[WCUSP] Reactions to President's visit?

[C.J. Minster]

According to the media, President Bush's visit to the West Bank was the
first time a US President has visited the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Do WILPFers have reactions to the trip that they'd like to share? Perhaps
analysis of the fact that presidents focus on foreign policy during their
last "lame duck" year in the office and whether they can really make a
difference that late in their term?

It seems that the Israeli and US governments are determined to keep Hamas
out of these peace negotiations. Do you think that means they're doomed to
failure? Or do you agree with a resident of the West Bank, who was quoted on
NPR this morning saying that if Fatah is able to expand the West Bank's
economy during the peace process, more Palestinians will turn to them for
political leadership and Hamas' base of support will disappear?

Please don't think these questions are meant to diminish attention given to
the humanitarian crisis in Gaza which is exacerbated by the US government's
insistence that Hamas is a terrorist organization. Rather, I'm looking to
garner insight from sister WILPFers who keep abreast of the news and am
looking for ways to tie our goals in with an analysis of the official trip
occurring now.

Thanks for any personal insight you can share.

in sisterhood,
C.J.

-- 
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C.J. Minster
Program Chair, US Section
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
railing against the military industrial complex since WWI
http://www.wilpf.org

~Social Upheaval~
political analysis from a feminist, activist perspective
http://www.socialupheaval.com

~angelheaded hipster~
cotton candy for the brain
http://www.angelheadedhipster.com
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