Road Map Is No Solution Prof. Sattar Kassem 15/nov/2003 Some people started to think that the road map proposed by the United States provides a solution for the Arab-Israeli conflict probably due to mass media reports. The map actually does not talk about final or temporary solutions, rather it is an initiative for resuming the talks between Israelis and Palestinians. It envisages a final solution but through the process of negotiations. It should be mentioned first that formally the road map is the outcome of the joint effort of the US, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations, but actually it is the making of the US. Primarily, the road map is interested in halting the Palestinian Intifada, lifting the tough Israeli measures imposed on the occupied territories and going back to the negotiating table. It requires that the Palestinian Authority takes tangible steps against the Palestinian resisting factions atop of which is Hamas and Jihad Islami, to destroy the infrastructure of these groups, to outlaw them and imprison their members. In return, Israel takes comparable steps toward easing the tight measures it has been imposing. It is expected to remove the road checkpoints which cripple the movement of Palestinian from one population center to another, pull out its troops from the areas labeled “A”, the areas under the Palestinian jurisdiction and security supervision, and ease the difficult economic conditions of the Palestinians. The initiative requires the Palestinians first to install a prime minister who will carry out essential reforms particularly in the fields of finance and security. The Americans thought that Arafat was leaking some of the donors’ money to resisting brigades from his organization Fateh, and insisted that the a new minister of finance of their choice should be accredited. They chose Salam Fayyad. On the other hand, they demanded the unification of all branches of Palestinian security service under the leadership of what they called acceptable figure. So far, they haven’t been able to do that. The map is of three stages. In the first stage, Palestinians and Israelis exchange written commitments: The Palestinians commit themselves to Israeli security needs and pledge to dismantle Palestinian resistance factions; the Israelis commit themselves to the establishment of a Palestinian state a thing that the Americans consider as an important development. Both sides, Israel and Palestinian Authority make steps that enhance mutual trust. In the second stage, the plan reemphasizes Israel’s security needs, and in return, Israel moves toward the establishment of a Palestinian state with temporary borders and features of sovereignty. What does that mean? It is not exactly known. The plan does not identify exactly what is meant by independent Palestinian state, and doesn’t tell about the envisaged borders or the limits of sovereignty. But it is known that this state is going to be demilitarized, borderless with other Arab states, and observant of Israeli security needs. If the Palestinians carry out their obligations, the US will call for an international conference which will be attended by key states including Syria and Lebanon. The accords that the Israelis and the Palestinians could have reached will be ratified by the conference , the Palestinian state will emerge and the Arab Israeli conflict will come to an end. It is clear that the road map doesn’t envisage any solution for the conflict, and leaves the matter for the negotiations table. It doesn’t tackle with any of the major issues of differences between the two conflicting sides such as the settlements, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the land occupied in 1967, the security wall, the city of Jerusalem and the refugee problem. These major issues are complicated and generate paradoxical visions to the extent that makes peace very elusive. Instead of dealing with the heart of the problems, the Americans evaded and went for a negotiating table that collapsed. Apparently, the Americans think it is not ripe enough to present courageous ideas, but might be time to end the tension produced by the Intifada.
Posted on: Tue, 01 Oct 2013 17:15:54 +0000
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