The Peace Progress: has there been any? (Part A) - By Yahal Porat
The Peace Progress: Has there been any? (part A)- by Yahal Porat
Recently we are witnessing a new wind blowing both from Jerusalem and Ramalla (the city of the PA governmental institutes). Is it really something new, or is it old ideas in different formats?
Ehud Olmert, the new prime minister, came back recently from the U.S. On his recent short appearance to the two parliaments in the states, he announced Israel is committed to the new plan – the realignment, and will do it only if Abbas (PA president) fails to reach any agreement with Israel. That means Olmert is actually saying Israel will talk to Abbas, but not that much and with understanding that the talks will lead no where.
Olmert is convinced that Abbas will not deliver because of the new situation in the PA – the Hamas prime minister and government. As we all remember Hamas, the terrorist militant group, came to power not long ago. Hamas is unwilling to recognize Israel or to talk with them. So Abbas, the president that was chosen directly by the people, is dealing with double pressure: Israel on the one side, calling him to stop any act of violence in order to go back to the negotiations table; and Hamas on the other side, calling to act against Israel violently when possible, even if itg is now under some form of a cease-fire.
Abbas was caught in between and felt that he needs to do something in order to change the difficult situation. One option is to use his authority as president and to order new elections, hoping the Hamas will not win again. This is very risky – Hamas will probably win again if the reason to go to election will be not strong enough. So meanwhile Abbas is fighting the Hamas in different ways, occasionally with acts of violence. Many sporadic clashes were witnessed mainly in the Gaza strip, between Hamas militiamen and the official police force of the PA.
But 3 weeks ago a new surprising initiative came out of Israel’s prisons. Many terrorists of different Islamic-Arab groups are positioned in Israel for long periods. A few of them came out with what is now known as “the prisoners document”. This 18 paragraph document is saying basically that the Palestinian people must unite against Israel, but doing so they must recognize the solution of two states for two nations, therefore will have to put up a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders. That means Israel will be living along the Palestinian state, which will be created on the west bank area and Gaza strip only. The five leading prisoners are also calling to stop the internal violence in the Palestinian streets and to keep fighting violently against Israel inside the west bank borders. The suggestion is being put forward due to Israel's new ideas (i.e. realignment) to create new borders, to annex some of the Palestinian’s lands and to keep Palestinian people hungry, like they do in Gaza strip those days. There is a lot more, such as commitment to democracy; the necessity to work according the law and so on. To read the full document go to: http://blog.onevoicemovement.org/one_voice/2006/05/text_of_palesti.html
Is it real? Can we believe it? No one knows. But Abbas was the man who took advantage of it first: he announced that Hamas must agree to the prisoners document (also known as the Palestinian consolidation agreement) within very short time. If they will not Abbas said he will order a referendum within 40 days.
What will Hamas say? What is Israel's stand?
Wait to read part B! |
