Is the United States an Honest Broker in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict?
General Reference (not clearly pro or con)
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This site was archived on Aug. 3, 2021. The two-state solution is no longer the most popular solution among the jurisdictions involved. A reconsideration of the topic is possible in the future.
PRO (yes)
Pro
Colin Powell, MBA, former US Secretary of State, in a Sep. 26, 2003 transcript titled “Quartet Members Call for Bold Steps on Both Sides,” stated:
“The United States is prepared to play the role of a open, honest broker, pressing both sides to meet the obligations and commitments that they have made and have under the roadmap.”
Sep. 26, 2003
Pro
Howard Dean, MD, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), was quoted on the Council on Foreign Relations website, in a Oct. 18, 2003 entry titled “Remarks at the Arab American Institute (AAI),” as having stated:
“It is critical that the United States take an active role in helping to find a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by playing the role of the honest broker at the negotiating table – with the trust of both sides and ability to facilitate direct talks between the parties. The U.S. is the only country that can be successful in this role because of its longstanding and special relationship with the State of Israel.”
Oct. 18, 2003
Pro
Christian Lowe, Marine Corps Times staff writer, in a May 31, 2002 article titled “U.S., Israeli Armed Forces Trade Urban-Warfare Tips,” wrote:
“The Bush administration is taking pains to appear as an honest broker in the Israeli-Palestinian standoff.”
May 31, 2002
CON (no)
Con
Edward Said, PhD, the late Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University, in his 2003 book Culture and Resistance: Conversations with Edward W. Said:
“To say that the United States is an even-handed broker is a preposterous mischaracterization. The United States is very much in Israel’s camp. All the information we have on the negotiations during the last seven years of the peace process has shown that the United States has presented the Israeli point of view in the discussions and remains a partisan of Israel.”
2003
Con
Adnan Abu Odeh, former Jordanian Ambassador, in a Oct. 21, 2003 Daily Star commentary titled “The United States: Israel’s agent or honest broker?” wrote:
“America’s abuse of its veto power [in the U.N. Security Council] to cover Israel’s transgressions against international law…makes it seem, in Arab and international eyes, as if the U.S. is Israel’s legal agent rather than the honest broker it claims to be.”
Oct . 21, 2003
Con
Ramzy Baroud, MA, Editor-In-Chief of the Palestine Chronicle, in a Nov. 9, 2000 Media Monitors Network commentary titled “Leaving the Honest Broker Myth Behind, and Looking Inward,” wrote:
“The US government’s support of Israel is arrogant, decisive and unconcealed…it is time for the ‘honest broker’ myth to die.”
Nov. 9, 2000