A-vital Blog: Get the ball rolling

Those of us who favor the renewal of the political process in our area welcome president Bush's short visit to our area.

Any visit of an American President to Israel can only be a source of joy and pride for us, but in this particular case the visit goes beyond bilateral relations.

The bonds between the US, a superpower, and the small, young State of Israel are without precedent in the history of international relations.

It is said that the then Secretary of State William Rogers told the late Lea Rabin that the special relations between the US and Israel only fall behind the very deep ties that bind America with Great Britain.

While this may have been true then, it seems that over the past decade US-Israel relations have surpassed them in closeness and intensity. Yet, as mentioned, the purpose of President Bush's visit this time is not the deepening of bilateral ties.

The background is the bloody conflict which remains an open wound in our area. Much to our regret, not much progress has been made since the Annapolis conference. Moreover, Fatah forces - belonging to our moderate partner - have been involved in murderous terrorist attacks against Israelis. So, once again, it is regrettably up to our American friends to come to the rescue, bridge the gaps, and present some new proposals that can get the ball rolling.

One of the ideas most discussed lately is the stationing of third party troops in the West Bank. This idea has been raised in the past by many international actors, as well as by Israeli politicians. It has its attractive side, since any additional forces engaged in curbing terrorism and enforcing law and order can only be beneficial.

However it poses risks (especially if their mandate is restricted) as it may limit Israel's freedom of action which can potentially be dangerous. The idea should be therefore considered with care and carried out only as long as Israel can maintain its vital security interests.

In this context, I believe that the time has come to acquaint President Bush and members of his team with the recent initiative of the "One Home" movement, which seeks to pass the legislation of a bill that will grant West Bank settlers who wish to return to Israel (within the 67' borders) payment of early compensations.

Upon completion of large portions of the security fence, many citizens will find themselves beyond it and justly feel insecure. They should be given now, as part of this process, the possibility to settle in Israel and build a new life for themselves and for their families.