On March 3, 2010, the Arab Peace Initiative Follow-Up Committee, made up of Arab foreign ministers, approved the renewal of indirect Palestinian-Israeli negotiations for a period of four months only. Following this decision, 'Abd Al-Rahman Al-Rashed, Al-Arabiya director-general and former editor of the London daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, wrote an op-ed for the paper in which he criticized the Palestinian custom of obtaining Arab permission to negotiate with Israel, which dates back to the era of Yasser Arafat.
In his op-ed, Al-Rashed stated that the current international support gives the Palestinians the best possible opportunity to establish their state, and added that both Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud 'Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have to deal with opposition at home, but that right now Abbas must focus solely on Palestinian interests.
Following are excerpts from the article:[1]
"Why [is Permission Necessary] when We are Talking about Indirect Negotiations?"
"Anyone who saw the steam rising up as Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al-Mu'allem and Arab League Secretary-General ['Amr Moussa] argued at the Arab foreign ministers' meeting realized that [they were discussing] a vital issue. Dr. 'Amr Moussa wanted the Arab ministers to authorize the Palestinian Authority to conduct indirect negotiations with Israel, while the Syrian minister opposed this, saying that the [foreign] ministers' conference, and the ministers [themselves], had nothing to do with it, [since] it is a [strictly] Palestinian matter.
"Actually, though, to judge by [past experience, Al-Mu'allem] is right, since dozens [of rounds] of direct Palestinian-Israeli negotiations have already taken place without anyone's permission – so why [is permission necessary] when we are talking about indirect negotiations?
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"The truth is that a year ago, the PA made the grave mistake of declaring publicly that it would negotiate with Israel [only] if the latter froze [construction] in the settlements. The American administration agreed with this, [but] was unable to [bring about] an absolute freeze. The setting of this condition played into the hands of the extremist Israelis, who don't want negotiations. The enthusiastic U.S. President Barack Obama failed; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu breathed a sigh of relief; the negotiations stopped, and the [construction in] the settlements continued.
"...The PA sought to cover itself for backing down [from its decision not to negotiate prior to a construction freeze]; [therefore,] it asked the Arab League for permission to do so, and even insisted that the Americans sit with it in the negotiating room. Thus it obtained two things: it would not negotiate without the approval of the Arab countries, and it would not negotiate directly."
"We know that the Political Situation with which the PA is Dealing is Difficult, but Nevertheless the PA Must Keep in Mind that All Negotiations Demand Concessions"
"The search for Arab cover is a Palestinian custom [that goes back to] the days of the late president Yasser Arafat. He learned this after the assassination of the late Egyptian president Anwar Al-Sadat, who was killed for actualizing his rights as president of a sovereign country. Even though in the 2000 negotiations with Barak and Clinton, Arafat obtained most of his demands, he changed his mind at the last minute, because all the major Arab countries feared giving him cover, and told him, 'Go negotiate by yourself!' Arafat preferred missing [the opportunity] of establishing a Palestinian state to risking [assassination].
"The Arab ministers, who should be thanked, gave hasty cover to President Mahmoud 'Abbas. 'Amr Moussa even mumbled... 'This is the last time there will be negotiations.' We know that the political situation with which the PA is dealing is difficult, but nevertheless, the PA must keep in mind that all negotiations demand concessions..."
"Political and Leadership [Considerations] Require the Palestinian President to Ignore what a Few Arabs and Palestinians Say, and to Think Only of Serving His People"
"Afterwards, [the PA] will have to face an angry public, and hostile Arab elements that will incite against it. Israel's prime minister will face the same, when the sector of extremist Jews will oppose the reconciliation and incite against him. The assassination of Yitzhak Rabin still lives in the Israeli consciousness. However, political and leadership [considerations] require the Palestinian president to ignore what a few Arabs and Palestinians say, and to think only of serving his people.
"The burden on President 'Abbas's shoulders is weighty indeed. As the leader, he is obliged to act according to what he thinks [serves] the Palestinian interest – and if he does not, he should step down. President 'Abbas has the best possible opportunity, one that has not presented itself... since Jimmy Carter was president.
"[Abbas'] situation is difficult – but it is better than that of his predecessor, President Arafat. Obama has committed to sponsoring negotiations that will not last longer than two years and at the end of which a Palestinian state will be declared. The Europeans have committed to declaring a Palestinian state from the dais of the [U.N.] Security Council if Israel thwarts a peaceful solution."
Endnote:
[1] Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), March 6, 2010.
