Israel and Palestine Can Still Achieve Peace
This month marks 15 painful years since the Arafat-Rabin handshake on the White House lawn. Palestinian children who started school when the Oslo Agreement was signed in 1993 are now young adults. They have not known a day of true freedom or genuine security in their lives.
Oslo offered peace on a timetable, freedom doled out in stages. Its promise was derailed by increased Israeli settlement construction, restrictions on Palestinian movement and, correspondingly, by violent resistance to occupation from some Palestinians. The process begun by President George Bush in Annapolis last year offers another opportunity to reach a lasting peace. History will judge none of us kindly if we squander this opportunity.
I continue to believe that we can achieve a lasting peace, with the Israeli and Palestinian peoples living as neighbors in two independent states. But if we do not succeed, and succeed soon, the parameters of the debate are apt to shift dramatically. Israel's continued settlement expansion and land confiscation in the West Bank makes physical separation of our two peoples increasingly impossible. The number of Israeli settlers in the Palestinian West Bank grew by approximately 85% after the Oslo accords were signed.
We are impatient for our freedom. Yet partial peace, as proposed again by my current interlocutors, is not the way forward. Partial freedom is a contradiction in terms. Either a Palestinian lives free or continues to live under the yoke of Israeli military occupation.
We want our children to live with hope and the opportunity to realize their potential. Yet our daily reality worsens. We are walled into shrinking pockets of land, reminiscent of the Bantustans of South Africa. Increasingly, Israel confines us to separate and inferior roads.
Israeli leaders insist that Jerusalem not be physically divided. I agree. Although Jerusalem's sovereignty must be divided, the city itself can be shared as the capital of two states -- east for Palestine and west for Israel. While claiming to abhor dividing the city in half, Israel nonetheless splits the city through its complex of walls, tunnels and laws that segregate and discriminate between Muslim and Christian Palestinians and Israeli Jews. Israel continues to encircle the holy city with exclusively Jewish settlements that sever it from the rest of the occupied West Bank.
We acknowledge the hardships faced by our Israeli neighbors. No Israeli child should go to sleep at night in fear. The irony is that although Israel possesses the strongest military in the region, its might cannot guarantee security for its people. The lesson of the last 15 years is that only a just peace can bring true security to Israel and Palestine.
I have long believed that we must resolve our differences at the negotiating table rather than on the battlefield. But the goal of these negotiations must be a fair, comprehensive and clear agreement. The negotiations cannot be a cover allowing the stronger party to continue imposing its will.
Rather than a partial outcome, we seek an agreement resulting in two viable and sovereign states based on 1967 borders, including a Jerusalem that is the capital of two states and a just resolution that honors the rights of the Palestinian refugees.
What is often overlooked is the enormous historic compromise we already made in accepting the two-state solution and the creation of our state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip on only 22% of our historic homeland. No responsible leader could agree to a peace that further erodes this tiny territory and strips away even more of its natural resources, historic sites and beautiful landscapes. And no responsible leader will accept a "peace plan" that repackages the occupation and makes it permanent.
Israel says its goal is two states, coexisting in peace. Again, I agree. But those states must be real states -- sovereign, independent and viable. I cannot subject my people to an Israeli state and a Palestinian canton. Israel cannot have both control and peace. It cannot perpetually and illegally build settlements in the West Bank, particularly in East Jerusalem, and then argue it must keep that territory because of the existing facts on the ground.
During her most recent visit to the Holy Land, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice rightly noted that Israeli settlement activity is not helpful to the peace process. Israel itself recognized this by agreeing to implement Phase I of its Roadmap obligations at Annapolis -- in other words, a settlement freeze. Yet since Annapolis, the pace of Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank has nearly doubled.
Israel's occupation mindset must be exchanged for partnership and peace. And Hamas must come to the table, willing to discuss a true national dialogue based on the PLO political program. Palestinian national consensus and unity is a pressing need for our people who are thirsty for liberation. A critical Fatah conference should be held soon to allow a new generation to take charge of the Palestinian national movement.
I pledge my full cooperation in the days and months ahead. I am thankful for the efforts of the Bush administration to assist in brokering peace. I again extend my hand to the Israeli people, and I urge them and their leaders to make a choice that ensures a secure and prosperous future for both our peoples.
Mr. Abbas is chairman of the executive committee of the PLO and president of the Palestinian National Authority.
This post originally appeared in the Wall Street Journal.
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
I have no horse in this race and, quite honestly, am bored of having to hear about it all the time. But all the Palestinians have to do if they want peace is renounce terrorism and recognize Israel. It's really not that hard.
Yup. And the Israelis can stop building settlements in the Palestinian land , and we can finally get the two-state solution. Perfect. Hey you should be appointed Secetary of State for the next administration..
Hey Abbas, if your people want peace all they have to do is, like, renounce terrorism and recognize Israel. It's really not that hard. Try it some time, you might like it.
Mr. Abbas,
As chairman of the executive committee of the PLO, president of the Palestinian National Authority, I never thought I would get a chance to tell you that I would do anything for you to have your land back and for the horrible way your citizens have been treated to be ended. I pray for you and your people every day. If there is any justice, one day soon, the Palestinian people will be free in their own land once again. I was raised Jewish and I tell as many Jews as I can that they can not, in the name of religion and convenience, be so cruel and heartless to another people because of their religion. I am no longer proud of my Jewish heritage, I am ashamed of what Jews have done in Israel. I am so, so very, very sorry, every day, for the Palestinian suffering.
Thank you for writing. It is a priviledge to get this opportunity to tell you that you have friends all over the world who believe in peace and religious diversity.
peace be to you and your family,
J Schwarz
You say you were raised Jewish...are you Jewish NOW??? Or have you become a Muslim???
Israel says the land is theirs because God gave them the deed in the Torah (Bible, Old Testament). But lots of folks don't beleive the Old Testament. Even my Christian Catholic teachers told me the Old Testament was just folk-stories passed along by many generations of Jews. Of course, if I wanted primo land along the fertile Mediteranean coast, I'd include the deed in my Holy Book and then get the world to accept is as the Bible truth.
The only problem -- Jesus said, " The old Covenant is obsolete, it brought nothing but death and destruction." The New Covenant is, "Love one another as I have loved you."
"Either a Palestinian lives free or continues to live under the yoke of Israeli military occupation."
Hmmm...including women and Gay people? Where is there freedom in the Arab world for them?
This isn't about the Arab world, this is about the longest military occupation of our time and the systematic and ongoing ethnic and religious discrimination against the Palestinian people.
Women, children, gay and straight Palestinians are all collectively punished under the occupation. The international community is well aware of Israel's poor human rights record.
longest military occupation of our time?
For almost 20 years ( 1948-1967) West Bank and Gaza was militarily occupied by Jordan and Egypt.
Shhh, don't mention it. It's too embarrassing.
Jordan formally annexed East Jerusalem and the West Bank on April 24, 1950, forcing all resident Palestinians to become Jordanian citizenship.
Shhh, don't mention it. It's too embarrassing.
Jordan kept Palestinians in camps but made them forced citizens and annexed their lands and Jerusalem.
Ok, ok we won't talk about it... shhhh...
Jordan, although mandated by the UN to let Jews and Christians visit their holy sites, refused access to them.
Jordan systatically ethnically cleansed millenia old Jewish Quarter and destroyed many ancient synagogues.
Under Jordanian rule of East Jerusalem, all Israelis (irrespective of their religion) were forbidden from entering the Old City.
People that know the realities on the ground know that the two-state solution is no longer possible. The fact is that one state controls all of the land, and it has done so for over 40 years, affirming one people's right to live, marry, work and settle by negating another people's right to do the same, on land that two peoples " not just one " call home.
The situation we"re in now is a situation where there"s a country that rules over more or less equal populations of Jews and non-Jews, and it privileges Jews over non-Jews, it gives rights to Jews over non-Jews. An Apartheid. Because of the kind of aggressive colonization of the Occupied Territories, it"s no longer possible to separate the two populations, if it ever was.
With Israel building more settlements in the West Bank, and 20% of Israel's population being Palestinian, the only real solution is a binational one state solution. Churchs, mosques and synagogues are scattered in this state, and so should their respective faithfuls.
I don't think you and I know the same people on the ground. The people I know view the only solution to be a two-state solution. For example, the grassroots movement known as OneVoice states: "OneVoice does not have its own views on how a peace agreement should look – we are simply codifying the views of the masses, and building off of the groundwork laid by past agreements and proposals, which are accepted by the majority of Israelis & Palestinians as the basis for negotiating a two-state solution. The vast majority of Israelis and Palestinians, according to all major polls, agree that a two-state solution is the only way to end this conflict." But please, feel free to source your statistics.
As for your other points, it is not an apartheid in Israel and I think it's disrespectful for both the people who have suffered true apartheid as well as the very real sufferings of the Palestinian people. You bring up the settlements, as have many people, and it's a very real issue that should be addressed. Israel needs to stand up to its fringe minorities that pressure the gov't to allow settlements-they are a huge hindrance to the peace process. As is terrorism, which I see you didn't mention.
"People that know the realities on the ground know that the two-state solution is no longer possible. "
OK, so those people who "know realities" can now all move to Jordan or even better, Iran.
Good riddance.
For the most part I agree with you but one of the sticky problems is Hamas. I do not totally agree with Hamas but some of their points are very good and they have not been treated correctly. This problem needs to be addressed before any peace in your region will occur. The full legitimacy of your government is not there in that it is a US backed initiative and that is failure for you in the Middle East. You need to get away from the US government and all it represents and do your own work with your own people --all of them.
The conflict is going to continue as long as the U.S. is unwilling to assume the role of an unbiased and fair mediator in the peace process. Over the years, the U.S. has planted itself firmly on the side of Israel and as a result, has become rather impotent in the peace process- unable or unwilling to make Israel live up to her responsibilities under the road map. The Israelis and the Palestinians need a truly unbiased and supportive third-party partner who will take the peace process seriously and do whatever it takes to make the two sides live up to their responsibilities. Politically, it is a risk for a U.S. president to take a hard-line against Israel (particularly on the issue of land seizure and settlement development in E. Jeru and the West Bank), but it is an absolute necessity for a peace agreement. I'm not suggesting that the U.S. go easy on the Palestinians either- of course they will need to make some concessions as well along the road to peace, but I think a major stumbling block over these long years has been the U.S.'s lack of neutrality in the peace process. Of course, Sens Obama and McCain have already positioned themselves as pro-Israel (AIPAC) and I'm fearful that we will go another four years without any progress on the Middle East peace process. The Israelis and the Palestinians deserve a better partner in their quest for peace.
In order to get to the root of the problem of peace between Palestine and Isreal, we need to examine it's origin, deep in the mists of time. The conflict began, if I am not seriously mistaken, within the house of the Biblical prophet Abraham.
See http://www.youdebate.com/cgi-bin/scarecrow/topic.cgi?forum=4&topic=231
"Mists of time?" Bullcrap. It began in 1948 when we allowed Israel to form its own country by ethnic cleansing of the lands they desired via military force. Don't confuse a modern-day issue with this pseudo-historical mystical mumbo jumbo. We need to think of this in modern terms, not mythical ones.
Thank you chaos4700 (I can't get a comment approved on this topic)
The Israelies had their own country in that part of the world over 2,00 years ago, Jews lived there and it was home until they were thrown out and you claim they have no claim to it now. A Jew can dig up his back yard and be able to read the Hebrew language written on whatever is found that has Hebrew on it. That's more then we can say at least in this country about even this country 2,000 yrs ago. What you're really saying is Isael has no right to exist but you haven't the courage to say it. Blow it in the wind because she's there to stay.
If you have to resolve the problem that way and go back thousands of years the problem will never be solved. that's the problem with the Middle East--too much turmoil and blood based on centuries-old hatred. All parties need to adapt to ideas based on 21st century values.
That's right. The first war crime/ethnic cleansing was when Joshua (jewish) killed all the Cannanites (Palestinian) in Jericho (men women and children).
The silver lining of the current economical meltdown is less money for imperial manoeuvres, hence a better chance for peace in Palestine. Let's see how it affects the game once the Likud's funding is cut.
You're dreaming if you think the financial crisis will lead to a reduction in Likud funding. AIPAC will ensure they continue to receive the same or more money. This will be thanks to the US taxpayer and will be added onto America's already unprecedented amount of debt .
Sometimes the semantics used by the Pro Israel faction and the vast majority of uninformed American Citizens,is simply apalling! Why in hell the American Press Etc.continues to refer to Israelis ocupying Palestinian Land as "Settlers and Settlements"is simply beyond me.
These people are "Intruders"and occupiers!They most certainly are not settlers!They come from Europe and North America where they and their ancestors have held citizenship for uncounted generations.They bring with them skills and education from the land of their birth,along with wealth accumulated there.They move into homes erected,financed or even paid for by Zionists, on former Palestinian land.They suffer no hardships,and abuse the former residents beyond belief.
They continue to parrot the rhetoric of "Peace"when it is obvious they have no interest in any "peace"that does not include their total theft and domination of the area including the stolen Golan Heights.
Setlements,Peace,BAH HUMBUG!!!!!!
Sometimes the semantics used by the pro-America faction and the vast majority of uninformed European Citizens is simply apalling! Why in hell the European Press, etc. continues to refer to Europeans occupying Native American Land as "Settlers and Settlements" is simply beyond me.
These people are "Intruders" and occupiers! The most certainly are not settlers! They come from Europe where they and their ancestors have held citizenship for uncounted generations. They bring with them skills and education from the land of their birth, along with wealth accumulated there. They move into homes erected, financed or even paid for by other Europoeans, on former Native American tribal lands. They suffer no hardships, and abuse the native peoples beyond belief.
They continue to parrot the rhetoric of "Peace and Progress" when it is obvious they have no interest in any "peace" that does not include their total theft and domination of the entire continent.
Manifest Destiney, BAH HUMBUG!!!!!!!
Agreed. It's ironic, but the irony should not prevent any action in the present to ameliorate the injustice done to people living NOW.
rroy obviously never heard of Jesus. Jews have lived in the middle east for centuries. Using your anology, every Pole, every person of UK extraction, German, African, Latino etc--all of them should be sent back to their ancestral countries and leave just Native Amercians behind and that includes you rroy.
Thank you very much for posting my comments that Abbas will not like-buy Are true!!!
Just because your comments are posted, it doesn't necessarily mean they are true.
Yes. Unfortunately the Constitution allows freedom of speech for racists too.
Mr. Abbas...Israel WON the lands in question from Arab nations who went to war with Israel in attempts to wipe out the Jewish Homeland! Why should Israel give these lands BACK to the same people who want to use them to launch attacks on Israel again?? Why offer a "mulligan" or do-over here??? The truth is: The Arabs illegall occupy Israeli-won lands. When will you ask them to leave??? Since these are Israeli-won lands-there is nothing wrong with them building on them.....just like America did in our WEST and SOUTHWEST! Are dallas. Phoenix,L.A.,or san Diego "settlements",too???
Ummm, because it's unjust, and the wounds are still recent in this case?
Oh. So... should we give Europe back to Nazi Germany? According to your logic, they won it fair and square.
I think I see what you're trying to say, but your logic is flawed.
Nazi Germany lost, the same way Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan rightly lost land in multiple wars. While Germany did gain much land, they eventually lost all of it by the end of the war.
You make it sound like Palestine were the original aggressors. Israel was. There could have been a peaceful, negotiated start to the beginning of a modern Jewish homeland -- but since certain people considered it theirs to begin with, they decided to seize the land from the Palestinians. The Israelis figured these marginalized people didn't matter and would just disappear. The victim becomes the victimizer. Lesson from this: Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto You.
What are the Arabs offering in exchange for peace??? Other than words???
Abbas...where is "Palestine"?? I ask that of you because in the school books you give to little Arab children "Palestine" exists INSTEAD of where Israel is currently located!! Perhaps in your next blog, you MIGHT want to clarify that!
The territory of Palestine/Israel has been inhabited by both Arabs and Jews alike. It is not the exclusive domain of one over the other.
Agreed Eduardodelazul and Jerusalem should become an international city. That's the only way out of this.
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
