There are no pat solutions says Frank Wisner, a 1961 Princeton graduate.
By: Jeff Milgram
America needs to make bold initiatives to promote peace in the Middle East, a former U.S. ambassador to Egypt told a Princeton University audience Tuesday.
"I fear I will disappoint you if you came looking for a pat solution," said Frank Wisner, who graduated from Princeton in 1961 and began a 38-year career with the State Department. "I believe one isn’t obvious today."
But that doesn’t mean nothing can be done to end the cycle of violence that has engulfed Israel, the West Bank and Gaza for the past 18 months, he said. The violence has intensified with a wave of Palestinian suicide bombings of Jews and Jewish targets in Israel and the West Bank and Israel’s response to the killings.
"I believe the time is ripe for bold American moves," said Mr. Wisner, who served in trouble spots such as Algeria, during that nation’s war of independence against France, and in Vietnam conflicts that pale in comparison to the potential for violence in the Middle East today.
"The role of the United States is indispensable," Mr. Wisner said. "The United States made a mistake by withdrawing from the talks."
He believes America must articulate its Middle Eastern policy goals a Palestinian state and security for Israel directly to the "Arab street."
America and Israel may have to accept that peace talks will be held while some lower-level violence continues, Mr. Wisner said.
But, most important, Mr. Wisner said, the Bush administration must summon all parties to a peace conference and the sooner the better.
"The agony of Palestine is central to our problems today," Mr. Wisner said. "The cost to the United States … is awesome and building."
The price has been lack of support for American moves against Iraq and a loss of influence in Arab countries, he said.
"The crisis in Palestine has weakened us," Mr. Wisner said.
But there is just as much danger in making the Muslim world think that suicide bombings are an effective way to win concessions.
"If Israel is seen to come to the peace talks as a result of violence, then the U.S. will be attacked (like it was on Sept. 11)," Mr. Wisner said.
And despite the violence, "peace is possible." He is encouraged that "war has not slipped across a single Arab frontier."
And there are signs that past talks have shown that Israel and the Palestinians can work on difficult issues, such as the status of Jerusalem and the return of Palestinian refugees.
"I believe the majority of Israelis and Palestinians want peace," Mr. Wisner said.
Before joining the American International Group in 1997, Mr. Wisner had a long and distinguished career in the U.S. Foreign Service, rising to the rank of career ambassador, the highest in the organization.
He served as ambassador to India, undersecretary of defense for policy, undersecretary of state for international security affairs, ambassador to the Philippines and ambassador to Egypt.
His lecture was sponsored by the university’s Liechtenstein Institute for Self-Determination and the Institute for International Studies.