Print

Mail

wiki links

Frustrated Middle East envoy says he may resign

Former World Bank chief James Wolfensohn said yesterday he may quit as an international envoy to the Middle East, frustrated at his inability to persuade Israelis and Palestinians to work together.

Wolfensohn acknowledged that it needed the intervention of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to broker an agreement on Tuesday for the reopening of the Gaza Strip's borders which have been largely closed since Israel left the territory more than two months ago.

The Australian economist had been appointed by US President George W. Bush to help coordinate the economic aspects of the Gaza pullout but he told Israeli public radio that his influence was not enough to bear fruit.

"If after 20 weeks, you cannot make up your mind up on the same issue [the borders] that we were talking around for 20 weeks there's probably not much more I can do," he said.

"The breakthrough came in the last couple of days and I think one should give credit to [Rice] because she happened to be here and she is a woman who has greater power and greater influence than I do.

"The US has, as I think you know, a very strong influence on Israel and a pretty strong influence on the Palestinians and you know they could maybe ignore me, but it's very difficult to ignore the US secretary of state."

A clearly disillusioned Wolfensohn said he would now consider his position and decide whether he felt he could still make a contribution to the peace process or step aside for someone else.

"I am just going to see in the next quarter of this year what my own plans are and see whether I can still make a contribution or maybe there will be others who can do better than me."

Under the deal announced by Rice, the main Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt should reopen on Nov. 25 with security overseen by EU monitors.

Wolfensohn has previously voiced his frustration at what he saw as Israeli foot-dragging over the borders, accusing the government of being "loath to relinquish control, almost acting as though there has been no withdrawal."
This story has been viewed 1138 times.