European Press Review: Where is the U.S. in the Middle East?
European newspapers on Wednesday lamented the recent surge in violence in the Middle East and called on the U.S. to play a pivotal role in stopping it.
Just one week after Israeli and Palestinian leaders at the historic Aqaba Summit pledged to work towards peace, the situation in the Middle East again spiraled out of control as violence erupted. On Wednesday, a suicide bomb detonated in Jerusalem, killing 16 people and injuring 80. Israeli troops retaliated in the Gaza Strip, killing 9 suspected members of the Hamas organization. European newspapers, commenting on the never-ending violence, said it is time for the United States to take a more active role in bringing about peace in the region. It is now up to U.S. President George W. Bush, as Italy’s Il Messaggero put it, to take the initiative and make the next move. Condemnation and expressions of shock are no longer enough, the paper warned. De Volkskrant from the Netherlands wondered how far Bush will go if Sharon stays on his collision course. It will not be enough, the paper maintained, merely to urge both sides to stick to the peace plan. Britain’s The Independent noted that the aim of Hamas is to provoke Israel at every turn—and sadly, they have once again succeeded. But the Israeli actions, the paper continued, will not succeed in suppressing the terrorists and securing national security – they never have, and they never will. The cycle of violence in the region seems set to resume, the paper lamented. It also said the United States should play a pivotal role, and that President Bush must use all his country’s political and financial leverage to keep Sharon on the road map to peace. The editors for Liberation from France were of the same opinion. President Bush should not hesitate to exert more pressure on Israel. The U.S. President must, the paper wrote, force Israeli Prime Minister Sharon to hold back despite further Palestinian bombing attacks. And, the paper added, Bush must apply pressure to the Arab world to throw its entire political weight behind Palestinian Prime Minister Abbas’ government, and oppose armed groups. The Daily Mirror also regarded Sharon as the stumbling block on the road to peace. The London tabloid said President Bush is faced with two choices: He must now decide whether he wants to give up his peace plan or take the obvious alternative step, and demand a change in the Israeli leadership to bring the peace he and the rest of the world want. Austria’s Kurier turned its attention to the situation in Afghanistan following the latest attack on German troops there. For a year now, the paper noted, Hamid Karzai has sat in the President’s palace, surrounded by U.S. bodyguards—but his influence hardly reaches further than the city limits. But even in the capital, one is not entirely safe. If there is an attack, the paper said, western politicians are quick to point a finger at al Qaeda. Observers believe this is meant to calm people, but what is reassuring about the idea, the paper wondered, if the enemies are still alive and kicking?
European
U.S.
United_States Billboard_200 Billboard_Hot_100 Recording_Industry_Association_of_America United_States_dollar Nielsen_SoundScan Billboard_charts Hot_Country_Songs Unincorporated_territories_of_the_United_States Billboard_(magazine) Dance_Club_Songs Federal_government_of_the_United_States American_English RIAA_Certification .us Us_(Peter_Gabriel_album)
Middle East
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European
Wednesday
Middle East
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U.S.
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Israeli
Palestinian
Aqaba Summit
Road_map_for_peace
Middle East
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Wednesday
Israeli
Gaza Strip
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Hamas
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European
United States
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U.S.
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President
George W. Bush
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Italy
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Il Messaggero
Il_Messaggero Pallacanestro_Virtus_Roma
De Volkskrant
De_Volkskrant
Netherlands
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Bush
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Sharon
Sharon,_Connecticut Sharon,_Massachusetts Sharon,_Pennsylvania Sharon_plain Sharon,_Ontario Sharon_Cuneta Sharon,_Vermont Sharon,_New_Hampshire Sharon_Osbourne Sharon_Watts Sharon,_New_York Sharon_Corr Sharon_(talk_show) Sharon Ariel_Sharon Sharon,_South_Carolina
Britain
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The Independent
The_Independent The_Independent_(2000_film) The_Independent_(New_York_City) The_Independent_(Bangladesh_newspaper) The_Independent_(Uganda) The_Independent_(2007_film) The_Independent_(Gambia) The_Independent_(Massillon) The_Daily_Independent_(Ashland_newspaper) The_Independent_(India) The_Independent_(Newfoundland) Tongnip_Sinmun The_Independent_(Belize) Sunday_Independent_(Western_Australia) The_Independent_(Acadiana) The_Independent_(Austin,_Texas)
Hamas
Hamas Hamas_(horse) Governance_of_the_Gaza_Strip Movement_of_Society_for_Peace
Israel
Israel Israel_national_football_team Kingdom_of_Israel_(Samaria) Recognition_of_same-sex_unions_in_Israel Unregistered_cohabitation_in_Israel Israeli_Basketball_Premier_League Israel_national_under-21_football_team Israel_Football_Association Israelites Land_of_Israel Israel_Fed_Cup_team Israel_national_basketball_team Israel_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest Israel_national_cricket_team History_of_ancient_Israel_and_Judah Israel_Davis_Cup_team
Israeli
United States
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President
Bush
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Sharon
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Liberation
Libération Liberation_(film_series) Liberation_(Christina_Aguilera_album) Moksha Liberation_(Mýa_album) Liberty Liberation_of_France Liberation_Music Liberation_of_Paris Liberation_(Talib_Kweli_and_Madlib_album) Liberation_(The_Divine_Comedy_album) Liberation_Records Surrender_of_Japan Liberation_(magazine) Liberation_of_Bulgaria Liberation_(song)
France
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President
Bush
George_W._Bush Bush_(British_band) George_H._W._Bush Dave_Bush The_bush Evan_Bush Bush_(album) Shrub Bush,_Louisiana Bush_(Canadian_band) Bush_(brand) Presidency_of_George_W._Bush Bush_Rugby_Football_Union The_Bush_(Alaska) Bush_Theatre Bush_family
Israel
Israel Israel_national_football_team Kingdom_of_Israel_(Samaria) Recognition_of_same-sex_unions_in_Israel Unregistered_cohabitation_in_Israel Israeli_Basketball_Premier_League Israel_national_under-21_football_team Israel_Football_Association Israelites Land_of_Israel Israel_Fed_Cup_team Israel_national_basketball_team Israel_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest Israel_national_cricket_team History_of_ancient_Israel_and_Judah Israel_Davis_Cup_team
U.S.
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President
Israeli
Prime Minister
Sharon
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Palestinian
Bush
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Arab
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Palestinian
Prime Minister
Abbas
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Daily Mirror
Daily_Mirror The_Daily_Mirror_(Sri_Lanka) The_Daily_Mirror_(Sydney) New_York_Daily_Mirror
Sharon
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London
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President
Bush
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Israeli
Austria
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Kurier
Kurier
Afghanistan
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German
Hamid Karzai
Hamid_Karzai
President
U.S.
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al Qaeda
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United States
United_States
slot::keyword topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe0 type::location
Aqaba Summit
iptc::11000000 slot::keyword topic::politics type::entity type::event type::summit_meeting
Hamas
Hamas
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George W. Bush
George_W._Bush
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European
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Middle East
Middle_East
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Wednesday
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Israeli
topic::none type::gpe0-x type::other
Palestinian
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Gaza Strip
Gaza_Strip
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President
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Italy
Italy
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Il Messaggero
Il_Messaggero
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De Volkskrant
De_Volkskrant
topic::media type::entity type::media type::organization
Netherlands
Netherlands
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Sharon
Ariel_Sharon
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Britain
United_Kingdom
topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe0 type::location
The Independent
The_Independent
topic::media type::entity type::media type::organization
Israel
Israel
topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe0 type::location
Liberation
Libération
topic::media type::entity type::media type::organization
France
France
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Prime Minister
topic::none type::role type::value
Arab
Arab_world
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Abbas
Mahmoud_Abbas
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Daily Mirror
Daily_Mirror
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London
London
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Austria
Austria
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Kurier
Kurier
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Afghanistan
Afghanistan
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German
topic::none type::gpe0-x type::other
Hamid Karzai
Hamid_Karzai
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al Qaeda
Al-Qaeda
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Germany
State_of_Palestine
Jordan