U.S. MULLED SERIES OF SANCTIONS AGAINST ISRAEL [arms ban threat]

[IMRA: A wake up call for advocates of "paper for land" based on the
assertion that Israel can trade strategic depth for American promises. If
PM Sharon thought the pressure was unbearable this round, just imagine what
the situation can be in the future with a sovereign Palestinian state with
an official army armed and trained by the CIA next to Kfar Sava, the
American armed Saudi Air Force working in coordination with American armed
Egyptian Air Force along with the upgraded Syrian ground forces operating
under the cover of top-of-the-line air defense systems (thanks to hundreds
of millions of petrodollars contributed by the Saudis for the advanced
Russian system that could cover a move across the Golan.).

And then, when Israel declines to give in to Arab demands (right of return?
compensation for the cost to the Arabs of decades of "occupations", etc.)
the U.S. warns it may have to cut off the supply of weapons to Israel.]

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- The Bush administration has prepared a list of
sanctions against Israel should it refuse to comply with a plan for a
Palestinian state by the end of the year.

U.S. government and congressional sources said the list was prepared by the
State Department and relayed to the National Security Council in April amid
the administration's effort to press Israel to agree to the so-called
roadmap. The roadmap, drafted by Washington as well as the European Union,
United Nations and Russia, calls for an end to the Israeli-Palestinian war
and the establishment of an interim state in 2003.

The sources said the State Department's proposed list of sanctions included
an examination of the use of U.S. weapons in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Israel has employed such platforms as the AH-64A Apache helicopter, the
AH-1G Cobra helicopter and the F-16 fighter-jet in air attacks on
Palestinian insurgents.

"It's hard to overestimate the anger within the administration toward Israel
regarding the delays in the roadmap," a congressional source close to the
administration said. "The White House doesn't regard the roadmap merely as
foreign policy. It sees the roadmap as a major element toward the reelection
of the president."
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