Newsgroup: it.politica.internazionale
Titolo: The Palestinian refusal to negotiate peace

http://bit.ly/4HjB94
Behind the headlines: The Palestinian refusal to negotiate peace
4 Jan 2010
The consistent rejection by Palestinians of Israeli peace initiatives 
and its current refusal to negotiate leaves Israel questioning whether 
its neighbors are in fact committed to peace.
 
A commitment to peace has been a central goal of every Israeli 
government. While Israeli efforts aimed at attaining peace have resulted 
in the conclusion of peace treaties with both Egypt and Jordan, Israel's 
endeavors to achieve an equitable negotiated peace agreement with its 
Palestinian neighbors have been repeatedly rebuffed by the Palestinian 
leadership.
The most recent example of this enigmatic pattern of Palestinian 
behavior is the refusal by the Palestinians to even renew peace 
negotiations with the new Israeli government since the Israeli elections 
in early 2009.
The consistent rejection by Palestinians of Israeli peace initiatives 
and its current refusal to negotiate leaves Israel questioning whether 
its neighbors are in fact committed to peace.
Peace initiatives of the new Israeli government
(April 2009 - the present)
Since its inauguration in April of this year, the present Israeli 
Government has sought ways to re-engage the leadership of the 
Palestinian Authority (PA) in peace negotiations, which were 
unilaterally suspended by the Palestinians following Israeli elections.
1. Two states for two peoples
Israeli initiative
In a speech given at Bar-Ilan University on June 14, 2009, PM Netanyahu 
clearly stated his acceptance of a Palestinian nation-state, living 
alongside a Jewish nation-state, in peace and security. In his speech, 
the PM made clear that a Palestinian state would have to be 
demilitarized so as not to endanger Israel's security. The PM called for 
the PA to begin negotiations immediately and without conditions in order 
to realize the vision of two states for two peoples.
     International praise: World leaders praised this significant 
Israeli step.
         * The American administration welcomed the speech, calling it 
"an important step." (White House website, 14 Jun 2009)
         * Similar sentiment was expressed by Bernard Kouchner, French 
foreign minister (AFP, 15 Jun 2009).
     Palestinian rejection: Netanyahu's speech was rejected by the 
Palestinians.
         * Saeb Erekat, Senior Palestinian Negotiator stated that: "The 
peace process has been moving at the speed of a tortoise. Tonight, 
Netanyahu has flipped it over on its back."(Al-Jazeera TV, 14 Jun 2009)
         * Similarly, PA Spokesman Nabil Abu Rdainah, stated: 
"Netanyahu’s remarks have sabotaged all initiatives, paralysed all 
efforts being made." (Jerusalem Post, 14 Jun 2009)
         * Ahmed Bahar, acting chairman of the Palestinian Legislative 
Council, said that the speech proved that "'resistance' [i.e. terrorism] 
was the only way for Palestinians to receive the rights they deserved." 
(Al-Intiqad, 15 Jun 2009)
         * Following the speech, the sixth Fatah Conference, resolved to 
"totally reject recognition of Israel as a Jewish state", to "adopt all 
legitimate forms of struggle" against Israel, and "to be creative in 
finding new forms of struggle and resistance." (Fatah Political Program, 
al-Ayyam, 11 Aug 2009)
Despite these repeated rejections, PM Netanyahu has specifically 
reiterated his call for peace with the Palestinians several times since 
June. PM Netanyahu is yet to receive a positive response from the 
Palestinian Authority.
2. Israeli initiatives to improve the political climate vs. Palestinian 
delegitimization
Recognizing that calls for a Palestinian state are necessary, but not 
sufficient, for the realization of peace, extensive measures have been 
implemented by the current Israeli government in order to improve the 
political climate in the region, and to create facts on the ground which 
advance reconciliation.
The steps that Israel has taken include measures to enhance freedom of 
movement both within the West Bank, and between the West Bank and 
Israel. These moves not only improve the quality of life of Palestinian 
civilians, but also promote economic development. These measures have 
contributed to the impressive and encouraging World Bank statistics that 
show an 8% annual growth in the West Bank economy, and the projection by 
Quartet Representative Tony Blair in an interview with the New York 
Times of double digit annual rates of growth.
In addition, recognizing the ease with which terror activities can 
torpedo progress on the ground and in the negotiating room, and can 
result in increased security restrictions in Palestinian areas, Israel 
has taken steps to promote security cooperation with the Palestinians.
Although life in the West Bank has improved significantly as a result of 
these combined Israeli efforts, Palestinian leaders continue to pursue 
an international campaign to delegitimize Israel, hurt its economy, and 
undermine its ability to defend itself.
Israeli initiative
The measures taken by the Israeli government to enhance freedom of 
movement within the West Bank and between the West Bank and Israel include:
     * The removal of checkpoints and roadblocks: Israel has decreased 
the number of checkpoints from 41 to fourteen; twelve of which are 
manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to facilitate movement. In 
addition, as of August 2009, Israel removed 147 unmanned road blocks.
     * The extension of operating hours at crossing points between 
Israel and the West Bank, including the Allenby Bridge Border Crossing 
to Jordan; and
     * The upgrade of the Gilboa/Jalama crossing to allow for vehicles 
and not simply pedestrians to use the crossing. This has led to a 
significant increase in traffic, and retail activity.
In addition, in order to further ease restrictions, and still preclude, 
to the extent possible, disruptions of the peace process by terrorist 
elements, Israel has closely cooperated with the PA in building the 
capacity of the Palestinian civil security forces and in improving 
coordination between the Israeli and Palestinian security services.
For example since 2008 there has been intensive ongoing coordination IDF 
and the Palestinian Police Forces; and, Israel has worked closely with 
U.S. General Dayton and his team in their efforts to organize, train and 
upgrade the PA's National Security Forces battalions.
     Palestinian rejection
     Despite Israeli confidence building measures, the PA has 
orchestrated a campaign in international fora to delegitimize Israel and 
undermine its economy and security. For example, the PA is a driving 
force behind the establishment of the politically motivated Goldstone 
Mission by the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), and has led the campaign 
to implement its one-sided conclusions both in the HRC (16 Oct 2009), 
and the UNGA (5 Nov 2009), in order to delegitimize the actions taken by 
Israel to protect its citizens.
     Simultaneously, Palestinian groups are leading campaigns to arrest 
Israeli leaders abroad through the abuse of 'universal jurisdiction' 
clauses - the latest such incident being the arrest warrant issued in 
the UK (14 Dec 2009) against former FM Livni.
     Moreover, the PA is leading a political initiative aimed to foster 
support in the UN Security Council for the unilateral declaration of 
Palestinian statehood, thus allowing the Palestinians to both bypass 
negotiations and unilaterally dictate its position regarding future borders.
     A further international campaign involves introducing PA-sponsored 
resolutions condemning Israel at UN professional bodies such as the 
Commission on the Status of Women and the World Health Organization, 
where no other nation is singled out for criticism.
     The PA is also leading an international effort to boycott, divest 
and sanction Israel. Indeed, at the sixth Fatah Conference a platform 
was adopted calling "to boycott the Israeli products inside the 
territories and abroad through popular moves... and work to escalate an 
international campaign towards boycotting Israel and its products and 
its institutions." (Fatah Political Program, al-Ayyam, 11 Aug 2009)
3. Israeli restraint of settlement activity
Israeli initiative
On November 25, 2009, the Israeli government announced an unprecedented 
ten month moratorium on new residential housing construction in the West 
Bank, which PM Netanyahu described as a step "designed to encourage the 
resumption of peace talks" and as "an opportunity to move forward in the 
path of peace."
     International praise
         * The Israeli move was welcomed by the US. Secretary of State 
Hillary Clinton stated that the decision was a "helpful move toward 
resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,"(State Dept. website 25 Nov 
2009).
         * The US special envoy  for Mideast peace, former Senator 
George Mitchell, also welcomed the move, stating stated that "it is more 
than any Israeli government has done before and can help movement toward 
agreement between the parties," (State Dept. Website 25 Nov 2009)
         * Similar sentiment was expressed by France's Foreign Minister 
Bernard Kouchner, who welcomed the move and called it a "step in the 
right direction." (EJPress, 26 Nov 2009)
     Palestinian rejection
         * Palestinian spokesmen rejected the moratorium even before the 
official Israeli announcement (Fox News, 25 Nov 2009).
         * The Fatah Central Committee claimed that PM Netanyahu was 
trying to avoid peace, stated that the Israeli decision showed Netanyahu 
was: "continuing to avoid the peace process and ignore all opportunities 
to achieve peace," (Jerusalem Post, 26 Nov 2009)
Consistent Palestinian rejection of Israeli initiatives
The Palestinians rejections of PM Netanyahu's many initiatives in 
pursuit of peace are not unique: they are just the latest in a string of 
Palestinian rejections of Israeli peace initiatives in the past decade.
Israeli initiatives
Oslo (1993): The Oslo Accords constituted a series of interim 
agreements, intended to bring peace between Israel and her Palestinian 
neighbors.
     International praise
     US President Clinton referred to Oslo as "the peace of the brave" 
(BBC, September 13, 1993).
     Palestinian rejection
     The Palestinians fundamentally breached their obligations under the 
Oslo Accords, responding to the Israeli implementation of Oslo with a 
wave of suicide terrorism in Israel's cities.
Camp David: In 2000, at Camp David, then Israeli PM Ehud Barak offered 
PA Chairman Arafat a series of far-reaching Israeli concessions as part 
of a comprehensive peace offer. In exchange, Arafat was asked to put an 
end to the conflict.
     International praise
     Then U.S. President Bill Clinton described PM Barak's actions as 
"courageous".
     Palestinian rejection
     The Palestinians rejected the Israeli offer out-of-hand - no 
counter-offer was even made. In response to the Israeli offer of peace, 
the PA launched (Sept 2000) a pre-planned wave of violence, known as the 
Second Intifada, and  characterized by unprecedented terrorist attacks 
killing 1,184 Israelis.
Disengagement: The Israeli government, under PM Sharon advanced a plan 
to disengage Israeli forces and remove settlements from the Gaza Strip 
and northern Samaria. The plan was implemented in August 2005. Israel 
saw the disengagement as an initiative towards peace.
     International praise
         * US President Bush praised The Israeli people for their 
"courageous and painful step" and stated: "now that Israel has 
withdrawn, the way forward is clear. The Palestinians must show the 
world that they will fight terrorism and govern in a peaceful way." 
(Radio Address, August 27, 2005)
         * UK PM Tony Blar called the disengagement a "historic step," 
stating: "I would like to reiterate the British government's full 
support. I greatly admire the courage with which you have developed and 
implemented this policy. I believe you are right to see disengagement as 
an historic opportunity to pursue a better future for Israelis and 
Palestinians." (Letter from Blair to PM Sharon, August 16, 2005)
         * Similar praise emanated from the U.N., Turkey, Morocco, 
Italy, South Africa and Norway.
     Palestinian rejection
     Despite Israel's disengagement, Palestinians continued to fire 
rockets on Israel from the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, rather than using 
disengagement as an opportunity to achieve peace, the Palestinians 
elected the Iran-backed terrorist group Hamas to power. In June 2007, 
Hamas seized full control of the Gaza Strip in a violent coup.  Under 
Hamas, the constant barrage of rocket fire on Israel's southern 
communities increased dramatically with over 10,000 rockets and mortar 
shells fired at Israeli populated areas by Hamas and other terror groups.
2008: Israeli PM Ehud Olmert made PA President Abbas a sweeping and 
unprecedented peace offer.
     Palestinian rejection
     Abbas rejected the offers and explained to the Washington Post's 
Jackson Diehl that he had rejected Olmert's proposals because "the gaps 
were too wide," Abbas continued: " l will wait for Israel to freeze 
settlements…until then, in the West Bank we have a good reality…the 
people are living a normal life." (Washington Post, May 2009)
Conclusion
Israel has achieved negotiated peace agreements, which have turned 
previous avowed enemies, such as Jordan and Egypt, into peace partners. 
These agreements were made possible by the courageous leadership of 
Anwar Sadat and King Hussein, who prepared their people for peace, and 
made the compromises necessary to achieve peace at the negotiating 
table. The Palestinians, however, expect somehow to achieve peace, 
solely on their own terms, without even sitting down to talk.
Israel's current government has already demonstrated, in word and in 
deed, its commitment to advance peace and, like all Israeli governments 
in the past, is willing to make the compromises needed to reach that 
peace. Yet the Palestinians refuse to compromise or even to negotiate. 
It would be a tragedy if the Palestinian leadership once again choose 
the "all or nothing" approach and reject the possibility of forging an 
historic peace agreement.

 Behind the headlines: The Palestinian refusal to negotiate peace
questa è la storia della volontà di Israele di fare la pace coi
palestinesi non violenti:
http://groups.google.it/group/it.politica.internazionale/browse_thread/thread/e1dffa4a74fe4b15?hl=it#
poi quando quelli hanno smesso di porgere tutte e due le guance e pure
le chiappe i chiagnefotti strepitano di terrorismo...