BBC World Service Interview
Carlos Chirinos: “Can the US recover some of its influence in the region through the new Israeli elections?”
Grant Smith: “The only way the US is going to recover its influence is maintaining an impartial position in the peace negotiations. But unfortunately, the Bush administration has a strong inclination toward the Israelis.
For example, the Roadmap for Peace stipulates that negotiations must define the “final status” of Palestinian refugees, and that the final borders must not be unilaterally imposed by any side. Never the less, in a letter published in the year 2004, president Bush supported the idea that the Israelis need not return to 1949 borders, and also accepted the idea that Palestinian refugees expulsed from Israel would have no ‘right of return’.’
We’ve see the United States consistently taking Israel’s side, and this has caused many problems for the Palestinians.”
Carlos Chirinos: “But this attitude that you say that Bush is taking, is not exclusive to this administration, haven’t other administrations done the same?”
Grant Smith: “This week, a report titled “The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy” has generated interest and controversy for revealing just that, the indisputable existence of a strong lobby that unconditionally supports Israel. This is something many people recognize even though others would like it to be considered ‘controversial’.”