Experts are all over TV talking about threats to the American oil habit, and how much oil Gaddafi gobbled for himself, and Tom Friedman was issuing pieties about oil on CNN last night… Well, I remembered a beautiful line from the Palestine Papers at Al Jazeera, when Abu Alaa, the former Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, says that “Jerusalem is our petrol.”
No one has underlined this point, but it is beautiful because it is about world civilization, it is about internationalism and trade, and it is imaginative. For it reminds you that the cordoned Jerusalem that now exists is destroying not just Palestinian neighborhoods and freedoms, it is a muzzle on the world’s soul. And imagine how Jews and Muslims and Christians would all be better off if Jerusalem were open and democratic.
Here’s the exchange. Notice that Tzipi Lvini is in there, and her aide Tal Becker, and Saeb Erekat, formerly of the PA, too. They are arguing about settlements and population swaps (in an exchange made famous by the plans of transferring Palestinians to Palestine and Jews to Israel). Note that all the imagination is on the Palestinian side. Note that Saeb Erekat dares to dream of a democratic state with two peoples getting along. Note that Abu Ala says that the Palestinians will only accept the presence in the West Bank of the huge Jewish settlement, Maale Adunim, “by power,” but Livni arrogantly says you must accept it “under agreement.” Note that she won’t freeze settlements in Jerusalem. And consider too that her offers were touted by the New York Times as fair.
AA: * I want you to really think about the blocs of settlements. [Explains the impact of the settlement blocs around Jerusalem.] * Jerusalem is our petrol. We expect 100,000s of pilgrims to come from the East. With the belt [of settlements], the pilgrims will not come.
TL/TB: * You make the belt we dont make it!
AA: * We cannot accept this belt of settlements under any circumstances. We need the belt to be open.
TL: * Maale Adumim will be there.
AA: * Ok by power you can keep it.
TL: * No, by agreement.
SE: * Have you thought seriously about Jews becoming Palestinian citizens? Or is it just out of the question? Have you asked your team for 50 year projections? Have they thought about it?
TL: * Truly? No.
SE: * You are not willing?
TB: * In previous meetings you though about the security aspects.
TL: * Yes, the lynchings [i.e. the risk that they will happen post-agreement]. But do you really think that this is possible?
SE: * Yes. [Notes the long term positive impact of such integration.] Think of all of the anti-discrimination laws we will have. It doesnt cost you anything to think about it. [TL and SE debate if the conflict is one of sectarian clashes or national movements.]
TL: * Can you think about quality in terms of places that are not exact places around the Gaza Strip?
… AA: * When will you freeze settlement activity? This will kill us. You want to help Hamas on our account?
TL: * There is an AM-OLM [Abu Mazen-Ehud Olmert] meeting. You can raise it.
AA: * They will freeze it?
TL: * No but you can raise it. All these leaders come speak in the Knesset and raise it. [Because they go see you before they see us.] We cant freeze in parts of Jerusalem
