The Foreign Service Journal, May 2003

Israel looks upon the European Union as decidedly hostile, quick to criticize, and financially supportive of Arafat. The United Nations is also regarded as anti-Israel, given the more than 400 hostile resolutions passed by the General Assembly and Israel’s distinction as the only mem- ber state ineligible for Security Council membership. Golda Meier, one of Israel’s founders and later prime minister, once said she could forgive the Arabs almost anything except the need they created for Israel to teach its young people how to kill. And, regrettably, Israelis are, indeed, killing in response to the terror they are experiencing. This will not pro- duce “victory” for either side. As much as it dismays Mr. Arnold, the United States has indeed “always favored Israel in the conflict and still does.” Until responsible Palestinian authorities are ready to negotiate in good faith, it will remain essential for the U.S. to do so — both because Israel is the only democracy in the region, and because it has been vic- timized by its neighbors throughout its life as a nation. Ambassador Max M. Kampelman was Counselor of the Department of State from 1987 to 1989; Chairman of the U.S. Delegation for the Negotiations with the Soviet Union on Nuclear and Space Arms, 1985- 1989; and head of the U.S. delega- tion to the CSCE from 1980 to 1983. He is also Chairman Emeritus of the American Academy of Diplomacy and of the Georgetown University Institute for the Study of Diplomacy. M A Y 2 0 0 3 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 19 S P E A K I N G O U T I certainly concur that negotiations, not suicide bombers and retaliations, are the path to peace.