Posted on 10/15/2003 1:18:32 PM PDT by anotherview
Here We Go Again
by Jo-ana D'Balcazar
Oct 15, '03 / 19 Tishrei 5764
Unquestionably, the Arab-Israeli conflict, which goes back to biblical times, took a modern form since the partition of Palestine on November 27, 1947 by UN Resolution 181, and it appears a favorite topic for politicians. Since then, Arabs who first rejected the partition and Israelis who accepted it have been involved in constant battles with no real solution.
The "peace" cycle continued after the failed 1993 Oslo Accords with the handshake between Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO leader Yasser Arafat, the fruitless 2002 Saudi Peace Plan, through the already moribund Roadmap, sponsored by the Quartet, leading to the resurgence of the new peace plan, known as the Geneva Accord, initiated by a Middle Eastern group of public figures.
Will a non-government group accomplish what the government could not deliver? Is it time to "recall" the Israeli and Arab-Palestinian governments?
The fact is that this unofficial peace plan is not accepted by the Israeli and Palestinian governments. On the one hand, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon does not recognize the plan. Moreover, Israel’s Vice Premier Ehud Olmert consider the Israeli negotiators as an "irresponsible bunch." Politically speaking, the difference stems mostly from ideological position, as the negotiators are mostly composed of the opposition (dovish) and some centrists, while the current right-wing Likud government has a harder line.
According to the plan, Israel would keep sovereignty over parts of the Western Wall, which contains Jewish Temple remains, Judaism's holiest site. On the other hand, it is doubtful that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat will accept this plan, since he claims the entire Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian state. Nevertheless, the plan gives Palestinians control over the al-Aqsa mosque compound, considered as Islam’s third-holiest place.
There are two problems. First, is that Jews also revere the compound as the Temple Mount and as the place of their Temple. Second, Har Homa, a Jewish neighborhood in Arab eastern Jerusalem, will need to be evacuated and controlled by Arab-Palestinians. In other words, if Israel consents to the division of the Temple Mount, it will automatically accept the division of Jerusalem, its eternal capital, which so far they have opposed. Will Israel consent to this?
The plan proposes to give Arab-Palestinians 98 percent of Judea and Samaria (West Bank), all of the Gaza Strip, and the Arab-populated areas of Jerusalem. Yet, just as the Roadmap, this Geneva Accord seems destined to fail for not addressing the immediate eradication of terrorism. The point should be to immediately cut financial and diplomatic support for terrorists, especially within the Arab states. Let us remember that Hezbollah and Hamas did not accept the Roadmap, and continue to pursue the destruction of Israel. Will they accept this Geneva Accord, now or ever? Or perhaps is it time for a divine intervention to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict?
Since its creation, the Roadmap was destined to fail, because it did not eliminate the two main roots of the problem. First, the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority, umbrella of the terrorist groups of al-Aksa Martyrs Brigade, an offshoot of al-Fatah, Tanzim, and holding Yasser Arafat accountable for sponsoring terrorism (as evidenced in the forgotten H.R. 4693 bill, known as the "Arafat Accountability Act"). Second, is the immediate eradication of all other terrorist infrastructures, such as Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, Hamas, etc. without negotiations. Unless these two steps are taken, the world will sit in the front row to observe the never-ending movie of "The Arab-Israeli conflict".
Now, let us take a look at the main points of this new "unofficial Peace Plan", scheduled to be signed in Europe next month. Prominent Israelis and Palestinians proposed the plan. The leaders of the two delegations, former Israeli Justice Minister Yossi Beilin and Palestinian minister Yasser Abed Rabbo, met in Egypt while briefing Osama el-Baz, a top adviser to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The plan proposes a Palestinian state and the possibility of dividing Jerusalem with a bulletproof glass wall. The problem is that it clearly resolves neither the "Jerusalem question" nor the "refugee (right of return) question." The bottom line is that with no clear standings and a concrete timeline, this peace plan is also destined to fail. Mark my words.
Historically, Jerusalem has been Israel's capital for 3,000 years, while it has never been the capital of any Arab state. Mathematically speaking, Islam came into existence in the 7th century, which is nearly 2,000 years after Jerusalem became the Israeli capital. Jerusalem’s relevance for Islam is their claim that it is one of their three holiest sites, focused on the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aksa mosque. Yet, the Dome was constructed over the ruins of the Jewish Temple. Moreover, the argument that the al-Aksa mosque in Jerusalem is mentioned in the Koran is invalid, because the current al-Aksa mosque was built in the 7th century by Caliph al-Walid, after the Koran was written.
The question is how can Jerusalem be divided with a bulletproof glass? The estimated population is about 600,000 (about two-thirds Jewish and one-third Palestinian). How is the plan expected to divide the city peacefully? Reportedly, ultimately, there would be no barriers, only markers, to indicate to pedestrians whether they are in an Israeli or Palestinian area. Supposedly, the plan follows what was naively proposed by President Clinton in 2000: Israel controlling Jewish neighborhoods, while Arab-Palestinians control Arab neighborhoods. If this agreement was not accepted then by Yasser Arafat, there is little chance he will accept it now. Will Israel agree to it?
The issue of the refugees and the right of return is also unclear. It provides only a series of options based on individual cases, but not a concrete measure. The plan suggests that refugees either could settle in Palestine, Israel (with Israeli agreement) or third countries, or receive compensation while staying where they are. If this is accepted, then Arab-Palestinians will give up their ideal of having a unitary Palestinian State. There is also a question as to whether the Israeli government will accept any of the refugees.
The plan suggests that Israel will withdraw from 98 percent of Judea and Samaria (West Bank), compensating Arab-Palestinians with land in the Negev Desert for holding the remaining two percent and adding less than 20 settlements from Judea and Samaria. Israel will completely withdraw from the Gaza Strip and all settlements there will be dismantled.
The question is whether this now open peace plan, which was conceived after two years of secret negotiations, can deliver the much-touted peace. The facts remain the same. Unless immediate action is taken to eradicate the terrorist infrastructures and hold countries supporting terrorism accountable, stop the double-game of the Palestinian Authority, and put a stop to continued teachings in Arab-Palestinian schools against Israel’s right to exist, this peace plan will lead nowhere but to increased homicide bombings and more futile peace negotiations.
This Geneva Initiative is dead from what I've heard, but it may jack up the Roadmap. They need to keep Slick Willie out of this.
These folks are not.
Brad's Gramma d14truth dalereed dutchess EdReform Fiddlstix Freedom'sWorthIt Gabz glock rocks Grampa Dave Great Dane JeanS John Robinson JustAmy justshe lodwick MinuteGal Mo1 RottiBiz SheLion steveegg Tami WIMom
X42 and Islam go hand-in-hand: "Moreover, the argument that the al-Aksa mosque in Jerusalem is mentioned in the Koran is invalid, because the current al-Aksa mosque was built in the 7th century by Caliph al-Walid, after the Koran was written." Facts never stopped X42 either.
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