The Wye Agreement – More of the Same

Since the Wye Agreement, JINSA has received calls, faxes and e-mails from our members, asking for “JINSA’s take” on the situation. Below is a representative response from Executive Director Tom Neumann.

Dear Joe:

You asked me how I feel about the Wye Plantation Accords. Let me tell you.

There is clearly a great deal of euphoria here in America and even some in Israel. So who am I to say otherwise? I personally would like to share in the euphoria but cannot.

Since the Wye Agreement, JINSA has received calls, faxes and e-mails from our members, asking for “JINSA’s take” on the situation. Below is a representative response from Executive Director Tom Neumann.

Dear Joe:

You asked me how I feel about the Wye Plantation Accords. Let me tell you.

There is clearly a great deal of euphoria here in America and even some in Israel. So who am I to say otherwise? I personally would like to share in the euphoria but cannot. I hope that this agreement at Wye will lead to some serious steps forward in the attainment of peace and security in Israel.

However, I am haunted by the fact that these very same commitments have been made three times before – at Oslo I, Oslo II and in the Hebron Accords. The Palestinians have not kept the promises that they made then, and I wonder why anyone feels that this time they will.

I have heard several people argue that neither side has kept its promises. I do not quite get it. Israel has relinquished 27% of the territory and now has added another 13% to that. 97% of Palestinians currently live under self-rule. That seems like quite a few tangible concessions on Israel’s part.

On the other hand, I am still trying to get a handle on what concessions the Palestinians have made to date. I can come up with none. The covenant has not been changed; terrorism is still alive and well; no one has been extradited. The police have far exceeded the agreed upon limits and are beginning to resemble a military force more than a police force.

So where does this contention that neither side has fulfilled its commitments come from? I don’t know. The facts do not support it.

Maybe I should be enthused about CIA involvement in monitoring the compliance of both parties. Ask former UNSCOM inspector Scott Ritter about how that works. The United States assiduously ignored findings that Saddam Hussein was not in compliance in order to avoid confrontation – in order to put a political spin on the program’s success. If they overlook that much with Saddam Hussein, an avowed enemy, how will they treat Yasser Arafat whom they have forgotten is an enemy?

What will happen when Israel and this administration disagree over compliance? This is an invitation for almost assured disagreement that could further erode the special relationship that the U.S. and Israel share.

Everyone argued with JINSA when we said that the Covenant had not been revoked, and we turned out to be right. So far, we have turned out to be right on a lot of things. This is not arrogance – just truth. I would love to be wrong on this one. For the moment, I’ll pretend to believe. Let’s see.

Best regards,

Tom