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.

Comments

[flyers]

There will never be peace between Palestine and Israel, simply because the Palestinians religion will never recognize Israel on the land they occupy. What people don't understand is that religion to many people is very black and white, and there is no grey area to it so people aren't going to change. Whether I agree with that assessment or not, it doesn't matter, but Evangelicals will always think being Gay is a sin, Palestinians will awful think of the Jews as the enemy, and that is just the way it is. Since Israel had built the wall, the number of terrorists attacks has declined, and that is all they can do. They are in a box in the middle surrounded by people who don't like them, that is why many Middle Easterners don't like Americans, because we support Israel. I know this post sounds negative, but it is realistic, and unfortunately when it comes to religion, people just don't change.

[Eduardodelazul411]

You could say the same skewed things of Judaism and Israel.

[joseco]

Palestinian Christians have continued to be marginalized in the past decade. The decreased influence of moderate voices, many of them Christian, has only contributed to the fanaticism and inability to negotiate in any serious way.

[chaos4700]

Flyers? You do know that some Palestinians are Christians, right? Are you saying that Christians are incapable of peace?

Not that I would argue against you actually, considering.

[courtb]

The same definitely applies the other way. Why do you think the peace process is so hindered on the Israeli side? The religious right is adamant about not giving any ground as it's giving away the holy land of historical Judea. The only way to find peace is to take the religion out of it completely, on both sides.

And what you're bringing up has more to do with Palestinian nationalism rather than Islam.

[Steamboater]

Better off if there was no religion at all. There wouldnt be anything to fight about.

[oncethere]

"Partial freedom is a contradiction in term" is exactly why, "in part," that Palestinians don't have their state. They would not accept the Partition Resolution in 1948 and have refused various other compromises over the years, including ones offered by Ehud Barak in the 1990's. Who gets everything they want?

There were some Jews who. I am told by my pro-Palestinian Jewish friend, who wanted all of Palestine for a Jewish state in the 1940's---but, thankfully, the leaders agreed to accept the decision of the UN to partition the country.

[Eduardodelazul411]

Many of those deals were denied because they were skewed in favor of Israel.

[BaltimoreSteve]

Obama should announce now that Bill Clinton will be appointed Special Envoy for the Israeli / Palestinian Settlement process.

[manitoumackinac]

I'm afraid this won't ever get dealt with until enough people educate themselves on what's going on in the world. The news is not reliable, it can't cover much material for many reasons. And when I say educate, I mean checking references and finding the rawest information available. Learning how the USA operates by examining what organizations shape public opinion. Who funds political ads and questioning the motivations. Seeing if there is any legitimacy to marginalized points of view. Putting everything in a reasonable context.

It takes real work, and understanding how much time is now spent working, I know few people who have time to do those things. So we are all screwed.

[MagisterLudi]

"The irony is that although Israel possesses the strongest military in the region, its might cannot guarantee security for its people."
If fact IDF CAN guarantee security for its people. In about a week. But Israeli leaders' humanity and high morals do not permit them to take measures required to achieve full security. Surely you, of all people clearly understand this point. In fact your entire governance and strategy is based on this point. Sigh, don't we all wish that Arafat was a bit more interested in peaceful negotiations. What an opportunity lost!!!

[Americatortures]

And we cannot guarantee security for Americans,either! Ludi...wha­t's your point??

[MagisterLudi]

Americator­t... I suggest a basic English comprehension course...

[Eduardodelazul411]

You can't really blame Arafat any less than you could blame Ariel Sharon and Likud.

[MagisterLudi]

Thank you Mr. Abbas for your participation in this forum. We all hope for peace. And you've done your share lately. But respectfully, only a leader who is capable and is authorized to speak for all Palestinians can guarantee the performance of a reached deal. You are asking for " total freedom" but yet you may, or may not, be able to deliver Palestinian compliance to any agreement. I hope you may, but it's quite a stretch. don't you think. Well, let's hope for the best. Salaam.

[epitome]

Im sick of all the money we give Israel, and we let them get away with way too much.The existance of Israel,saudi arabia,Bolivia, Kuwait, etc to me is not worth an american life or an american dollar.Isr­ael goes against the U.N. but when IRAQ does it Bush screams foul.

[Erdgeist]

Let's do the unthinkable, Israel and Palestine become one state. The economic boom would be awesome. Call upon the Dalai Lama to help in the process. He is the true honest broker. I know he would do it. He is well respected among both Muslims, Christians, and Jews.

[special muppet]

The idea of Israel is that it is a Jewish state, a safe haven for Jews where they can live free from the persecution that they have endured throughout history. If it absorbed all that territory and the Arab population, the Jewish population would become the minority, outvoted and back to square one.

The two state solution is the one that was agreed at the UN back in 1947 and that is the one that should be pursued. It's the only solution that has a chance of success.

However, it does seem that Israel is getting far too comfortable with the status quo, and too indifferent to the suffering of the Palestinians. There should be much more pressure coming from the international community to move forward with peace process. Carrots and sticks.

[MagisterLudi]

"it does seem that Israel is getting far too comfortable with the status quo, and too indifferent to the suffering of the Palestinia­ns."

Hmmm. I guess that's why Israelis negotiated to let in their wost enemy, Arafat and his entire support system, ( including Mr. Abbas) into territories. At the time that Arafat was down and out because of his support for Hussein. And built up a coherent Palestinian authority mechanism.­.. and funneled billions of dollars to Palestinians in taxes and began serious negotiations for peace... because they were getting comfortable with status quo.
Arafat could've continued to negotiate for peace. Clinton and Barak begged him to. He chose war as a means to get a better deal. To the shock of the world.
I am gald Mr. Abbas renounced this approach Or does he: "But if we do not succeed, and succeed soon, the parameters of the debate are apt to shift dramatical­ly."
And this means exactly?

[All in All]

Let's do the preferred unthinkable (by some), Israel and Palestine become one state.

True ever lasting Peace comes in a whole acceptance of what is.

Now as individual Muslim and Christian Palestinians and Israeli Jews they would all need too accept their on beliefs as their Own, and not force them onto Others, while agreeing too be judge By all others when a Universal rule is broken by any Person/s from any of those groups, plus allow the Punishment be set & given by the rule-breakers set Religious sect that He or She belongs too.

Something like that needs to be accepted first by all of the individuals within those lands.

Then with that part accepted & taken care of, they all would be able too Live freely amongst & around one-another in Peace, just like most rational People would do & do in that type of situation now of days, for the most. Even within Society's that have Universal-Laws there still are People whom break them, and believe that they shouldn't be punished or that their punishment is too harsh, however it's better that way then fighting & killing masses of People, I would think, but that's another Topic & Story.

[graphite]

How about freeing Gilad Shalit?

[orangepetal]

I hope they can and I hope they will.

[Rainman]

SHOW ME....

[SamuelBerry08]

I agree that Palestinian statehood is long overdue. If I were elected, I would recognize Palestine right away, even before its exact borders have been drawn.

The 1967 borders are a good starting point, but the parties might consider some modifications: (1) Jerusalem might possibly be placed under UN control, as Pope Jean Paul II suggested. (2) The Palestinian state might be more viable if there could be a corridor connecting the West Bank and Gaza. (3) In return for the corridor through Israeli, the Palestinians might cede some areas of the West Bank where Israeli settlements currently exist.

Of course further Israeli settlements are counterproductive, but, in drawing the borders of Palestine, one should not assume that return of areas to Palestinian control necessarily implies eviction of Israeli settlers.

Good luck to the parties.

[Swerinjer]

Please refrain from using the propaganda term "settler". the correct word is "occupier" or "colonist".

[MagisterLudi]

hmmm.. Swernijer.­... you're definitely a supporter of a peace agreement.­.. NOT.

[joseco]

Saudi Arabia and the Arab League voted unanimously a couple of years ago to start negotiation with the 1967 borders as a starting point... so it must be a reasonable idea!

[manthony1948]

Israel will not negotiate in good faith until the U.S. forces them to do so under the threat of losing the $3 billion in military aid we send them every year. And, of course, the politicians in the U.S. will not force Israel to do anything because of the unbelievable influence of AIPAC and other pro-Israel lobbying groups in this country. I think Barack Obama realizes, as have many others, that our blind support of Israel for the past 60 years has not been in our country's best interest and has been the genesis of Islamic terrorism. This is the reason his support among staunch supporters of Israel is somewhat so soft and is probably why he will not win Florida on November 4th. It's no secret that Joe Lieberman has been spending a lot of time in Florida pounding away at this theme and instilling fear in those voters. At this point, Israel is probably going to sit tight and wait to see who wins the U.S. elections. They know that, if the McCain/Palin ticket wins, there will be a continuation of the current disasterous policies driven by the Neocon influence in a John McCain administration. This is just one more reason it is so important that Barack Obama be elected as our next president.

[Americatortures]

When have the Arabs now known as "Paesetinians" EVER negotiated in good faith?? Don't think too long...the answer is ...NEVER! As Obama has supported Israel 100% of the time..your rationale is ...irratio­nal!!!

[nomoredead]

Bingo, mananthony1948, you understand exactly.

[queenmjd]

There will never be peace. Ridiculous.

[indyleftist]

I wish you all luck
But I don't think you are on the right path
You can't shut out the more right-wing factions of Palestinian politics and expect any peace deal you sign to stick. I fear that the reaction to the latest elections, which was to instigate a civil war inside of Palestine has only depended the tensions.

My advice to the Palestinians: If the suicide bombers had committed public suicide without also targeting civilians it would have made a more sincere and effective protest. If you kill others its not a noble protest but instead murder. If all the Palestinians suicide bombers had only killed themselves I think Palestine would have its own state right now

My advice to the Israelis: Stop expanding the settlements. There is no excuse for it, everyone in the world is against it and it is wrong. The more Israel slices up Palestine into swiss cheese the harder it will be to ever reach a settlement. And secondly, negotiate with everyone, Hamas got 33% of the vote, nothing you sign has meaning unless they are part of the group that signed it

[Swerinjer]

"Palestinians" suicide bombers? With an s? I presume that is a typo. But in any case you're wrong; no matter what the Palestinians did Israel would have NEVER let them breathe freedom. The blame is on Israel 100%.

[indyleftist]

Yes, Obviously it was a typo

Well, you are entitled to your opinion, But I still think I'm right
I think most people in the world have seen the pictures of Thích Quảng Đức burning himself alive in protest, and that picture has changed the world

A guy blowing up a school is a very unsympathetic figure

[MadxAsxHell]

I guess you didn't even read Mahmoud Abbas's article and statement. I guess you know better than the Palestinians' President. Maybe you think he's really a Jew in disguise?

There are 23 Arab Moslem states, yet somehow one Jewish state is an affront. You want an Arab Moslem state where nothing else is allowed? Move to Saudi Arabia or Sudan! They are far more intolerant and racist than Israel can even IMAGINE being.