Developing a Strategy for Peace
Perhaps it's the verbal delivery, say one thing, mean another that confuses the issue. Perhaps it's the fact that Mid-East-style dialogue is simply unlike the kind of communicative outreach practised elsewhere in the world when individuals or groups attempt to bridge a gap of understanding. In any event, the parameters appear to change to suit the whim of the moment, and encouragement is readily exchanged with threats meant to stir the pot toward an urgent conclusion.Saudi King Abdullah II whose peace initiative has been reborn from its original 2002 version and somewhat added to in the interim to better reflect Arab countries' expectations of their geographical nemesis slaps it on the table and effectively says take it or leave it - intact - or face the consequences. The consequences being of course more of the same rather than the potential for existential acknowledgement and a cessation of attacks.
An offer not to be refused. Unless, of course, the offer contains singular restrictions on Israel's long-term aspirations to exist as a country of refuge and pride for the Jewish people. To attain the much-vaunted and tantalizing miracle offered in the Saudi initiative would be to forget what Israel was formed to accomplish as a Jewish state. Jews returning to their historical birthplace, taking up once more their legal, cultural, traditional lives in their original geography.
Of course to obtain this Arab-recognized status sans the ongoing threats of attack by their neighbours, Israel is kindly enjoined to give up its most sacred religious sites, and the seat of government since time immemorial. Israel is threatened by continued attacks should she choose not to give up the territories won by her through wars not of her making. Israel is expected to dilute its Jewish demographic base, the very reason for her existence, to make way for a mass influx of 'refugee' returnees.
According to the Saudi master plan, which King Abdullah insists be accepted as is, without demur, Israel has the choice and the generous option of facing ongoing active hostilities against her territory, or that of accepting an Arab-favoured 'peace' which is designed to obliterate her purpose and in the long run, her existence as a primarily Jewish state. Some peace plan, some option, some choice. Not surprisingly, the Saudi initiative appears to have enthusiastic support from the very representative of the world body that should be looking out for fairness on both sides.
UN chief Ban Ki Moon characterized the Saudi initiative as "one of the pillars of the peace process", urging Israel to "take a fresh look at it". He delivered the opinion that "the Middle East region is more complex, more fragile and more dangerous than it has been for a very long time." A world figure stating the obvious, but also betraying his position by overlooking the obvious.
"The basis for a solution" he said, "is clear - an end to the occupation that began in 1967, the creation of an independent and viable Palestinian state alongside a secure and fully recognized state of Israel, and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the region." Yes, yes, and most enthusiastically yes. All of it. The Palestinian people need a sovereign and secure and forward-looking state of their own. It is within their grasp. They are required to lower their expectations of the existing State of Israel in giving up much that is central to its very existence to help achieve that end.
The geographical land mass they attain to should be surrendered to them with well defined and mutually agreed-upon borders. The right of return of Palestinian refugees should be confined to return to the new borders of that same Palestinian state. Compensation of lands seized during the wars can be negotiated. The selection of their capital can be left to their autonomous decision-making, absent that of Jerusalem, already the designated, but unrecognized capital of their neighbour.
It is instructive to read Dr. Mamoun Fandy's observations, published in an article in the London daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat on March 26, 2007; some of its highlights published at the MEMRI on-line site at http://www.memri.org/, special dispatch series - no.1525 relating to the Palestinian issue, the Arab summit and the manner in which Arab states used every means at their disposal to ensure it be kept on the front burner, unresolved and festering. He writes:
"In every country in the world when a rock obstructs a road, the municipality hurries to move it aside to facilitate the flow of traffic. However, in the Arab world, someone throws a rock in the road and instead of moving it aside, those claiming to be of sound judgement come up with [what they consider] the ideal way to deal with the problem of the rock - namely, placing a sign above it saying "Careful of the Rock."How's that for an interesting observation built on reality, born of frustration?
"For 50 years the Arabs have been walking around the Palestinian issue. They started newspapers and broadcasts and TV stations for this issue, and produced writers and analysts and intellectuals for this issue, and readied tremendous armies and allocated fat budgets to this issue, but none of this advanced a solution or was of any benefit. All of this just rallied under the sign 'Careful of the Rock.'
"It was King Abdullah Bin 'Abd al-'Aziz alone who proposed [this] earnest initiative at the Beirut summit in 2002, and it was the start of an earnest dialogue to resolve the issue of Palestine. But the 'rock crowd' added to it the issue of the return of the Palestinian refugees, in order to change it from an earnest initiative suitable for a comprehensive solution, that made the most of the existing realities, into an initiative that was impossible to implement, [and] not much different than the unimplemented Security Council resolutions. In so doing, they emptied the Saudi initiative of its content, and left the Palestine issue as a rock, so that they can carry the lanterns that light up the sign hung on the rock, and so they can shout at us, 'Careful of the rock!'"
Labels: Middle East
posted by Pieface @ Thursday, March 29, 2007
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