Dialogue or unilateralism?
Uzi Benziman in Haaretz (19/10) writes:
"On August 27, 2001, the Israel Defense Forces was faced with the opportunity to assassinate Abu Ali Mustafa, secretary general of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and it acted upon it. In response, members of the organization murdered minister Rehavam Ze'evi.On January 14, 2002, Israel liquidated Raed Karmi, a Tanzim leader in the Tul Karm area. Three days later, an Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades activist murdered six people at a bat mitzvah celebration in Hadera, thereby marking Fatah's adoption of the tactic of carrying out suicide attacks within Israel, previously employed only by Hamas and Islamic Jihad ... The assassinations of Abu Ali Mustafa and Raed Karmi taught, in hindsight, that the provocation inherent in these operations was a significant factor in the decisions by the Palestinian terror groups to respond to them harshly. The impression one gets from the military operations that the IDF has been conducting in the West Bank since the disengagement is that political considerations are not high on the agenda during the discussions on the operations. The arrogance reflected in them is an indication of military narrow-mindedness that fails to appropriately take into account the psyche of the enemy, and certainly not the needs of Abu Mazen, who is, allegedly, a partner and not a rival".
Benziman hits the nail on the head. Israel seems to be returning to the policies it adopted during the Intifada, forceful excessive responses to Palestinian terrorism without any significant diplomatic process with the PA. Only just before Succot in response to the terrible killing of 3 Israelis in the Gush Etzion area, Israel responded by closing all roads in the territories to private Palestinian cars. Haaretz reported today that for the first time in several months, Israel Defense Forces troops began restricting Palestinian traffic yesterday on the road linking Nablus and Hebron with Jerusalem. Is that really a proportionate response restricting Palestinian freedom of movement in the territories to such a degree?
At the diplomatic level, Israel is following the course of a unilateralist approach, treating the Palestinian Authority with contempt and condescension. No gestures such as release of Palestinian prisioners pre-Oslo is occurring and any relaxation of restrictions in the Territories is all but meagher. This is not the right approach. Israel needs to strengthen the PA. It needs to engage in dialogue with the PA treating them as equals and not as lords dictating the condition on the land. It needs to build trust and respond proportionately to terrorist attacks. The fact that the PA could be doing more is besides the point.
Sharon unfortunately has always been a unilateralist. He does not trust Arabs and his attitude to Abu Mazen is reflective of his deep seeded distrust of Arabs. Beyond that Sharon realises that Abu Mazen wants to move ahead to discuss the big issues - Jerusalem, refugees, borders and Sharon is simply not willing to make the kind of concessions that any Palestinian would agrees to. By contrast the unilateralist approach gives him leverage; and gives him the power to determine what concessions Israel ought to make. The construction of the fence and its eventual route, together with settlement construction in the so called "concensus" settlements are attempts to "create facts on the ground" are guiding Sharon's strategy.
I will say something unpopular. Israel needs to return to the Oslo model. The concept of Oslo was not a failure; its implementation was. There is no substitute for dialogue. Negotiation needs to continue as if there was no terrorism; and the fight against terrorism needs to occur irrespective of diplomacy (paraphrasing Rabin). The current narrow approach is likely to lead to more bloodshed. What needed now is boldness. Sharon's decision to disengage from Gaza was such a bold move and when all said is done; no national trauma eventuated. Gaza is all but forgotten now. Political will is needed and needed sooner rather then later.
"On August 27, 2001, the Israel Defense Forces was faced with the opportunity to assassinate Abu Ali Mustafa, secretary general of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and it acted upon it. In response, members of the organization murdered minister Rehavam Ze'evi.On January 14, 2002, Israel liquidated Raed Karmi, a Tanzim leader in the Tul Karm area. Three days later, an Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades activist murdered six people at a bat mitzvah celebration in Hadera, thereby marking Fatah's adoption of the tactic of carrying out suicide attacks within Israel, previously employed only by Hamas and Islamic Jihad ... The assassinations of Abu Ali Mustafa and Raed Karmi taught, in hindsight, that the provocation inherent in these operations was a significant factor in the decisions by the Palestinian terror groups to respond to them harshly. The impression one gets from the military operations that the IDF has been conducting in the West Bank since the disengagement is that political considerations are not high on the agenda during the discussions on the operations. The arrogance reflected in them is an indication of military narrow-mindedness that fails to appropriately take into account the psyche of the enemy, and certainly not the needs of Abu Mazen, who is, allegedly, a partner and not a rival".
Benziman hits the nail on the head. Israel seems to be returning to the policies it adopted during the Intifada, forceful excessive responses to Palestinian terrorism without any significant diplomatic process with the PA. Only just before Succot in response to the terrible killing of 3 Israelis in the Gush Etzion area, Israel responded by closing all roads in the territories to private Palestinian cars. Haaretz reported today that for the first time in several months, Israel Defense Forces troops began restricting Palestinian traffic yesterday on the road linking Nablus and Hebron with Jerusalem. Is that really a proportionate response restricting Palestinian freedom of movement in the territories to such a degree?
At the diplomatic level, Israel is following the course of a unilateralist approach, treating the Palestinian Authority with contempt and condescension. No gestures such as release of Palestinian prisioners pre-Oslo is occurring and any relaxation of restrictions in the Territories is all but meagher. This is not the right approach. Israel needs to strengthen the PA. It needs to engage in dialogue with the PA treating them as equals and not as lords dictating the condition on the land. It needs to build trust and respond proportionately to terrorist attacks. The fact that the PA could be doing more is besides the point.
Sharon unfortunately has always been a unilateralist. He does not trust Arabs and his attitude to Abu Mazen is reflective of his deep seeded distrust of Arabs. Beyond that Sharon realises that Abu Mazen wants to move ahead to discuss the big issues - Jerusalem, refugees, borders and Sharon is simply not willing to make the kind of concessions that any Palestinian would agrees to. By contrast the unilateralist approach gives him leverage; and gives him the power to determine what concessions Israel ought to make. The construction of the fence and its eventual route, together with settlement construction in the so called "concensus" settlements are attempts to "create facts on the ground" are guiding Sharon's strategy.
I will say something unpopular. Israel needs to return to the Oslo model. The concept of Oslo was not a failure; its implementation was. There is no substitute for dialogue. Negotiation needs to continue as if there was no terrorism; and the fight against terrorism needs to occur irrespective of diplomacy (paraphrasing Rabin). The current narrow approach is likely to lead to more bloodshed. What needed now is boldness. Sharon's decision to disengage from Gaza was such a bold move and when all said is done; no national trauma eventuated. Gaza is all but forgotten now. Political will is needed and needed sooner rather then later.
posted by SJ at 4:13 AM
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