Peace Talks: What's There Left to Talk About?

By: Ramzy Baroud·

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Just a few days after the Zionist Knesset passed a draft, submitted by the Likud ruling party, stating that the occupied West Bank and the Gaza strip are not occupied territories, the P.A. announced that any Palestinian organization that continues armed struggle  against the Zionist enemy is working against the interests of the Palestinian people!!!

 "The "Jewish state" still thinks of its relationships with the Palestinians and its Arab neighbors in terms of victory and defeat."

"One can hardly deny that the Palestinian Authority's past submissions to such a mentality is one of the reasons that made “Israe”l even more malicious in its expectations regarding the Palestinians."

Not even the Road Map for peace and the admission by American President Bush and top U.S. officials that a Palestinian statehood is imperative, are enough to snap “Israel” out of its fantasy world. The Zionist Knesset ratified late Tuesday, July 14, a draft legislation, claiming the West Bank and Gaza Strip were not territories occupied by “Israel”. The legislation, referring to the territories as "Yehuda and Samaria" suggests that the West Bank and Gaza are therefore, part of the "Greater Israel".

And this is not the interesting part yet. The draft was submitted by the Likud Party, a presumed "peace partner" with the Palestinian leadership, appointed to ensure honest, flawless implementation for the Road Map peace initiative, brokered by the United States.

The draft went even further, by affirming what “Israel” calls its red lines that must not be crossed in any future peace settlements. These tabooed red lines dash the essence of every thing for which the Palestinian people have aspired, including the Right of Return, East Jerusalem, control over their natural resources and more.

The draft, in fact, represents the foundation of “Israel's” reading of a peaceful settlement in the region: give us every thing we ask for, expect nothing in return, and don't you dare revolt in protest.

What is stranger than all of this, is that “Israel”, despite the unmistaken indications of its raggedness and defiance, is able to promote itself in the United States and elsewhere as a peace partner, who is keenly eager to cease the bloodshed and restore peace talks with the Palestinians.

“Israel” insists on dealing with the matter from two angles, one religious and the other militaristic.

“Israel's” version of reality views itself as a modern state established on twisted interpretations of biblical promises, and a methodology that can hardly be supported in a civilized, diverse world.

Secondly, the "Jewish state" still thinks of its relationships with the Palestinians and its Arab neighbors in terms of victory and defeat.

According to a recent poll, published by the Zionist Hebrew daily, Yodeoth Ahronoth, a minority of Zionists find their country the victorious one in the Palestinian uprising. Nonetheless, Palestinians are expected to negotiate based on the arrogant principal of "take it or leave it " politics.

If “Israel's” Ariel Sharon bothered to re-examine the failed peace talks between former Prime Minister Ehud Barak and President Yasser Arafat, he would have realized that such arrogant peace proposals simply don't work.

Zionists are still bewildered as to why Palestinians reject “Israel's” vision for peace in the Middle East, while defiantly failing to offer them any thing meaningful that's worth considering. So consumed by their need for security, the fulfillment of biblical promises and keeping the race pure, many Israelis have paid little attention to what Palestinians seek in a peaceful future. In Israel's interpretation of peace, as clearly indicated by repeated statements made by the Israeli government and a quick examination of Israeli's red lines, Palestinians are simply irrelevant.

For example, both Israelis and Palestinians are expected to implement confidence-building measures, before diving into the much more complicated, diligent matters.

But one can confidently argue that “Israel” has done very little to foster trust with the Palestinians. Let alone the obvious violations of the Road Map by the Israeli army on the ground, top Israeli officials including Sharon himself have instructed the government to continue with the construction of illegal settlements in the Occupied Territories.

As scores of Palestinian mothers are holding weekly vigils in Gaza City, while carrying framed pictures of their beloved sons and daughters, still imprisoned in Zionist jails, Zionist  Minister of Infrastructure Avigdor Lieberman delivered a message to them.

According to AFP, Lieberman commented on the prisoners issue saying: "It would be better to drown these prisoners in the Dead Sea if possible, since that's the lowest point in the world." How about that for a confidence-building measure?

As if these indications are not enough to reflect “Israel's” real intentions, the Zionist Knesset insisted by adding more fuel to the fire, declaring the West Bank and Gaza "unoccupied areas".

The draft was approved into law, by a majority of 26 lawmakers, including 17 Likud members, crowned by the vote of Sharon's son, Omri.

While the new bill ended the debate on what “Israel” is willing or not willing to "concede", by reaffirming its illegal ownership of the Occupied Territories, the self-absorbed Zionist parliament didn't fail to remind Palestinians of "their duties" toward Israel. .

According to the new law, dismantling the infrastructure of "Palestinian terrorism" and the cessation of anti-Israeli rhetoric remain preconditions for Israel's return to the negotiation table.

But what's the point of returning to this pathetic table if there is nothing left for Palestinians to talk about?

“Israel” has changed little of its old ways. "It's my way or the highway" peace mentality is at work again.

One can hardly deny that the Palestinian Authority's past submissions to such a mentality is one of the reasons that made Israel even more malicious in its expectations regarding the Palestinians.

But what matters the most, today, is the fact that Palestinians must insist on an alternative framework, a frame of reference that adheres to international law, not to biblical law.

To achieve a lasting peace, the Palestinian leadership must not submit under any circumstances to “Israel's” brutal style of negotiations under fire, siege and endless threats.

The PA must in fact strengthen its ties with various Palestinian groups, not as a clever tactic that could lead to their disintegration, but because these resilient segments of the Palestinian society constitute the PA's only strategic depth.

Needless to say, Palestinians must provide even a clearer agenda, prior to any involvement in any future talks, than that provided by Israel.

If the Palestinian leadership doesn't display resolve, clarity and consistency, Israel's deceitful tactics of violating the rules of peace and blaming Palestinians for them shall remain the vicious cycle engulfing the Middle East for many years to come.