Article from Israeli Newspaper Ha´aretz, Internet Edition, July 2, 2004:
John Kerry position paper outlines support for Israel
By Nathan Guttman, Ha'aretz Correspondent
WASHINGTON - In a position paper outlining his stance on Israel, Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry promises not to negotiate with Yasser Arafat and expresses support for Israel's right to defend itself by attacking terrorist organizations.
The paper, entitled "John Kerry: Strengthening Israel's Security
and Bolstering the US-Israel Special Relationship," was sent in
mid-June to a group of people in the Jewish community as part of the
Kerry campaign's attempt to maintain contact with Jewish supporters
in the United States and to clarify his positions on Israel.
Kerry, who previously spoke against the separation fence at a
gathering of the Arab-American Institute, is now seeking to correct
that impression: "The security fence is a legitimate act of
self-defense erected in response to the wave of terror attacks
against Israeli citizens."
The presumptive Democratic nominee also declares his opposition to
transferring debate on the fence to international forums. The paper
shows consistent support for Israel on all the issues at hand: Kerry
backs Israel's disengagement plan and also the two central points in
President Bush's letter to Prime Minister Sharon - the resettlement
of Palestinian refugees in the Palestinian state, not within Israel,
and recognition of Jewish population concentrations in the West Bank
when establishing the permanent borders. "In light of demographic
realities, a number of settlement blocs will likely become a part of
Israel," Kerry wrote his supporters.
He further declared support for Israel's actions against Hamas,
Islamic Jihad and other terror organizations and recalled that he was
a signatory to the motion of support for Israel passed by the Senate
during Operation Defensive Shield.
On the issue of Palestinian leadership, Kerry declared that "Yasser
Arafat is a failed leader and unfit partner for peace" and called for
"his total isolation." He thereby aligned himself with Bush
administration policy, and in contrast to former president Bill
Clinton, who recently stated that despite his disappointment with
Arafat, negotiations should be conducted with him.
Kerry lists additional issues on which he supports Israel: the battle
against cutting foreign aid to Israel; calling upon the United
Nations to evince a more balanced approach to the conflict; support
for moving the American embassy to Jerusalem; international action
against regimes that support terror; and maintaining Israel's
military supremacy.
Seeking to set himself apart from Bush on several issues, Kerry
blasts Saudi Arabia and promises to act against anti-Semitic
statements by senior Saudi government officials. "As president, he
will never permit these kinds of attacks to go unanswered," the paper
promises.
Kerry takes a particularly tough stance on Iran, declaring that "a
nuclear armed Iran is unacceptable."
Sources in the Kerry campaign said that the position paper and other
letters sent in recent weeks to supporters in the Jewish community
are intended "to educate and inform on his views, so there will be no
doubt about his support for the state of Israel."
