It’s back ladies and gentlemen. The latest installment in the Israeli-Palestinian peace- process-charades is upon us once again. US Secretary of State John Kerry was back in the Middle East last month trying to re-start talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis for the fourth time since being sworn-in in early 2013. While most of the world is yawning in boredom at this latest attempt to bring both parties to the negotiation table, Kerry and the Obama administration are stubbornly insisting that talks resume as soon as possible. What they fail to realize however, is that we are further away from a peace deal than we have ever been, and if peace were to happen, it will not come from the Americans. Here is why.
The two-state solution is dead. Let’s face it. What might have seemed as a good idea in the early 90’s, is no longer an option. The blunt reality is that as long as the Israeli government is building illegal settlements, peace is impossible.
Just two weeks ago, the Netanyahu government snubbed the Americans once again, when they announced that they were taking steps to approve four new illegal settlement outposts in the West Bank, just days before Kerry met with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. Unsurprisingly, right after Kerry left the region and Israeli President Shimon Peres spoke passionately about a “window of opportunity” for peace at the World Economic Forum in Jordan, Israel’s Housing Minister gave the green light for the illegal construction of settlements in occupied East Jerusalem.
During his speech, Peres said that he knows from experience “how difficult these decisions are to make, on both sides.” Yes Mr. Peres. Both parties do need to compromise. But the onus falls on the Israelis to make the biggest share of concessions because they are the occupying power, and they are consistently illegally annexing Palestinian land.
Netanyahu and fellow critics of President Mahmoud Abbas call him foolish for insisting that settlement construction and expansion stop before the Palestinians return to the negotiation table. But the truth of the matter is he doesn’t have much of a choice. How can you negotiate for something that is slowly being taken away from you as you are talking about it? It is like if two people are discussing how to divide a chocolate cake but one of the parties is eating the cake as they are talking about how to split it. By the time they are done talking, there won’t be much cake left to divide.
If Kerry wants to negotiate peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians he must acknowledge this reality, however awkward and uncomfortable it is. Wishing the settlement issue to go away is not a solution. The Americans must insist that Israel put a freeze on the construction of illegal settlements. Anything less than that just won’t do.
The Palestinian leadership is also coming around to the idea that the two-state solution is no longer feasible. On May 15, about 30 of the most prominent Fatah officials signed a statement endorsing the one-state solution and launching a “Popular Movement for One Democratic State in Historic Palestine.”
Israelis are understandably not fond of the One-State idea; as such a solution will kill their Zionist dream of a Jewish-only state. But they are principally at fault for the fact that this is the only solution left.
Illegal settlement construction has significantly and systematically increased since the signing of the Oslo accords (20 years ago this September), and Israel has continued to introduce discriminatory laws that help enforce their occupation of Palestine territory. Not to mention their continuing violation of international law and their long list of human rights abuses towards the Palestinians.
All what Kerry has proved so far is that the solution to this protracted conflict cannot come from the US. The Americans have already lost credibility in the region, and cannot be taken as a serious peace broker. Their understanding of the conflict is also fundamentally flawed, especially if they think that they can bribe the Palestinians into signing another peace deal by investing $4 billion to stimulate the Palestinian economy of the West Bank and Gaza. While this could be great news for Palestinian state-building, it will certainly not lead to peace. Such an approach is not sustainable nor will it address the fundamental issues that must be discussed for a lasting peace deal to be achieved.
Obama and Kerry clearly want to mark history by brokering peace; but another photo-op Oslo-style will do no good. Actually it will certainly be disastrous for the future of both nations.
Kerry’s latest trip to the Middle East will probably not be his last this year. But if all parties involved do not change their approach to demonstrate concretely their seriousness about peace, then Secretary of State John Kerry is not only wasting his time, but that of everyone else involved as well.
Eldaly writes: “Yes Mr. Peres. Both parties do need to compromise. ”
No. They don’t. And that is one of the most false narratives of the whole Israel-Palestine farce: the Palestinians are OCCUPIED. The Israelis are the OCCUPIERS. Since when do the two sit down with each other?
Occupations end when the occupier decides it’s simply not worth it, is unsustainable (France in Algeria) or when the world community, through sanctions, demands the occupation end.
For as long as Israel has the US Congress in its back pocket the occupation stays. And EVERYONE pays the price.
Shereen should admit that Kerry is not THAT bad: it did not take much time to reveal that Kerry has no source of sparks or potions that could revive the zombie of the Peace Process, hence while Kerry wasted time of many, he did not do it for long.
Kerry has already been to Israel, what–5 times? And is shortly going again. And he can’t figure out yet the cake cutting and eating analogy? The most often drawn analogy is to a pizza pie–and it’s been around for ages now. If there’s one thing that’s been consistent it’s Israel pretending to want to cut the cake or pie–while it eats it. It’s made a bad joke of America. A real peace process might be a go if a real neutral broker was involved, say a leader from Iceland. There he or she is, hovering over the peace table. On one sits Israel and the USA, and on the other, the rest of the World.
Bibi got right up there and demanded action, holding up his cartoon drawing of a fused Iranian bomb, and pointing to his red line for enrichment percentage. Wish Obama would hold up a cartoon drawing of that pizza pie (or cake), or rather what’s left of it as Israel gobbles it, all the while pretending to negotiate with the Palestinian on the other side of the table. Maybe a slide show or video would be even better, with an analog clock’s hands running on the wall over the years of the “peace process.” Show it on prime time TV America. Obama can explain why he’s cutting off aid to Israel until it gets serious about peace.
Free hotels. Good food. Own plane.
Stupid electorate: here and there.
Israelis do not understand words –
They understand s-300s, stoppage of ‘Israeli aid'(kickbacks from AIPAC-elected politicians) and ICC rulings
More s300s, stoppage of aid, and ICC – LESS KERRY