아프리카ㆍ중동

Contradiction, changeability, and isolation have marked US policy on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict during the first two years of George W. Bush’s presidency. After an initial period when consensus reigned in Washington over the need to get out of the Middle East conflict, in the first half of 2002 three debates arose that have divided the US government. But to understand the turns the current UN administration’s policy toward the Palestinian- Israeli conflict has taken, it is not enough to consider its internal divisions. It is alsonecessary to keep in mind the role played by a novice president in his process of learning the ropes in Washington and the Middle East. These first two years hold the keys to what the attitude of the superpower toward the Middle East conflict will be in what remainsof Bush’s presidential term.