Just a few more ramblings on the "Road Map" to close out the week.
Ever since this proposal started circulating, it's had an odd smell to me. On the one hand, it bore the distinct odor of Oslo (and at this point, that's quite a stink). On the other hand, it was being promoted by a U.S. administration that seemed last summer to "get" that continued Israeli concessions, in the absence of concrete evidence of palestinian efforts to reign in terror, were counterproductive. If nothing else, Bush's June 24th speech seemed to acknowledge that the "peace process" could only continue if both sides demonstrated a willingness to reach an agreement. And it made clear exactly who Bush considered the obstacle. Hint: it wasn't Israel.
So what is it with this "Road Map?" I've suggested before that it may be just a ploy to keep our allies (both real and imaginary) off our back until the war is over. But that doesn't really ring true. Of course, the UN is pushing hard for it. So are the EU and Russia. The real stinker, though, is the vehemence with which the palestinians are pushing for it. Even if I didn't find its terms alarming in their own right, the fact that it's so darn attractive to one side of the conflict would be a flashing red light in my brain. Why is it that the "Quartet" doesn't seem to notice?
Here's just a sampling of comments made for public consumption by various palestinian officials over the past few weeks.
[Chief Palestinian negotiator and cabinet minister Sa'eb] Erekat stressed that "what is wanted from the United States is to find a real mechanism to carry out the roadmap, impose it on Israel with a timetable and international observers."
The [PLO] Executive Committee said the “roadmap” is not a subject of fresh negotiations but a formula that requires immediate implementation, including a stop to all forms of aggressive action, withdrawal from all territory occupied by Israel, and ceasing all settlement activities, in accordance with the Tenet Understandings and the UN Security Council Resolutions.
The “roadmap” to peace in the Middle East was put forward by the “Quartet” of mediators comprising the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations. It envisions a Palestinian state living side-by-side with Israel by 2005 and gives Israel Arab-wide recognition.
Implementing the “roadmap” should also include “applying the Mitchel Recommendations, lifting of siege, and terminating the policy of collective punishment, house demolitions and killing of thousands of civilians, as well as the detention of thousands of Palestinians amidst other war crimes,” the committee stressed.
I've quoted this one at some length to point out what the Executive Committee is sort of missing in its reading of the terms of the map. Like this stuff:
In the first phase, the Palestinians will start immediately implementing an unconditional halt of violence according to the specific steps as outlined below; Palestinians and Israelis will resume security cooperation on the basis of Tenet Plan to end the violence, terrorism and instigation through restructured and effective Palestinian security services; the PA will undertake a process of comprehensive political reform. . ..
Now, why is that? Perhaps because the Committee doesn't really see those things as necessary. Look at the language. The palestinians will "start immediately implementing. . .," "undertake a process. . .." Weasel words. Israel, on the other hand, will "withdraw from . . .," will "freeze all settlement activities . . .." The whole document follows a similar pattern. Concrete physical and territorial concessions made for "efforts," "processes" and "attempts" that may or may not succeed and, in fact, are not required to. Anyway, back to the rave reviews.
“Consequently, we call on the members of the Quartet and the American administration to apply as soon as possible the ‘roadmap’ setting the steps toward creating a Palestinian state by 2005,” Arafat’s media adviser Nabil Abu Rudaineh said.
And that is, after all, the big attraction. The creation of a palestinian state. After which, all bets are off.
Washington and London have come under fire by the Palestinian leadership for their decisive pressing ahead with the war on Iraq while constantly delaying publication of an internationally drafted “roadmap” to end the 30-month Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Palestinian chief negotiator and cabinet minister Sa’eb Erekat slammed the repeated delay.
“It seems the delay in the peace process is in marked contrast to the immediate and final decision for a war on Iraq. The decision for war was not delayed, but the decision for peace has been delayed six times in four months,” he said.
I confess, this one is sort of my favorite. For the hundredth time, I find myself wondering what planet Sa'eb Erekat lives on. One can only hope that the "Road Map" is introduced, if at all, with the same sense of "immediacy" as was the war against Saddam. That would mean, what, 2015?
[Palestinian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Nabil] Shaath stressed the Palestinian rejections to any amendment to the roadmap saying " if the American side agrees to consider these amendments, this means the end of the Roadmap." Shaath added "any Israeli amendments on the Roadmap would foil it and we are not ready to discuss any amendments."
They're so in love with this roadmap that any change to it whatsoever will mean "the end." Is the writing on the wall here, or what?
In the meantime, they're sending suicide bombers to Iraq to express their appreciation for the impending introduction of the roadmap by blowing up American and British soldiers. Maybe it's just me, but something definitely seems wrong with this picture.
Yes, ending the week on another sour note. Well, maybe not. This interesting item just popped up in my inbox.
Group pans selection of Phila. man for panel
By David O'Reilly
Inquirer Staff Writer
The White House yesterday announced that President Bush had nominated Daniel Pipes of Philadelphia, a controversial scholar of militant Islam, to the board of the U.S. Institute of Peace.
An American Muslim advocacy group that Pipes has called "Osama bin Laden's representatives in Washington" quickly denounced the appointment as "insensitive" and called on Bush to rescind it.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) yesterday described Pipes as "the nation's leading Islamophobe" and an advocate for Israeli interests.
On this Sabbath eve and at all times, let there be light.
Shabbat Shalom.
