Israel: Serenity, violence and sadness

by Mark Silva

JERUSALEM -- Even as President Bush meets with Israeli leaders in Jerusalem, pressing for progress in peace talks with the Palestinians, Israeli TV is consumed with images of the newest rocket attack from the Gaza Strip.

This rocket landed at a shopping center in Ashkelon, about 10 kilometers from the Hamas-controlled Gaza, injuring several people. Bush has insisted that the U.S. will not negotiate with Hamas, which seized control of Gaza after winning power in the Palestiniani parliament and which refuses to recognize Israel's right to exist. And today, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was signaling that Israel will crack down harder on Gaza.

"We hope that we will not have to act against Hamas with the military power that Israel has in its pocket to use in a serious manner in order to stop it.,'' Olmert said.

Yet there is a persistent beauty about this city, far from the scene of a rocket attack that is trumping the news -- or lack of news, really -- in the talks among President Bush, Israeli Prime Minister Olmert and Israeli President Shimon Peres. The sun was setting as we walked down the street and out to a park with a view of the old walled city.

The tranquility of the city gardens here, juxtaposed with the transmitted images of violence and people fleeing a rocket-stricken shopping center, lends a certain sadness to the 60th anniversary celebrations that have drawn leaders together this week.

News of this attack had arrived as Olmert, with Bush at his side, had asserted that Israel has grown weary of these Palestinian rocket attacks -- raising the question of just how soon, and how hard, Israel will respond to the latest assault.

(Jerusalem photos by Mark Silva)

Bush, appearing with Olmert at their meeting, said: "It is also an interesting time because here we are in the heart of a thriving democracy yet that that democracy like other democracies is being challenged by extremists and terrorists.

"People who use violence to try to advance their dark vision of the world,'' Bush said. "I happen to believe it's an important role of the United States to stand with democracies and to stand strong against terrorists whether it be to stand with Israel against the existential threat of a nuclear weapons with Iran....

"Regarding Hamas. Hamas' objective, stated objective, is the destruction of the state of Israel,'' Bush said. "We'll stand strongly with Israel as well as stand strongly with the Palestinians who don't share their vision.''

Olmert said of their talks: "The first of the issues was the efforts made by Iran to acquire nuclear capability, this is a danger of the highest order to the safety of the region. The efforts made by the United States of America to try and stop Iran for acquiring nuclear power and the discussions between our two countries will continue on this issue. Israel will try to join the main forces with the United States of America to try and stop the Iranians from their continuing efforts which are clearly dangerous and threatening to the stability of the world.

"We also discussed the situation in Lebanon. We observed the events and we are very much concerned that there will be an attempt to upset the democratic process which has to take place openly in Lebanon.

" We will continue to observe the situation and hopefully the situation will stablise in Lebanon and the government of Prime Minister Siniora will prevail against the provocation and efforts of Hezbollah and the Iranians which are obviously fully involved in the attempts to upset the situation over there.

"We also discussed the situation of Gaza. A couple of days ago I had a visit with the General Omar Suleiman... We discussed the possible terms for what may emerge as a ceasefire in the Gaza district. He noted that two people were killed in southern Israel.

"An organisation which pretends to want to stop terror can't continue to shoot at innocent people. Israel will not be able to tolerate continuous attacks against innocent civilians. We hope that we will not have to act against Hamas with the military power that Israel has in its pocket to use in a serious manner in order to stop it.''

Yet peace talks are continuing, Olmert said, with a hope that they can agree on the contours of a Palestinian state by the end of Bush's term -- a goal they set in Annapolis last fall.

Olmert said: "We need to reach an understanding that will define accurately the parameters for the realisation of the vision of you Mr President of a two state solution that will relate the issue of borders, issue of refugees, the issue of security arrangements, and that will set forth also at the end of the day a framework for how to deal later with the issue of Jerusalem. ''