AAUMC 's View on Annapolis by Monadel Herzallah

The U.S. administration of George W. Bush is trying unskillfully and unsuccessfully to cover up the unprecedented political and military failures of its last two terms in office, by claiming to deliver "peace" in the Middle East. This has meant yet more attacks upon the suffering people of Palestine: apartheid wall, home demolitions, siege on Gaza, miserable life in the refugee camps, new camps for Palestinian refugees now forced to flee Iraq, censoring and arresting activists in the U.S., hand picking leaders and squeezing them again and again, planting civil war among family members - all in an attempt to obtain more concessions.

Bush and his administration, who can clearly be seen as the weakest link, are trying to force the Palestinian people to accept the unacceptable at gunpoint, in an attempt to deliver to his voting base what the U.S. administration was not able to deliver and achieve in Iraq and Afghanistan, and what Israel was unable to achieve in Lebanon last summer. This failed conference will be blamed on the Palestinian and the Arab side, represented in Annapolis by unpopular regimes and failing rulers. It comes as no surprise that Palestinians around the world are rallying around their basic national rights now more than ever, realizing that the power of Right must overcome the rights of Power . Palestinians are not alone and the cause of Palestine continues to be the just cause with the majority of the world's support against the most unpopular U.S administration in decades. We are hopeful that people who fight for justice and peace find in the Palestinian struggle the determination and courage that paves the way for a true vision and hope for peace and justice around the globe.