"Declaration of Principles"
Has a nice, respectable ring to it, that little phrase, "declaration of principles". George Orwell would certainly approve. But there you have it, politspeak for the unspeakable. One side declares what its priorities are, the other side has its principles, and then they reverse the formula, a nice neat little dance of realpolitik, a frenetic polka leading 'round and 'round. But it has that ring of authenticity to it, as though 'we mean what we say and we say what we mean'.Wot?
Israel stands ready to begin the initial bargaining process. There are three issues Israel would like to leave in temporary abeyance, as vital details to be left to later discussions, because of their importance and the diplomatic niceties involved and the delicate matter of their (im)balance to the future of the State of Israel. As for the Palestinian Authority, the very same issues, of final boundaries, right of return and Jerusalem, are the starting point beyond which peace may be bargained for.
In 1948, the boundaries outlining a state for the Palestinians were on offer and available and summarily rejected. The invading armies of the neighbourly welcome club gave adequate assurance to fleeing Palestinians that after the mopping-up they would return to their abandoned lands. Even then, with the declaration of the emergence of the Jewish state, Jews were not permitted to enter that portion of Jerusalem, then held by Jordan.
History repeats itself, enduringly. Still, no one takes notes.
Yet here we are, at a hopeful juncture. Israel and the Palestinian leaders absent Hamas are prepared to begin talks for the potential resolution of their mutual problems. Give a little, get a lot. But then, since there are two sides, both must be prepared to accommodate to some degree the needs and wants of the other. Sacrifices will most certainly be made, but they should, logically, be balanced.
The borders of the future Palestinian state should be sufficiently expansive and inviting to welcome all those Palestinians now dispersed in neighbouring Arab countries who wish to return to a sovereign State of Palestine. All thoughts of being absorbed into the sovereign State of Israel should be abandoned. Compensation should be forthcoming, however, in lieu of land- and home-ownership within Israel.
All West Bank settlers, alas, must be withdrawn and brought back for re-location into the borders that comprise the State of Israel. Sad, but necessary. Difficult to attain to, but required to produce a complete re-balancing act. As for the ancient and sacred city, how to divide such a place? Bring it back to what it had been, off limits to Jews whose most sacred sites were located in the Old City?
For the time being, despite the words uttered publicly by the current leaders of Fatah, deliberate and ongoing sabotage and destruction and attempts at murder and destabilization are ongoing. How to guarantee there will be a cessation of such violent hostilities? This is a dual obligation, certainly as vital to the establishment of peace as the three big issues of contention.
Israel cannot relax her vigil, haul back her troops, give perfect trust to a partner-in-peace still engaged in antagonistically divisive acts of espionage and warfare through the auspices of its various militias. And seemingly spurred on by the responsible governing body of the PA, loathe to draw them back from the precipice of hatred, 'justifiable struggle' and dissension.
Nice, though, to know that Saudi Arabia is sufficiently engaged to spur momentum; just not, though, with the expectations that all movement to conciliation come from one side, not both.
Labels: Justice, Middle East
posted by Pieface @ Friday, August 03, 2007
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