The Foreign Service Journal, December 2006

tute for the Study of Democracy countered that the Pales- tinian reaction to Lebanon was “the determined attempt to reach internal [Palestinian] agreement on a package deal with the Israelis involving release of the captured sol- dier and an exchange of prisoners at a later date, plus a ceasefire from both sides. [This] ... seems to be the first consequence of the Lebanon escalation: first to separate the Lebanese issue from the Palestinian issue; and, sec- ond, to resolve the Gaza situation independently from the Lebanese situation.” Looking at the fate of the Palestinian Authority in light of the war, Professor Mustafa Abu Sway of al-Quds University in East Jerusalem argued on Aug. 7 that “a growing number of Palestinian voices are calling for an end to the existence of the interim PA itself in order to force Israel to assume its responsibilities as an occupier.” Professor Gerald Steinberg of Bar-Ilan University responded with a radically different formula: “Until basic changes in Palestinian self-governance take place and a more capable and pragmatic leadership emerges, de facto [international] trusteeship is likely to continue.” The applicability of the international force decided on by the U.N. for Lebanon has also been the subject of a bit- terlemons debate. Palestinian law professor Camille Man- sour asserted on Sept. 18 that “any deployment of an international force would be largely impossible in the absence of political negotiations,” while former Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami responded that, to the contrary, “the solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will have to come from the international community, or there will be no solution at all.” The rest of the Arab world commented on the war and its ramifications in the virtual pages of bitterlemons-inter- national , Alpher and Khatib’s companion Webzine that pits diverse views on broader Middle East issues from throughout the region against each other. Egypt’s Abdel Monem Said Aly, who heads the Al Ahram Strategic Studies Center, noted with satisfaction on Sept. 14 that Cairo had contributed to formulating an “ideal conclusion to the [Lebanon] crisis,” which was to have “neither win- F O C U S D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 6 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 31 The Janne t t e Embassy P l an Overseas Insurance for Personal Auto & Contents Coverage Each policy is backed by the expertise and dedicated support of our customer service team. To learn more about the specific coverages offered by the plan, please visit our website at www.jannetteintl.com. The Janne t t e Embassy P l an Administered by Clements International One Thomas Circle NW, 8th Floor, Washington D.C. 20005 (800) 256-5141 (202) 478-6595 Fax (202) 466.9069 jannetteplan@clements.com www.jannetteintl.com Your Reliable Choice Since 1969, the Jannette Embassy Plan has provided dependable coverage to thousands of Foreign Service Personnel throughout the world. Our plan provides U.S. and Canadian personnel working at embassies and consulates insurance protection for their personal property, including automobiles and household effects. WORLDWIDE COVERAGE Fire, theft comprehensive and collision protection are available at foreign posts U.S. AUTO LIABILITY Available for short-term on home leave, change of assignment, and new auto purchase prior to foreign departure. This coverage must be issued in combination with an Jannette Embassy Plan FOREIGN LIABILITY Contact post for compliance with local laws, excess liability limits over local liability coverage PERSONAL COVERAGE Household goods, transit, valuables, personal liability and life insurance EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATION INSURANCE Including directors and officers