Netanyahu knows that you can't negotiate with terrorists. Now that he has negotiated in a process involving Bill Clinton, he also knows that you can't negotiate with self confessed liars ( not that Yasser Arafat is any more believable )! As the ' wag the dog pseudo-peace aggreement ' wound down, a setback in the form of the release of Israeli spy Jonathon Pollard reared it's ugly head. Netanyahu was refusing to sign the interim surrender papers, until Pollard was released from his American jail cell and threatened to leave for Israel. The Whitehouse said that the Pollard issue was never on the table, but the Israeli version is quite different!

Let me just start by saying that I agree with Joseph diGenova, that Pollard should not be released from jail. Why was Netanyahu looking so somber at the press conference for the signing? Could it be, that he was betrayed by Clinton? The Israeli version goes something like this:

They say the President agreed at 4 AM on Friday morning to a request, from PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat, to release Pollard as part of a prisoner exchange, which until then had been the last stumbling block to concluding a deal. Arafat saw Pollard as a way to get Israel to drop its demand that the Palestinians extradite 36 people to Israel, wanted on terrorism charges, so they could be tried in Israeli courts. Among the 36 persons, was the commander of the Palestinian Police, Ghazi Jabali. The deal was to exchange Pollard for Jabali, the Israelis have traced orders given to Hamas terrorists to Jabali himself, which is why he tops their most wanted list. At 4 AM on Friday morning, Clinton agreed, Israeli sources say ( remember the media interest in Pollard, that morning? ). Several hours later, Clinton backed down after a meeting with the CIA. When Netanyahu, balking at Clinton's reversal, threatened to walk out without an agreement; the President threatened him that the U.S. would recognize Palestinian statehood in May? I tend to believe this interesting scenario. It could explain the look on Netanyahu's face, at the signing ceremony and his reference to Clinton as a " warrior for peace " ( remember, all's fair in love and war )!

This interim agreement has been blown up all out of proportions, by the Whitehouse spin machine, as a last minute political campaign ploy; and it doesn't seem to be playing well in the Middle East ( especially Isreal ). The tough issues, including the extradition of known terrorists, have been left for some later date, conveniently, until after the elections! It doesn't say, contrary to media reports, that the Palestinian charter calling for Israel's destruction is to be changed. It also doesn't say that the Palestinian's police force is to be reduced or that terrorists will be extradited to Israel or imprisoned by the Palestinian Authority. This process has been on going; the Oslo accord in September 1993, the Gaza-Jericho accord in May 1994, Oslo II in September 1995, the Hebron accord in January 1997, and now, the Wye Plantation October 1998. This was not a blockbuster signing, but a step in a continuing process ( and quite possibly a step backwards ). It is not being well received by either side!

Netanyahu postponed the cabinet meeting to approve the accord, persumably because the affirmative votes are not there. Islamic militant groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad are fighting amongst each other and renewing attacks on innocent Israeli civilians. With two attacks this week, an Israeli school bus full of children was only saved by the sacrificial acts of Israeli soldiers riding in a jeep that blocked a suicide bomber ( and died themselves, for the kids ). Hamas claimed responsibility.

From my point of view and from what seems to be ignored in the accord, it is quite obvious that Clinton had to have something for them to sign, whether or not it was realistic. This self-centered Clinton diplomacy, designed to try and salvage his tarnished reputation, is only going to be paid for with the lives of innocent Israelis!

- Bongo ( Clinton graduated magna cum Monica, from the Darth Vader School of Diplomacy? )