|
09 January 2011 Dr. Saeb Erakat On November 15, 1988, the Palestine
Liberation Organisation declared statehood by passing
the Palestinian Declaration of Independence while
exiled in Algiers. That declaration constituted the
Palestinian people's historic compromise for peace as
they limited their national aspiration towards the
establishment of the Palestinian state over 22 per
cent of historic Palestine, thus tacitly recognising
Israel over the remaining 78 per cent. Disregarding our historic
compromise, Israel has instead strengthened its
occupation through an illegal settlement enterprise.
Throughout a negotiations process lasting over 19
years, the Israeli settler population has nearly
doubled, from 236,000 in 1993 to over half a million
today. The Palestinian Authority (PA),
created after the Oslo agreement with the mandate of
governance in the Occupied Palestinian Territories,
has also been sabotaged by the Israeli occupation.
Created as an interim body to last five years, the PA,
now on its 16th year, lacks any authority. The PA has
no control over Palestinian border crossings and
thereby the import or export of goods, the passage of
tourists or the issuance of identity cards, all of
which are carried out by Israel. Further, on a daily
basis, Israel undermines the PA's security forces
through military raids. The Israeli government does not
believe in peace. How will a coalition government
unable to commit to a settlement freeze be able to
discuss the thornier issues such as Jerusalem or
refugees? The Madrid Conference established the terms
of reference for the peace process 19 years ago, yet
Israel still will not recognise the 1967 borders as
the basis of any future agreement. If they do, some
people say, their coalition will fall apart. And so
the excuses go on and Palestinians continue to pay the
price with our own freedom. Without any real
international pressure, it will be a short time before
we must begin to dig the grave in which the last
semblance of the peace process will be buried Arab countries have already taken
the first step towards regional peace through the Arab
Peace Initiative, which revitalises the idea of "land
for peace" and regional involvement. But regional
stability is not something Israel seeks, otherwise why
would Israel dismiss an offer to be recognised by 57
Arab and Islamic countries in exchange of a return to
the 1967 border and a just and agreed resolution to
the Palestinian refugee issue? Instead, Israel
continues to destabilise the region through its
continued illegal policies in the Occupied
Territories, particularly in occupied East Jerusalem. Israel's lack of interest in peace
is also obvious through its refusal to provide us with
any confidence-building measures. Not only do they
refuse to freeze settlement construction, they also
refuse a release of political prisoners, a removal of
movement restrictions, or a halt to home demolitions,
evictions and the stripping of residency rights. The
current situation is perfect for Israel. Alleviating this bleak situation
requires a willingness to change the way in which the
Middle East negotiations process has operated in the
past. Successive Israeli governments, including the
current government, have been unable to make the
strategic decision to conclusively halt settlement
activity in exchange for peace. Instead, they have
been motivated by a cynical and politically
opportunistic blame game contrasting our aim to
achieve justice and regional peace. The current
Netanyahu government continues to play a public
relations game as if there is time to waste, instead
of recognising the inevitable folly of its colonial
ways. Israel's unilateral policies are
pushing us off the negotiating table. But if Israel
believes that we have no alternatives, it is mistaken.
Palestinians will give the Obama administration more
time to convince Israel to freeze settlements. If that
does not happen, we will seek American recognition of
a Palestinian state on the 1967 border. If Americans
are not willing to do so, we will apply for full
member status in the UN. If these alternatives are
unsuccessful, the Palestinian leadership will be at a
crossroads where we will have to ask ourselves whether
the principles under which the peace process was based
are still relevant. If the answer is negative, it will
make no sense to continue in a process where the
occupying power is not willing to implement previous
obligations and the third parties involved do not have
the will to apply international law. Twenty-two years after our historic compromise, we
are still waiting for an end to the Israeli
occupation. The status quo cannot continue. * Dr. Saeb Erakat one of the prominent faces of
Palestinian struggles and Chief PLO negotiator & Fatah
Central Committee member posted this article Nov 2010
and there has been some delays in making it available
on EsinIslam.Com.
However, following Mr. Erakat's direct contact with
EsinIslam.Com
articles of the Palestinian leader such as this can
now be assessed at this portal. |
Add Comments