Thursday, February 21, 2008

An independent Palestine

Arab Media:


GRANTED, few troubled territories deserve independence more than Palestine, and efforts aimed at materialising just that need to be taken seriously. But for senior Palestinian official Yasser Abed Rabbo to table a suggestion of unilateral declaration of independence on the lines of Kosovo ignores the core issues of the Palestinian equation and misses the point somewhat. A top Abbas aide and party to ongoing negotiations with Tel Aviv, Rabbo has already been rightly reminded by party insiders how such a step would not be much different from a similar PLO declaration in ’88.

For the Palestinian people to be free, the Israeli occupation needs to end, which must be preceded by halting Israel’s settlement expansion, addressing Palestinian refugees’ status and returning Palestinian lands. Merely declaring independence would address none of these core issues.

At the heart of the problem lies Israeli duplicity, dishonoured promises and lack of political will even on part of those recognising the need for policy-change. Washington has only recently returned to the Middle East’s most deep rooted problem, but unfortunately the initiative owes more to an unpopular president’s legacy-issues than real efforts at change. Typically, there is no pressure from America as the Olmert dispensation returned to its cross-border raids, economic blockades and expanding settlements just as soon as Bush was seen off.

Representatives of the Palestinian people would achieve more by turning their energies where they can begin to have meaningful effect. For that, the first order of business must be resolution of differences between Fatah and Hamas. Upon such settlement, a unified Palestinian stance will have more weight in demanding a final resolution. So far, Israel has clearly abandoned much of what was promised through Bush’s pressure, as hundred more homes are being erected for settlers in the West Bank, ridiculing Washington’s efforts and Palestinian commitment alike.
But so long as the Palestinians themselves remain bitterly divided, their representatives must take a bulk of the blame for lack of progress on their side. In such times, it is only natural for frustration to creep in and influence genuinely concerned stakeholders.

Comment: Please understand what and how the enemy thinks.

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