LC Karachi]: Dear Mr. Goldberger, what role does your department play in PEACE Talks in Middle East? How your department functions? Would you like to share?
A [Thomas Goldberger]: Mr. Khan, my department is the Office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs. It is part of the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs in the Department of State. My office and my boss provide support to the Secretary of State as she works to help bring peace to the Middle East.
Q [Naimat Ullah Khan - LC Karachi]: What role does OIC play in Middle East Peace Talks, do your department, is in coordination with OIC and other Arab platforms?
A [Thomas Goldberger]: Malaysia and Senegal, the current and incoming chairs of the OIC attended the Annapolis meeting. Mr. Ihsanoglu, the Secretary General also joined us. We were glad to see Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey, Senegal and other countries with large Muslim populations join us. They play an important role in supporting peace.
Q [Fenghua Wang]: Thank you very much for taking the time to chat with us. Annapolis is over. Both sides expressed their commitment to peace. What are the concrete results coming out of the negotiations? What are the next steps? Do we expect a signed agreement and to recognize Palestine as a nation during this administration? Thank you very much.
A [Thomas Goldberger]: The concrete result is the start of negotiations that will lead to peace and the establishment of a Palestinian state. The Israelis and Palestinian leaders have said they want to finish this negotiation in 2008. And we want that to happen to.
Moderator: If you are just joining us, welcome! We do see your questions coming in. However, questions only appear on this screen once they have been answered by our speaker. Please be patient as Mr. Goldberger reviews the many questions coming in.
Q [Joyce Karam with Al-Hayat Newspaper]: What will the president push for during his visit? Are you expecting any breakthroughs in terms of day to day issues (Phase I of roadmap) before that?
A [Thomas Goldberger]: Hi Joyce. Thanks for the question. We'll be working hard for concrete results right away. A key upcoming event is the December 17 donors conference in Paris. We expect to see major financial contributions to the Palestinians. At the same time, we're working with the Israelis and Palestinians to implement their Roadmap commitments and to improve the daily conditions of life for Palestinians and Israelis. This is an important priority.
Q [Candle]: Hello and good morning. I'd like to ask you how do you -- that Israel wants peace at the same time when the government is continuing building settlements? Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit Egyptian FM denounced the new tactic ... but how will the U.S. react? Another question is why do U.S. presidents tend to hold international conferences for ME [Middle East] peace at the end of their presidency term?? Thanks a lot.
A [Thomas Goldberger]: The United States is always concerned about any actions on the ground that prejudge the outcome of the negotiating process. We are discussing with both parties how they implement their Roadmap commitments. One of those is freezing settlement activity. Another is dismantling the infrastructure of terrorism and providing security.
President Bush called for the creation of a Palestinian state in 2002, near the start of his Administration. Since then the conditions arose this year for the first time when we had a Palestinian leadership committed to making peace.
Moderator: Participants are invited to visit USINFO’s collection of articles, video, and other information on "Middle East Peace: A Half Century of U.S. Engagement" at http://usinfo.state.gov/mena/middle_east_north_africa/me_peace.html.
ARABIC: http://usinfo.state.gov/ar/middle_east_north_africa/me_vision/me_peace.html
Q [Festus]: What has changed in the Middle East politics demanding the changes in policy? Were Hamas and other extremists organizations involved in the talks, if not, what strategies adopted to deal with them? Thanks
A [Thomas Goldberger]: Hamas was not part of the talks in Annapolis. Because they do not seek to be. Hamas does not recognize Israel's right to exist and continues to use violence to advance its ends. It is clear to Hamas and the rest of the world what Hamas needs to do to be part of making peace, not war.
Q [Oujda American Corner]: Do you really believe in the good will of Israel to establish PEACE in Middle East and accept a Palestinian State next to Israel as Palestinians want not as Israel hopes if not forces it to be? American Corner Oujda (Morocco)
A [Thomas Goldberger]: I think that Israel does want peace in the Middle East. That is what the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Israel have made clear. You should read the speech Prime Minister Olmert gave in Annapolis. It is clear that he looks forward to a Palestinian state that is a good neighbor of Israel.
Q [Naimat Ullah Khan - LC Karachi]: Can Pakistan play any role in Arab-Israel Conflict? What role it could be, what would you suggest?
A [Thomas Goldberger]: Pakistan definitely should play a role. We are glad your foreign secretary was in Annapolis and hope that Pakistan will play a part in the international effort to build a strong Palestinian state.
Q [IRC Cairo]: Do you think Annapolis' result could affect what is going on Gaza now?
A [Thomas Goldberger]: Gaza is part of the homeland of the Palestinian people. There is no peace possible that does not include Gaza. We hope that the suffering of the innocent people of Gaza will soon end and that the legitimate authority of the Palestinian Authority Government will be restored.
Q [Naimat Ullah Khan - LC Karachi]: Establishing American Corners and supporting Palestinian authorities capacity building is an appreciate able act by U.S. Government, but most Palestinians thinktank writings shows they needs Judge with Justice? Is this true?
A [Thomas Goldberger]: The Palestinian people deserve justice, peace and prosperity, as do the Israeli people. Building a strong judicial system for Palestinians is essential to a strong, effective Palestinian state.
Moderator: Welcome to everyone joining today's webchat. Your questions are under review by our speaker. Once the speaker finishes typing the answer, it will appear on this screen. Thank you for your patience.
A transcript of today's webchat will be available on our USINFO Webchat Station homepage within one business day.
Q [Joyce Karam]: What do you expect Syria's role to be in the post-Annapolis period?
A [Thomas Goldberger]: Syria attended the Annapolis meeting as a member of the Arab League's Follow-up Committee to the Arab Peace Initiative; and we were glad to see that. Peace and settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian question should be a stepping stone to a comprehensive peace between Israel and all its neighbors including Palestine. We hope that Syria will continue to support the efforts of President Abbas.
Q [esstelle]: Are you permitted to disclose, at this juncture and in very broad and general terms, the concessions both Israel and Palestine have indicated to be willing to make towards the realization of the goals envisioned in the Annapolis Conference?
A [Thomas Goldberger]: Esstelle, those issues will be negotiated between the Israelis and the Palestinians themselves over the coming year. It may not be the best way of thinking to talk about concessions. Instead, they need to be thinking together about how they can build a better future for Israeli and Palestinian people in which both are better off, safer, and happier than they are today.
Q [YMedad]: The Annapolis Declaration skirted the 14 objections that the previous Sharon Government of Israel insisted need be adopted so that the Road Map diplomacy proceed. As those 14 objections were ignored by the U.S. administration and, as we have been witness, the Road Map has entered basically a dead-end due to its inadequacies, how will peace be achieved unless Israel's security is to be endangered, again?
A [Thomas Goldberger]: The United States is well aware of the reservations Israel has made to the Roadmap. At the same time, we have agreed to Israel's request -- which the Palestinians also made -- that the Roadmap serves as the basis for the implementation of peace. The United States will assist both parties implementing the Roadmap.
Moderator: Are there topics you would like to discuss in a future webchat? Please send your ideas to: usinfowebchat@state.gov.
Q [IRC Cairo - Karim Kamel 1]: Why is the United States of America always in Israel side?
A [Thomas Goldberger]: Dear Karim, that's not an accurate judgment. The United States is supporting Israelis and Palestinians as they find a way to live together. Israel is a friend and democratic ally of the United States and we are working to help it and the Palestinian people live in shared peace and prosperity.
Moderator: U.S. support for Palestinian NGOs is the focus of a recent USINFO article. Read the article at Palestinian Activists Hone Advocacy Skills.
Q [Oujda American Corner]: Arabs accuse USA of behaving with double standards towards Israelis and Palestinians. It turns a blind eye to Israeli Terrorism while it puts obstacles, in many ways, before the Palestinian Resistance. What do you think? - American Corner Oujda (Morocco)
A [Thomas Goldberger]: I'm glad to see active participation from Morocco. The United States is against the use of violence to achieve political ends. The Palestinian resistance -- as you call it -- has adopted violence to achieve its goals, and this has only led to more violence and suffering. We now have a Palestinian government under President Abbas -- who is also Chairman of the PLO -- and Prime Minister Fayyad who reject completely the use of violence. These are the people and the path that we need to be supporting.
Q [IRC Cairo]: What is your opinion on what Hamas relation with other Palestanian groups? - Medhat Ali, Cairo
A [Thomas Goldberger]: I don't know about Hamas's relations with other Palestinian groups. We hope that Hamas will recognize the authority of the legitimate government of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza and the West Bank and stop allowing attacks on innocent Israeli people from the territory it currently controls.
Q [beshir]: We still hear in the news that Israel is expanding its settlements and still the occupation of West Bank and killing in Gaza goes on, how can we measure that this meeting was a success?
A [Thomas Goldberger]: Beshir, we think we now have a positive way forward for the future that will end the occupation that began in 1967. That was the success in Annapolis. I hope that we will soon see this reflected in better conditions for everybody following the path described in the Roadmap.
Q [Festus]: Which impacts on Iraq war do we expect from this new deal? Thanks
A [Thomas Goldberger]: Festus, I'm not sure I see a connection to Iraq. What do you think?
Moderator: Mr. Goldberger continues to review the incoming questions.
Q [Naimat Ullah Khan - LC Karachi]: Arab-Israel conflict has its roots to religious conflicts, but in early past -- these two religions -- we do not found this extreme dislike against each other, would you like to put some light on it?
A [Thomas Goldberger]: You're certainly right that in the past peoples of Jewish, Muslim and Christian religions have lived together in relative harmony in the vast part of the world stretching from Morocco on the Atlantic to Indonesia in the Pacific. I believe that believers of these religions have much more in common than things that separate them and that they should be able to find a way to achieve again that harmony in which they live together in respect and peace.
Moderator: We have about 15 minutes left in today's webchat. Please send in your final questions as we approach the top of the hour. Thank you.
Q [majid2]: How is it possible -- all people of every community, religion, of world to become brother, and become the example of peace?
A [Thomas Goldberger]: Well Majid, that's a big and important question. I personally believe that the answer lies in building societies in which there is equal opportunity for everyone and in which government provides an environment in which individuals can achieve their real potential.
Q [Mirija]: Could you please tell the headlines of the issue of the Annapolis' meeting?
A [Thomas Goldberger]: Hi Mirija. The big headline was the agreement of the elected leaders of Israel and the Palestinians to begin negotiating an agreement that would lead to the creation of an independent, strong Palestinian state living side by side with Israel in peace. See my opening statement above if you want to know more.
Q [majid2]: I want to see peace all around the world because every human being is, want which feel happy peacefully and enjoy the life and get the all happiness of life. - Majid ALi
Q [Festus]: I would like to thank Thomas for his rich introduction. The links you indicated are definitely very useful.
Q [esstelle]: Dear Mr. Goldberger, did members of the OIC especially Malaysia make a committed pledge towards the funding of the building of a Palestinian statehood at the Annapolis Conference? (Esstelle Jane of Malaysia)
A [Thomas Goldberger]: The foreign minister of Malaysia gave a strong statement in support of peace and the negotiations between Israel and Palestine. Other members of the OIC, like Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Senegal did the same thing. There were no financial pledges made in Annapolis. Those will be done at a conference that will be held in Paris on December 17. We hope that Malaysia joins the United States and others in making a big contribution to the Palestinian Authority.
Q [A question from "Beshir"]: Tom I see the connection between Iraq and Annapolis that we need to gain the Arab and Muslim world trust that we are for the better of the region, It will bring positive reaction.
A [Thomas Goldberger]: Thanks Beshir -- you're absolutely right.
Moderator: Mr. Goldberger will answer some final questions and we will then close the chat at 10:00 EST /15:00 GMT.
Q [Alimjon]: It is important to hold multilateral negotiations (talks) to achieve tangible results on the way to peace in that region. Powerful countries should provide help to Israel and Palestine to achieve a peace. I think many peoples in Israel and Palestine wish the PEACE.
Q [carola58]: It's so motivating, even for a Latin American, to see all the efforts you are carrying out to make PEACE something real. I hope you continue supporting this goal that will give our brothers in those countries a better place to live. Carola Ortiz, Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Q [Mirija]: Do you think that the leader in the world should do another meeting like in Annapolis to find out another way to solve the problem in the Middle East?
A [Thomas Goldberger]: Mirija, if the two parties think that would be useful to help them come to an agreement, the United States would support such a meeting. Russia has made a helpful proposal to host another meeting, and we will be discussing that with Russia and the other members of the Quartet, as well as with the parties, in the coming weeks.
Q [Festus]: Really? Don’t you think there is a connection? Hamas, Hezboallah, Iraq extremists groups have nothing to do with Iraq war and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict?
A [Thomas Goldberger]: There's a connection in that all these groups use violence against innocent people in order to try to achieve their goals.
Q [Naimat Ullah Khan - LC Karachi]: What role do you expect from Muslim world to play to solve the Palestinian Issue? Are they playing their role satisfactorily? If not, what steps need to be taken by them?
A [Thomas Goldberger]: Sorry I missed this early question, but I think I answered it in my other replies. The Muslim world has a very important role to play, and we're glad to see that so many leading Muslim countries, like Pakistan, are playing it.
Thanks a lot for joining me today. I've enjoyed this exchange. If you have other questions about U.S. policy in the Middle East or elsewhere, I recommend that you go to www.state.gov.
We have a lot of work ahead of us all to achieve a new peace in the Middle East. After Annapolis, the next big landmarks are the negotiations set to begin on December 12 and the International Donors Conference in Paris on December 17.
Moderator: We wish to thank Thomas Goldberger for joining us today. The webchat is now closed. Please visit our USINFO Webchat Station homepage for more information on upcoming events and a transcript of today’s discussion (usually posted within one business day).
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