Tension In The Middle East

There is grave concern about the future of the peace process following the election of right-winger Ariel Sharon, who easily defeated incumbent Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Since election night, Mr. Barak has declined an offer to join a 'government of unity'. Some see this as a sign that the various Israeli political parties will find it hard to unify regards the conflict with the Palestinians. Others, like Labour party leader Haim Ramon, believe that Mr. Barak's decline of Mr. Sharon's offer "appears to signal his realisation that the public does not want him, and that his continued leadership of Labour could lead the party into collapse" ("http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/israe..."). There is no sign that the recent rising tensions in the region will dissipate soon. Mr. Sharon has vowed that "As prime minister, I will conduct negotiations with the Palestinian Authority following cessation of hostilities" ("http://www.sky.com/news/world/story1.htm").

Meanwhile, Iraq - another Middle East state never far from the news headlines - has once again come to the forefront of foreign news following air raids by American and British fighter planes on Iraqi military sites. On state-run television, Iraqi Health Minister Umaid Mehdat said "The injured are women, children and old people, some are critical cases" ("http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/Iraq/..."). The governments of America and Britain contradicted this statement, seeing the bombing as necessary, calling them "self-defence measures" which only attacked "legitimate targets" such as control centres. This may have been in response to the claim that in January 2001 alone, Iraq made 22 attacks on US and UK aircraft - more than for the whole of 2000 ("http://www.independent.co.uk/news/World/...").

The bombing has had two major negative results. First, it has added to the trouble the region is facing. Secondly, US President George Bush and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair are finding themselves increasingly isolated in the international community regards their foreign policy on Iraq. The bombing brought fresh criticism from China and Russia, who see the raids as "damaging tensions". CNN reported that "In Europe there is a suspicion that Blair, who cherishes notions of acting as a bridge between America and the EU, has been too eager to please Bush, who will play host to him at Camp David on Friday, in the hope of rescuing something of the special relationship he enjoyed with his Democrat soulmate Bill Clinton" ("http://www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/02/..."). The US and UK have long had a joint policy towards Iraq, stemming from the Gulf War and the liberation of Kuwait in which the two countries played important roles.

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