Opinion Editorials, November 2003, www.aljazeerah.info
Human Price of the Israeli Occupation of Palestine
Israeli daily aggression on the Palestinian people
Mission and meaning of Al-Jazeerah
Cities, localities, and tourist attractions
Positive signals, perhaps
Jordan Times
Sunday, November 23, 2003
MIDDLE EAST events have very rarely allowed any space for even the most moderate and cautious optimism. Still, people on this side of the river are always ready to cling on to the tiniest glimpse of hope, and this is partly why a few recent developments might perhaps warrant a quiet, measured sight of relief. First, Israel's Channel 2 on Friday reported that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon planned to remove some Jewish settlements by the summer of 2004 to make way for a Palestinian state. That and subsequent reports clarified that the very few settlements in question are in the Gaza Strip and that the move would come in response to express requests by the military, which has long been complaining that defending some of the Gaza settlements is draining disproportionate resources and becoming almost an impossible task.
Second, Palestinian and Israeli visionaries who drafted the unofficial peace plan already known as “the Geneva Accords” were reported — again over the weekend — to be proceeding to a signing ceremony in Switzerland on Dec. 1. True, the peace blueprint is merely symbolic, and it was drafted by politicians and intellectuals with no official capacity whatsoever. Still, no one can deny that seeing Palestinians and Israelis shake hands and sign a peace document, amid the bloodbath of this and previous years and the continuing violence and frustration, might at least momentarily lift some spirits and remind the peace camp on both sides that compromise and common ground are still possible.
A third positive development is that a meeting between Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmad Qureia is approaching, possibly as early as this week. Neither leader seems to intend to show up empty-handed — an attitude that generally bodes well. Sharon has stated that “unilateral acts” should not be ruled out, indicating he might offer to dismantle some illegal settler outposts, ease the military blockade on some Palestinian areas and withdraw his troops from some cities. All these moves would fall well short of what should be done in line with international legitimacy and legality. But they could be a start, perhaps restore some trust in the political process and some hope amongst some Palestinians.
A fourth relatively positive development was Hamas' acceptance to participate, together with 12 other Palestinian factions, to truce talks in Cairo, starting Dec. 2. Hamas and other groups have said they were considering halting attacks on Israelis if Israel stopped its military operations against the Palestinians. Needless to say, this is a golden opportunity for both Palestinians and Israelis: A truce would bolster Qureia's stature and help Sharon fight off widespread criticism at home for his brutal policies, which have only brought more insecurity to his people.
Again, no one wants to jump the gun.
But a few small, positive developments are taking place.
Perhaps this could be an Eid Al Fitr of renewed hope.
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| Earth, a planet hungry for peace |
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| The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers (Ran Cohen, pmc, 5/24/03). |
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| The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers in the West Bank, like a Python. (Alquds,10/25/03). |
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