Israel Matzav

Not Bush's 'moral equivalence', Olmert's

There's a story circulating around the blogosphere that accuses President Bush of making 'Palestinians' and Israelis equally responsible for terrorism.

Bush has lost his mind and his moral compass. This statement is an outrage. A lie and a blood libel. Israel has never committed any acts of terrorism. What a tool of Islamic jihad. Based on that, Bush is a terrorist, anyone that defends himself, his family, his country is a terrorist.

This is a sad sad day.

Of course, the writer is correct. Israel has never committed any acts of terrorism (arguably one Israeli citizen committed an act of terrorism in 1994, but we will never know the whole truth because he was murdered on the spot). And yes, it is sad that Israel was so accused. But it wasn't President Bush that made that statement - at least according to the transcript of his remarks that was published here in Israel.

I'm about to read a statement that was agreed upon by our distinguished guests.

"The representatives of the government of the state of Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization, represented respectively by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and President Mahmoud Abbas, in his capacity as chairman of the PLO executive committee and president of the Palestinian Authority, have convened in Annapolis, Maryland, under the auspices of President George W. Bush of the United States of America, and with the support of the participants of this international conference having concluded the following joint understanding:

"We express our determination to bring an end to bloodshed, suffering and decades of conflict between our peoples; to usher in a new era of peace, based on freedom, security, justice, dignity, respect and mutual recognition; to propagate a culture of peace and nonviolence; to confront terrorism and incitement, whether committed by Palestinians or Israelis."

So yes, President Bush read that statement, but he didn't make it. That statement was made by the parties - by Israel's Prime Minister Ehud K. Olmert and 'moderate' 'Palestinian' President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen. Olmert drew the moral equivalence between Israelis and 'Palestinians' on terrorists - along with Abu Mazen. In my opinion, that's even worse.

The New York Times has it the same way. It's not Bush who drew a 'moral equivalence.' It's Olmert (and Abu Mazen).

Previously at Israel Matzav: The 'joint declaration'

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:54 PM