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Sinking Peace: Leaked Documents Said to Show Decline of Middle East Talks

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The Guardian and Al Jazeera served the world a fresh batch of leaked documents Sunday, with the material spanning a decade in the Israel-Palestine peace process. The picture is nothing if not depressing; the story is one of desperation, humiliation and dead-ends.

The explosive news is the great concessions allegedly made by the Palestinians to the Israelis in round after round of talks. (The New York Times reports that State Department officials will not vouch for the documents' authenticity.) Palestinian negotiators appear to have offered to allow Israel to annex all but one of the East Jerusalem settlements, a point of contention between Israelis and Palestinians for decades. Even the ever-unresolved question of a Palestinian Right of Return -- that is, the right of Palestinian refugees driven, forced or scared out of Israel in 1948 to return to their ancestral homeland -- appears, on the Palestinian side, to have been wobbly at best. The offer, apparently, was for a tiny number of returnees -- a thin veil, in other words, to save face for negotiators, but otherwise a complete caving-in on the issue. Other major concessions included a proposal for a joint-committee to control the Temple Mount in the old city of Jerusalem. Finally it seems there were back-room conversations between Israelis and Palestinians around Gaza. And most of these concessions were made two years ago, a desperate effort, well before this last process, to end this hundred-years war.

The appearance of this huge release of papers, which encompasses the bulk of the last decade of negotiations on the seemingly intractable issue of peace in the region, could not come at a worse time. After tremendous build-up and fanfare, and a joint State Department and White House launch this September, the peace process is at a standstill. Israel refused to extend a moratorium on settlement building and the Palestinians, to save face, refused to return to the table. The Obama administration is scrambling now to restart talks. It will be much more difficult in light of this material.

The Guardian calls the first impression of Palestinian negotiators in these leaks -- namely Saeb Erekat, who has been working on the peace process since the Madrid conference of 1991 -- as "weak" and "desperate." In a conversation with the U.S. envoy George Mitchell -- sent last spring to conduct back-room conversations -- Palestinian senior negotiator Erekat is said to have cried out: "Nineteen years of promises and you haven't made up your minds what you want to do with us. . . . We delivered on our road map obligations. Even Yuval Diskin [director of Israel's internal security service, Shabak] raises his hat on security. But no, they can't even give a six-month freeze to give me a figleaf." Blasting the United States for caring only about "PR" and "quick news," he added, "What good am I if I'm the joke of my wife, if I'm so weak?"

On Al Jazeera, as reported by the Israeli daily Haaretz, Erekat's quiet and personal frustration was revealed even more. The negotiator complained that he couldn't get his calls returned by the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. And that even small niceties, like acknowledging the holidays each religion observed, were overlooked. "I called Uzi Arad before Passover and arranged a call from Abbas to Netanyahu to congratulate him," Erekat said to U.S. diplomat David Hale. "I got nothing. Come Ramadan, the feast, nothing. I called them to meet from the beginning, they kept canceling. This is Netanyahu."

Hale was apparently pushing Erekat to restart negotiations. This was in the time period just before the 10-month moratorium on settlement building had begun. Erekat is angered that the United States won't be clearer on its position. And he believes the Israelis aren't sure partners in peace.

"Israelis want the two-state solution but they don't trust," Erekat told Hale. "They want it more than you think, sometimes more than Palestinians." Then he mentions a position paper that explicitly sets out the Palestinian Authority's red lines.

"What is in that paper gives them the biggest Jerusalem in Jewish history, symbolic number of refugees return, demilitarized state. . . . What more can I give?" Erekat said.

The publication of these papers may be intended to embarrass the United States, or Israel, but in actuality, it is not so much "news" to those who have been following the years of front- and back-room deals for years as a very public declaration in a region that trades on quiet talk. It will more than likely be a blow to Palestinian leaders who have conceded more than they would like the public to know. The publication will surely be another blow to what is terribly weakened, if not dead, process.
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sunenrain

If it is ever reached, the current and any other artificial “peace agreement” will be illegitimate before it is ever signed because (1) all people living in Palestine regardless of religion, race, origin, etc. (hereinafter “All People of Palestine”) were never given a choice on how they want their land to be governed, and (2) all contracts signed under duress are null and void.
The biggest problem in Palestine is that the Zionist regime never offered a choice to All People of Palestine on how they want to govern their land because the Zionist regime cannot exist as a democratic entity. If there was ever any democratic process in Palestine, Zionists would have been outvoted and the Zionist regime would have never existed. That is why the Zionist regime is the occupier because it does not offer choice (i.e. democracy), but instead imposes its regime (i.e. occupies). Imagine if Russians would simply occupy a town in the U.S. where they are in significant numbers and attempt to create a Russian state there without giving the rest of the Americans living there a choice. Imagine then if they would try to institute a “peace agreement” that would attempt to legitimize their occupation. The “peace agreement” would logically and legally be illegitimate because the Americans were not given a choice.

Under all countries’ laws, any contract is null and void if it is signed under duress. The current Palestine “peace agreement” process reminds me of The Godfather movie where the mafia boss (i.e. the Zionist regime) made a guy “an offer he could not refuse” by placing a gun (i.e. Zionist conventional and nuclear arsenal) to his head and making him sign the contract. Like the mafia boss’ offer, any “peace agreement” other than the choice for All People of Palestine is a crime, and the contract is legally null and void.

The bottom line is that All People of Palestine never wanted to divide their land into artificial two states the way the occupation and this “peace agreement” attempt to divide it. From the beginning of the Zionist regime to its unavoidable end, All People of Palestine and the region never wanted the Zionist regime and they do not want it even more after all the atrocities the Zionist regime committed. I just cannot believe how the Zionist regime can be so ignorant to think that this or any other “peace agreement” that does not allow people to choose how they want to be governed will last and ensure its people’s survival. The Zionist regime fails to realize that no matter if it succeeds in muscling this “peace agreement” by unspeakable historic coercion tens of millions of moral people around the world will oppose it until it is corrected, and until justice and free choice prevail. Also, ever increasing number of Jewish people are realizing that Zionism is becoming a destructive force for them and are leading the global resistance to it.

March 22 2011 at 9:18 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
thomsonck

Why would Zionists want to discuss any peace agreement with the Palestinians when they have overwhelming military supremacy, seemingly ultimate power, and apparently bright future? Because the future is completely opposite and Zionists know it.

1. All military powers in history with no exception ultimately came crashing down. Someone stronger always comes, and it does not take a rocket scientist to see (just look around you) this coming and not ending well for the current military power in Palestine. Forward-seeing Jewish people under the Zionist regime already started packing up and leaving for Australia, South America, and the U.S. before this occurs.

2. It is obvious that the Zionist regime survives mainly because of its external allies who so far provided it with money, weapons, political support, access to markets, etc. After countless U.N. human rights violations, killing of its allies’ citizens (search on youtube for American “Rachel Corrie” video of Zionist bulldozer crushing her to death), forging of its allies’ passports in acts of murder, etc. its former allies are increasingly turning against the Zionist regime. Who would want to be remembered in history as an accomplice in international murders and especially of their own citizens.

3. Not only that the list of remaining supporters is growing thinner, but an international coalition is formed and growing larger of countries that are cutting all economic and diplomatic relations with the Zionist regime.

4. No country ever survived a complete isolation from its neighbors. No person of the area currently under Zionist occupation can obtain any type of visa from any of the surrounding countries for any reason – a complete land lock.

5. Well attended speeches take place almost weekly at colleges and universities across the U.S. and the world condemning the Zionist regime, their remaining supporters, and companies that do any business there. These speeches are often lead by moral Jewish people, church leaders, business people, etc., in addition to traditional peace activists.

6. The West where most of the traditional supporters of the Zionist regime are located is loosing global influence. China, the Middle East, South East Asia, Russia, South America, etc. are emerging as new pockets of economic and political power where the Zionist regime has angered most of the population.

7. Not only that the West is declining, but Zionists are loosing political control in the declining West. Diversity is bringing minority groups into politics, groups that are actively opposing the Zionist regime.
In conclusion, the Zionist regime is negotiating now because its future is changing for much worse. It knows that it temporarily exists now only through the force of its arms and this will be short-lived. It knows that it is at its peak and a downturn has come. It is a mistake to negotiate with the Zionist regime at the present time. But, if you have to negotiate, do not accept anything less than a single region in question (single state) where all who live there are equal. Any other “solution” would just reward the Zionist regime at the time of its demise. If the Zionist regime wants true piece, let’s not make it dependent on Zionist political and land acquisition goals, but on democratic vote for all who live there and making everyone equal (something we Americans cherish so passionately).

March 22 2011 at 9:02 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
donniebarl

The only solution for a lasting piece is absolute democratic process (that we Americans cherish so passionately) for the entire territory in question, otherwise, the peace will not last. All people who lived there without regard to religion, race, etc. should vote on how they would like their one country to be run. I favor one state solution because two states would only attempt to “legalize” Zionist occupation that will be remembered in history until it is corrected by future large scale conflicts, so no lasting peace will result.

The only issue with the fair democratic process is what to do with all manipulated Jewish people who the Zionist regime imported for decades to increase the Jewish population from around 100,000 to over 5 Million since the start of the occupation. This is obviously an attempt to unjustly manipulate any future democratic process by forcefully increasing the occupier’s population at the expense of others. Any compromise other than the absolute fair democratic process with no manipulated population will be temporary with terrible conflicts looming to correct it in the future.

The truth is that the Zionist regime will not accept any democratic process even if the manipulated Jewish population is included because it cannot exist as a democratic country as Zionists will be outvoted by all others who live there (Zionists were in an infinite minority before the occupation). The Zionist regime can only temporarily exist through the force of its arms as a one people country where only select ones can vote and where different laws apply to different people.

The world must stand up against the Zionist regime by cutting all diplomatic and economic relations with it. Many countries have already stopped all relations with the Zionist regime and others are in the process of doing the same. We Americans need to completely distance ourselves from this oppressive regime through urging our state representatives and senators to do what the rest of the world is doing.

March 22 2011 at 8:37 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
basilalwadi

Leaked documents: who was serious about a deal to end the conflict?
Disclosure of Palestine Papers rebut Israeli claims that there is 'no partner for peace'

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/view-from-jerusalem-with-harriet-sherwood/2011/jan/24/palestine-papers-palestinian-territories?CMP=twt_gu

January 24 2011 at 2:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ilenedan2

I hope both sides, including Hamas in Gaza, will return to negotiating. The author's personal slant is evident when he says that the Palestinians to save face had to back out of the peace process. What was keeping them from it before then when Israel returned Gaza to them, or when Israel under President Clinton offered to return the occupied territories including part of Jerusalem and Arafat rejected it? Polls over and over have shown the majority of Israelis, including Arab Israelis, are pro-peace, and want a two state solution, but the majority of Palestinians just want Jewish Israelis dead and gone. At this point, most Israelis were born there. Most Palestinians were not. After Israel returned Gaza, Palestinians in Gaza rewarded them by voting Hamas into power, a terrorist organization which officially states they do not recognize Israel's right to exist, want it destroyed, and will not negotiate. I think the deal under Clinton should have been taken by the Palestinians, but frankly, would they then be launching rockets from inside Jerusalem instead of in Gaza or would there actually be peace? As for the settlers, they are radicals, and they had to be moved by the Israeli army, when Israel returned Gaza. They can be moved again IF there can be a genuine peace process. Not one that involves Israel giving back land and getting more rocket fire in return, closer to home. Think about it. If Japan were still firing bombs into the US, do you think the US would have withdrawn from Japan and let them have at it? What if it weren't Japan, halfway around the world, but instead was Canada firing into Maine and every citizen in Maine actually had built bunkers and routinely had to leave his/her home or work and run into them at a moment's notice, not knowing if their children at school had all made it in on time? I'm guessing we'd be planting a US flag in Toronto right now.

January 24 2011 at 11:48 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
racquetguy1

It's tough to get past that they want all the Jews dead. Where do you go from there?

January 24 2011 at 10:27 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
longanman

Any simpleton with a rudimentary understanding of history knows we are losing the war in Afghanistan. We failed to capitalize on the early success there and instead went into Iraq at the direction of Israel. AIPAC saw a chance to manipulate America into doing its bidding. We had a chance to destroy the Taliban and catch Bin Laden but instead focused on Iraq in a needless and illegal war. The idiots in the White House do not understand, too win in Afghanistan you need to understand where the center of gravity is, it is not in Kabul it is in the Afghan people. Too win the war there you have to win the hearts of the people something we didn't understand in Viet Nam. You cannot win the people’s hearts if you cannot provide security for them, which we are not. That is why we won't win the war there, just like we didn't win the war in Viet Nam. The plain truth is we didn’t catch Bin Laden because they did not want to catch him. If they had of killed him in Tora Bora the war on terror would have been over and then Israel would not have been able to use America to take out Sadam.

January 24 2011 at 10:19 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
longanman

1. Undeniable facts were, no WMD, no connection to 911, no benefit to America, and the people do not want us there. Washington and the media used lies and spin to manipulate the American people into the Iraq war. The war has cost over a trillion dallors and more than four thousand brave American soldiers lives, all for the benefit of others and at great expense to America. More than one hundred thousand Iraqi have died as a result of the war, and Iraqi infrastructure has been destroyed. America’s image has been soiled, caused by unspeakable acts committed in her name against prisoners at Abu Gharib.
The reason for the Iraq war, was a clumsy attempt to alter the geopolitical landscape of the middle east in favor of Israel. Because Sadamm supported the Palestinians, this made Iraq a strategic enemy of Israel. They reasoned if they could install a Government in Iraq friendly toward Israel that this would help isolate the Palestinian people causing them to give up all hope of ever getting their land back. This war is just a continuation of the Middle East Conflict, where America has been manipulated into doing the bidding of a foreign government. Everyone in the world with the exception of the American people know this fact. Unfortunately Washington and the Media have kept the American people befuddled and confused with lies and spin as to the real reason for the war. The war was not for oil, was not for democracy, and was not because of terrorists, the war was to further the interest of a foreign country in the middle east. An attempt to solve the middle east conflict in Israeli favor by the force of American military might.
Now by anybody’s definition causing damage to ones own country to benefit another foreign country is treason. The magnitude of the damage done to America is almost incalculable, and this is an understatement. This trillion dollar war has collapsed the American economy. The politicians and the media that lead the American people into the Iraq war are guilty of the high crime of treason against America and her people. The children of our children will be made to pay for this war, which is the legacy that we leave them. Those responsible must be held accountable in a public forum to help restore the faith of the American people in their own Govt. We must be absolutely sure our interest will be held above all others, foreign and domestic..

Sharon bragged: I want to tell you something very clear, do not worry about American pressure on Israel, we, the Jewish people control America, and the Americans know it . (Emphasis added). (As reported on Kol Yisrael radio, October 3, 2001). Jews strongly influence U.S. Middle East policy).

January 24 2011 at 10:18 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
longanman

Just more lip service. Israel gets more aid from America than America gives to all the other countries in the world combined. Israel is a Apartheid regime that has enslaved thousands of Palestinians and has stole their land. It only exist because of this welfare extracted from the American taxpayers. This is a plain and simple fact.

January 24 2011 at 10:17 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
longanman

No matter how you cut it the Palestinians are called Palestinian because that is exactly where they come from and exactly what they are. They are not Jordanian, not Egyptian ,not Lebanese, not Saudi or any other nationality in the Middle East. They are a people that have been dispossessed and live in a Apartheid system in their own land. Forced to live as second or even third class citizens in the most harsh of conditions, this is plain fact. Apartheid is gone in South Africa but lives on and thrives in the West Bank and Gaza. The only reason this situation exist is because this Apartheid regime is supported by America. The support of this Apartheid regime is a cancer on the moral fiber of America. Nothing rings so true or stings so much as the truth

January 24 2011 at 10:16 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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