Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad forthrightly brought his case for building a Palestinian state to Israeli political and military leaders, and they applauded. The new Palestinian attitude towards how to end the occupation that began in 1967 was on full display during Fayyad's speech at the Herzliya conference in Israel earlier this month, and it has had a considerable impact on its Israeli audience.
With reports that "proximity talks" between Israelis and Palestinians will begin soon, attention must be paid to Fayyad's remarks and their reception.
Fayyad did not hold back in presenting the Palestinian perspective to Israel's leaders. He firmly called for a settlement freeze, insisted that a Palestinian state must be fully sovereign and viable with East Jerusalem as its capital, and reasserted that the goal of the national movement is the creation of such a state living alongside Israel in peace and security. Although some Palestinians and Arabs criticized Fayyad for taking part in an Israeli conference on security, he received very strong support from many Palestinians based on the content of his remarks.
Standing on a record of performance and credibility, and cognizant of Israeli policy changes such as reaffirmed commitment to a two-state solution, reduction in checkpoints and security cooperation, Fayyad proposed in his speech the literal creation of a state in spite of the occupation, with the understanding that if such a state becomes an undeniable reality, formal recognition of its existence and an end to the occupation will be irresistible.
Fayyad thought he was going to a panel discussion and arrived at the conference without a prepared text. His extemporaneous comments reflected the systematic logic of serious policies meant to end the conflict and not talk about ending it.
Since last August when Fayyad's cabinet adopted a formal plan for building the institutions of a state, while under occupation, to end the occupation, he has been at the epicenter of a transformation within the Palestinian national movement. With the support of President Mahmoud Abbas and his cabinet colleagues, he has been re-orienting Palestinian energies towards a constructive governmental and social program aimed at laying the groundwork for establishing a state of Palestine.
Many Israelis seem uncertain how to react to this unanticipated development. The Israeli extreme right wing and settler movement have made their angry objections crystal clear, and denounced Israeli President Shimon Peres for comparing Fayyad to Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion.
The audience that Fayyad was really aiming at was the Israeli national security establishment that understands that a peace agreement with the Palestinians is a strategic imperative for Israel, but had not seen a credible way of achieving it. His approach provides a way for both peoples to exchange a vengeful, tribal clash for a new paradigm that respects each other's national rights and narratives.
Fayyad's message was loud and clear: We can and will build our state in preparation for ending the occupation, without asking for permission. Addressing criticisms that his program is unilateral, he insisted that it must be so, for if Palestinians do not build their own state, "who is going to do it for us?"
The Prime Minister cited numerous examples of what this means in practice, including more than 1,000 community development projects that have already been completed, the creation of the nucleus of a Palestinian central bank and the performance of the new Palestinian security services.
He, President Abbas and his cabinet colleagues have had the vision and courage to push the Palestinian national movement into a new phase that embraces the responsibilities of self-government as it continues to insist on the right of self-determination. In Herzliya, Israel was listening.
However, the Palestinians will not be able to fully realize this ambitious and potentially transformative program on their own. It will require a sustained global effort to provide the Palestinian Authority with the financial and technical support and the political protection that will be required for it to succeed. The Obama administration, the Quartet, Arab governments and the Israeli government have a state-building plan in Palestine. This is the time for them to act.
By turning their attention to establishing the administrative and infrastructural framework of such a state, responsible Palestinians are doing their part to build the infrastructure of peace. They are paving their own way for the people of the Middle East to live in peace with security and dignity for all.
Ziad Asali is President of the American Task Force on Palestine.
http://blixx.files.wordpress.com/2007/02/landloss.jpg
What do you propose happen to them? ....and don't say Egypt cause sorry they wont go for that on either side and should not have to.
maybe the 2 state option is for a islamic state in gaza and a secular one in the west bank.
i really dont have a solution , but if i where hamass i would not let go of gaza .
More talking points and propaganda - Get over yourself and look at the big picture.
As the saying goes
"If you are not part of the solution - you are part of the problem!"
Truth to tell, however, I think their proposals are a "front", and your views remain predominant.
Shame.
The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy charged that American foreign policy has been subordinated to Israeli interests and accused the pro-Israel lobby of responsibility for America's invasion of Iraq.
The most revealing part of the study was its contention that American foreign policy serves Israel's interest more often than US interests. The thrust of US policy in the region, the study contends, "derives almost entirely from domestic politics, and especially the activities of the 'Israel Lobby'. Other special-interest groups have managed to skew foreign policy, but no lobby has managed to divert it as far from what the national interest would suggest, while simultaneously convincing Americans that US interests and those of the other country in this case, Israel are essentially identical."
The study has also shown that since the October War in 1973, Washington has provided Israel with a level of support dwarfing that given to any other state in the world. "Israel has been the largest annual recipient of direct economic and military aid
For every "report" you can site there is one that takes the opposite view. Its whose doing the reporting, how were questions asked, how was data interpreted etc, etc and etc.
Its all talking points and propaganda and at this juncture UNIMPORTANT.
What is important is peace - people like you constantly beat a dead horse
Get over what was or what you perceive it to be - join the crowd that wants peace for both sides!
During the war on Lebanon, Israeli commentators argued that the war on Lebanon was fought by Israel on behalf of the US to destroy the military power of Hezbollah perceived by Washington as a tool of Iranian influence in the region.
Again, last week, several US newspapers reported that the key objective of the recent Israeli foreign minister's visit to Washington was to urge the Bush administration to launch pre-emptive strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities. Israel, according to the US media, sought to line up the Jewish lobby to help convince US President George W. Bush to abandon diplomacy and adopt the military option against Iran.
Trying to understand
For years, Arab analysts have been trying to understand US-Israeli relations and the role of the Jewish lobby in the making of US foreign policy towards the Middle East. Many have charged that Jewish lobbying groups, such as the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), control and dictate US policy towards the Arab world. This argument was often regarded by the mainstream US academia as mere fiction and that it lacked minimal academic standards
part 1
Palestinians also exceeded expectations of peaceful co existence in their communities in Jordan and Lebanon. Especially Lebanese are very fond of remembering their PLO visitors.
Kuwaitis are still fondly remembering the peaceful efforts by their Palestinian guests How heroically Palestinians defended their Kuwaiti hosts against Iraqi invaders. Indeed.
Not the crazies on the far-left or the wing nuts on the far right be they Arab or Jew.
Compromise and clear thinking usually prevail -
80% of mankind belong to the middle either somewhat left or right of center.
Unfortunately the fringe players usually have the loudest mouth -
With people like Fayyad and like leaders in Israel peace will happen.
I believe that Palistine and Israel will one day be business partners as each moves forward.
One other great thing that will come out of a peace accord the fringe will move into the background and the propaganda will cease - I can hardly wait.
" I believe that Palestine and Israel will one day be business partners as each moves forward".
why do we not take a step backward in time
........Iran was the largest trading partner with Israel in the early times. Iran was the first to recognize Israel. Iran had pipelines to take oil to Israel. AND THE DAY ISRAEL WENT NUCLEAR IT ALL ENDED.
i have no problem debating with you , but can you sourse this at all ?
nope your wrong ..israel went nuclear in the 1960s, and iran did not fall apart untill islam took over 1979 .
remember the iran hostage crises ?
so for 30 years after israel had nukes iran was still a friend of Israel and america of course that all ended in 1979.
but the people of iran have thought it over and have had enough of the mulahs , dont you support for the people of iran to be free?
AND THE DAY ISRAEL WENT NUCLEAR IT ALL ENDED.
where did you get that ?
Fayad should be supported by anyone interested in seeing a viable two state solution implemented.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammad’s involvement in the terror upon America, “By his own account…stemmed from his violent disagreement with U.S. foreign policy favoring Israel.”
Abdulmutallab’s Christmas Day 2009, attempt to blow up a plane was fueled by “his sympathies toward the Palestinians and anger over Israel’s actions in Gaza.”
"The only person you have to think twice about lying to is either yourself or to God."-Bob Dylan
MUCH MORE @
http://wearewideawake.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1590&Itemid=230