Tensions are on the rise once again in the West Bank and Gaza Strip following the recent and historic shift in U.S. foreign policy. President Bush Wednesday endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to hold on to part of the West Bank in any peace settlement that may be reached with Palestinians. Less than a week ago, Bush met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to discuss ways to improve Israeli and Palestinian relations, as well as the state of the Middle East. After this meeting both presidents issued a joint statement announcing that an Israeli withdraw from the territory would be a significant step forward on the road to peace. However, backing Sharon's plan for withdrawal is a complete reversal on the president's part and will likely put a major strain on peace talks. In this time of unrest throughout the Middle East, it is either short-sightedness or ignorance that has caused the present administration to change decades of policy in the course of a week. Bush's support of Sharon's plan is irresponsible and will cause a backlash against the United States from the West Bank to Baghdad.
With its hands full with the situation in Iraq, the Bush administration does not need to create any more international controversies. The administration has been carrying an extremely heavy load of foreign policy issues, ranging from uprisings in Haiti to the war on terror. Unfortunately for all involved, this decision is the straw that broke the camel's back. Bush's decision could create new enemies abroad and send more fanatic anti-American supporters straight into the arms of terrorist groups. Furthermore, the history of Israeli and Palestinian relations shows how difficult it has been to broker any type of peace settlement. Bush's stance inevitably will be a setback in these proceedings.
The timing of this policy shift could not be worse. Plans for the removal of settlements in the Gaza Strip were taking hold. People in the area's settlements had begun the process of relocating, a clear indication that peace was closer than ever. But for Sharon, peace is not as important as a victory. Both sides - Palestinian and Israeli - have been at fault for the failures of the past. But the most recent events are the fault of Sharon and our president. If change is good, then why did no president before Bush take this action?
A prison just for prayers
On Wednesday, Florida had the honor of becoming the home to the nation's first faith-based prison for women. This honor, while not as significant as the state's role in the 2000 election, will just as surely go down in history. About 300 female inmates have volunteered to be housed in the Hillsborough Correctional Institution, which will offer a combination of vocational classes and worship, with the hopes of better rehabilitating their inmates. Volunteers will provide interested inmates religious services ranging from Christianity to Buddhism. Inmates will not be forced to engage in religious activities, nor will state funding be used for the religious teachings. The state has endorsed this new prison and supporters of the plan hope it will bring humanity back to prisoners. While a more humane prison system is ideal, this new facility only masks the larger issue: the condition of prisons around the country. Instead of singling out the inmates who have a predisposition to religion, the state should focus energy on reforming its entire correctional system.
In theory this new prison is a good thing for both society and the correctional system. Any measures that can rehabilitate convicted felons and help them to re-enter the real world should be considered. However, new religious prisons are not the way to achieve this goal. Such a facility will discriminate against atheist or agnostic inmates. Some people may not care about the rights of convicted felons, but every woman or man does have certain inalienable rights. Religious inmates should not receive preferential treatment just because they believe in a supreme being. All inmates should be subject to the same standards, just like those outside the prison walls. This new prison opens the door for more specialized facilities. Is the next step to build a new prison for inmates pursuing a college education? The best way to improve the correctional system is not to specialize facilities, it is to improve all existing ones.
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