24 june 2018
US president Donald Trump’s senior adviser, Jared Kushne,r in an interview with Al-Quds Palestinian newspaper, said that his country will go on with a Middle East peace plan which has not been announced yet, whether Abbas agrees to participate in it or not.
Kushner questioned Abbas’s ability to make a deal, as the Palestinian Authority (PA) is boycotting the US administration for its moves, which included declaring Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
“If President Abbas is willing to come back to the table, we are ready to engage; if he is not, we will likely air the plan publicly,” Kushner said, according to an English-language transcript released in Washington.
“However, I do question how much President Abbas has the ability to, or is willing to, lean into finishing a deal. He has his talking points which have not changed in the last 25 years,” Kushner said.
Commenting on the interview, Nabil Abu Rdainah, a spokesman for Abbas, said: “The road to peace is clear – commitment to the two-state solution, a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital. This is the road to any negotiations or any meetings.”
Kushner and US Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt, visited Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt before talks on Friday and Saturday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said Arab leaders conveyed they wanted to see a Palestinian state.
Erekat: Kushner represents a policy of dictation
In response, senior PLO member, Dr. Saeb Erekat said Kushner’s interview again illustrates the US refusal to talk substance, to mention Palestinian rights or a Palestinian state.
“This is an attempt to push forward a plan that consolidates Israel’s colonial control over Palestinian land and lives while telling the Palestinian people that money will compensate for our inalienable rights. Plain and simple: Palestine and Palestinian rights are not for sale,” Erekat said in a statement, according to the PNN.“Kushner represents a policy of dictation rather than negotiations”, he added. “It is the Trump Administration has walked away from the negotiations, from international law and UN resolutions.”
Erekat added that the PA has continuously heard the same from the Israeli government that believes that there will be a better economic situation by pulverizing the political rights of the people of Palestine. Therefore, Kushner’s interview only confirms what we have heard from every international envoy we have met with, that there’s nothing of substance coming from the Trump Administration.
He added that it is outrageous to accept such blatant disregard of international law to be replaced with business packages to resolve the struggle of a people striving for their freedom.
“The aids of the current US Administration, including Jared Kushner, have heard it clear from our fellow Arab leaders that the core of the solution should be grounded on ending Israel’s occupation of Palestine and the establishment of a sovereign and the independent State of Palestine on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. Certainly, the end of Israel’s occupation and the fulfillment of our political rights is a matter of consensus among all Palestinians that are united on the vision and will to live in freedom,” Erekat concluded.
Kushner questioned Abbas’s ability to make a deal, as the Palestinian Authority (PA) is boycotting the US administration for its moves, which included declaring Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
“If President Abbas is willing to come back to the table, we are ready to engage; if he is not, we will likely air the plan publicly,” Kushner said, according to an English-language transcript released in Washington.
“However, I do question how much President Abbas has the ability to, or is willing to, lean into finishing a deal. He has his talking points which have not changed in the last 25 years,” Kushner said.
Commenting on the interview, Nabil Abu Rdainah, a spokesman for Abbas, said: “The road to peace is clear – commitment to the two-state solution, a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital. This is the road to any negotiations or any meetings.”
Kushner and US Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt, visited Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt before talks on Friday and Saturday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said Arab leaders conveyed they wanted to see a Palestinian state.
Erekat: Kushner represents a policy of dictation
In response, senior PLO member, Dr. Saeb Erekat said Kushner’s interview again illustrates the US refusal to talk substance, to mention Palestinian rights or a Palestinian state.
“This is an attempt to push forward a plan that consolidates Israel’s colonial control over Palestinian land and lives while telling the Palestinian people that money will compensate for our inalienable rights. Plain and simple: Palestine and Palestinian rights are not for sale,” Erekat said in a statement, according to the PNN.“Kushner represents a policy of dictation rather than negotiations”, he added. “It is the Trump Administration has walked away from the negotiations, from international law and UN resolutions.”
Erekat added that the PA has continuously heard the same from the Israeli government that believes that there will be a better economic situation by pulverizing the political rights of the people of Palestine. Therefore, Kushner’s interview only confirms what we have heard from every international envoy we have met with, that there’s nothing of substance coming from the Trump Administration.
He added that it is outrageous to accept such blatant disregard of international law to be replaced with business packages to resolve the struggle of a people striving for their freedom.
“The aids of the current US Administration, including Jared Kushner, have heard it clear from our fellow Arab leaders that the core of the solution should be grounded on ending Israel’s occupation of Palestine and the establishment of a sovereign and the independent State of Palestine on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. Certainly, the end of Israel’s occupation and the fulfillment of our political rights is a matter of consensus among all Palestinians that are united on the vision and will to live in freedom,” Erekat concluded.
Israel he has started consulting with leaders of some regional countries regarding a plan to build a railway linking the Saudi capital, Riyadh, with Haifa in Israel, as part of the deal of the century (peace plan) that the US seeks to force the Palestinians to accept.
According to The Times of Israel newspaper, Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu and his transportation minister Israel Katz agreed this week to begin promoting what they called their “Tracks for Regional Peace” initiative that will create a trade route connecting Europe with the Arab Gulf and Israel.
“Tracks for Regional Peace” is based on the planned extension of railway tracks in northern Israel, which would link Haifa’s seaport to Jordan’s rail network, which in turn will be linked with that of Saudi Arabia and other Sunni Arab states.
The plan, which may be secretly backed by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, is allegedly aimed at creating a regional transportation system to enhance trade relations and promote peaceful coexistence between Gulf states and Israel.
Introduced in a new video released by Netanyahu and Katz’s offices, the initiative will see the eastward extension of the Haifa-Beit She’an rail line to the Jordanian border and will also include a stop in Jenin, connecting the Palestinians to the broader plan.
Goods would be shipped from Europe to Haifa, allowing them to bypass civil war-torn Syria.
“There are two central components at the heart of this initiative,” Katz explained when revealing the plan for the first time in April 2017. “Israel as a land bridge between Europe and the Mediterranean and Jordan; and Jordan as a regional transportation hub, which will be connected to a railroad system to Israel and the Mediterranean in the West; to Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states and Iraq in the East and southeast; and to the Red Sea, through Aqaba and Eilat, in the south.”
“Beyond its contribution to Israel’s economy, the Jordanian and the Palestinian economies, the initiative will connect Israel economically and politically to the region and will consolidate the pragmatic camp in the region,” he claimed.
The existing transportation infrastructure in Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf will allow for the application of the initiative in a relatively short amount of time, the video said.
The initiative is said to also offer shorter, cheaper, and safer trade routes in light of regional instability threatening passageways through the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf and the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea.
In a meeting this week, Katz and Netanyahu reached an agreement regarding the details of the initiative, with the latter instructing his office to begin advancing the plan in consultations with the US, European Union, and various countries in the Middle East and Asia.
According to The Times of Israel newspaper, Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu and his transportation minister Israel Katz agreed this week to begin promoting what they called their “Tracks for Regional Peace” initiative that will create a trade route connecting Europe with the Arab Gulf and Israel.
“Tracks for Regional Peace” is based on the planned extension of railway tracks in northern Israel, which would link Haifa’s seaport to Jordan’s rail network, which in turn will be linked with that of Saudi Arabia and other Sunni Arab states.
The plan, which may be secretly backed by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, is allegedly aimed at creating a regional transportation system to enhance trade relations and promote peaceful coexistence between Gulf states and Israel.
Introduced in a new video released by Netanyahu and Katz’s offices, the initiative will see the eastward extension of the Haifa-Beit She’an rail line to the Jordanian border and will also include a stop in Jenin, connecting the Palestinians to the broader plan.
Goods would be shipped from Europe to Haifa, allowing them to bypass civil war-torn Syria.
“There are two central components at the heart of this initiative,” Katz explained when revealing the plan for the first time in April 2017. “Israel as a land bridge between Europe and the Mediterranean and Jordan; and Jordan as a regional transportation hub, which will be connected to a railroad system to Israel and the Mediterranean in the West; to Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states and Iraq in the East and southeast; and to the Red Sea, through Aqaba and Eilat, in the south.”
“Beyond its contribution to Israel’s economy, the Jordanian and the Palestinian economies, the initiative will connect Israel economically and politically to the region and will consolidate the pragmatic camp in the region,” he claimed.
The existing transportation infrastructure in Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf will allow for the application of the initiative in a relatively short amount of time, the video said.
The initiative is said to also offer shorter, cheaper, and safer trade routes in light of regional instability threatening passageways through the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf and the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea.
In a meeting this week, Katz and Netanyahu reached an agreement regarding the details of the initiative, with the latter instructing his office to begin advancing the plan in consultations with the US, European Union, and various countries in the Middle East and Asia.
21 june 2018
King Abdullah of Jordan stated, Thursday, that there can be no peace or stability in the region without establishing an independent Palestinian State, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living in peace and stability next to Israel.
The Jordanian Monarch stated, during a meeting in Amman with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict remains the core issue in the region, and added that Germany, along with the European Union, have an important role in boosting the efforts to achieve peace and the two-state solution.
“Germany is a leading country among the world, and we are looking for a great role by Berlin, and the European Union, in supporting all peace efforts in the Middle East,” King Abdullah said, “Jordan will also continue its role in protecting the Islamic and Christian Holy Sites in Jerusalem.”
The two leaders also discussed various issues, including the strategic relations between Germany and Jordan, in addition to local, regional and international developments.
The Jordanian Monarch stated, during a meeting in Amman with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict remains the core issue in the region, and added that Germany, along with the European Union, have an important role in boosting the efforts to achieve peace and the two-state solution.
“Germany is a leading country among the world, and we are looking for a great role by Berlin, and the European Union, in supporting all peace efforts in the Middle East,” King Abdullah said, “Jordan will also continue its role in protecting the Islamic and Christian Holy Sites in Jerusalem.”
The two leaders also discussed various issues, including the strategic relations between Germany and Jordan, in addition to local, regional and international developments.
4 may 2018
Member of Hamas’s political bureau Mahmoud al-Zahhar has said that the March of Return protests have sent a clear message to all parties that the Palestinian people would never let the US-backed deal of the century pass.
“There is a message to all near and far neighboring countries that the Palestinian decision will remain in the hands of Hamas and the resistance until the liberation of Palestine,” Zahhar stated during a symposium held in Gaza City on Thursday.
He described Gaza borders as new points of confrontation between the Palestinian youth and Israeli forces, stressing that such popular protests against the occupation does not mean that the resistance retreated from its armed struggle.
The Hamas official also said that the plans of those who wager on peaceful solutions or seeing the Gaza people revolt against their resistance would be doomed to failure.
“There is a message to all near and far neighboring countries that the Palestinian decision will remain in the hands of Hamas and the resistance until the liberation of Palestine,” Zahhar stated during a symposium held in Gaza City on Thursday.
He described Gaza borders as new points of confrontation between the Palestinian youth and Israeli forces, stressing that such popular protests against the occupation does not mean that the resistance retreated from its armed struggle.
The Hamas official also said that the plans of those who wager on peaceful solutions or seeing the Gaza people revolt against their resistance would be doomed to failure.
Maariv newspaper on Friday morning reported that US president Donald Trump's new peace plan would include Israel giving the Palestinian Authority (PA) four of Jerusalem's Arab neighborhoods.
The Hebrew newspaper said that the plan was revealed to Israel's War Minister Avigdor Lieberman during his latest visit to Washington and it includes giving Shu'fat, Jabal al-Mukaber, al-Isawiya, and Abu Dis neighborhoods to the PA.
These neighborhoods would form the capital of a future Palestinian state, the paper added.
The US plan, known as the deal of the century, has been revealed so far to senior Israeli officials only. According to Maariv, the US expects Israel to accept the plan and the "painful concessions" it entails.
The plan does not include Jerusalem's Old City which will be recognized as an international territory.
Maariv noted that the US has pledged unconditional support for Israel on the political and military levels in case a war breaks out between Israel and Iran.
A French diplomat told the London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper that Trump's plan includes the establishment of a Palestinian state on the ruins of 40% of the West Bank with East Jerusalem (the four neighborhoods) as its capital.
He added that it is likely that giving up the four neighborhoods is the first stage of the implementation of the US plan.
The Hebrew newspaper said that the plan was revealed to Israel's War Minister Avigdor Lieberman during his latest visit to Washington and it includes giving Shu'fat, Jabal al-Mukaber, al-Isawiya, and Abu Dis neighborhoods to the PA.
These neighborhoods would form the capital of a future Palestinian state, the paper added.
The US plan, known as the deal of the century, has been revealed so far to senior Israeli officials only. According to Maariv, the US expects Israel to accept the plan and the "painful concessions" it entails.
The plan does not include Jerusalem's Old City which will be recognized as an international territory.
Maariv noted that the US has pledged unconditional support for Israel on the political and military levels in case a war breaks out between Israel and Iran.
A French diplomat told the London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper that Trump's plan includes the establishment of a Palestinian state on the ruins of 40% of the West Bank with East Jerusalem (the four neighborhoods) as its capital.
He added that it is likely that giving up the four neighborhoods is the first stage of the implementation of the US plan.
2 may 2018
Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman reportedly told a collection of Jewish leaders that Palestinian leadership has no choice but to accept Donald Trump’s ‘peace’ proposal, according to Israeli media.
According to Ma’an News Agency, the meeting reportedly took place behind closed doors in New York, last month, where Mohammed bin Salman disapproved of the leadership of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Bin Salman allegedly said: “In the last several decades the Palestinian leadership has missed one opportunity after the other and rejected all the peace proposals it was given.”
“It is about time the Palestinians take the proposals and agree to come to the table or shut up and stop complaining.”
Those present at the meeting were reportedly “staggered” by the remarks, and criticism of Palestinians.
“There needs to be significant progress toward an agreement with the Palestinians before it will be possible to advance negotiations between Saudi Arabia and the Arab world and Israel.
“The Palestinian issue is not at the top of the Saudi government’s agenda…There are much more urgent and more important issues to deal with — such as Iran,” he said.
It is reported that Bin Salman and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner — who has been appointed to the administration’s team that will oversee the possible brokerage of negotiations between Israel and Palestine — are on friendly terms.
The Saudi crown prince has reportedly pressured Mahmoud Abbas to accept the U.S.’ framework of a possible peace deal between Israel and Palestine.
The Palestinian Authority has maintained its position of boycotting the White House since last December. In the aftermath, Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas declared that the U.S. was no longer an “honest broker” in the peace talks between the two nations, following Trump’s announcement recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, as well as the relocation of its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
05/01/18 PLO: Palestinians Will Not Be Part of Any Peace Plan Proposed by US
04/01/18 Saudi Prince Meets with AIPAC, anti-BDS Leaders during US Visit
According to Ma’an News Agency, the meeting reportedly took place behind closed doors in New York, last month, where Mohammed bin Salman disapproved of the leadership of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Bin Salman allegedly said: “In the last several decades the Palestinian leadership has missed one opportunity after the other and rejected all the peace proposals it was given.”
“It is about time the Palestinians take the proposals and agree to come to the table or shut up and stop complaining.”
Those present at the meeting were reportedly “staggered” by the remarks, and criticism of Palestinians.
“There needs to be significant progress toward an agreement with the Palestinians before it will be possible to advance negotiations between Saudi Arabia and the Arab world and Israel.
“The Palestinian issue is not at the top of the Saudi government’s agenda…There are much more urgent and more important issues to deal with — such as Iran,” he said.
It is reported that Bin Salman and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner — who has been appointed to the administration’s team that will oversee the possible brokerage of negotiations between Israel and Palestine — are on friendly terms.
The Saudi crown prince has reportedly pressured Mahmoud Abbas to accept the U.S.’ framework of a possible peace deal between Israel and Palestine.
The Palestinian Authority has maintained its position of boycotting the White House since last December. In the aftermath, Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas declared that the U.S. was no longer an “honest broker” in the peace talks between the two nations, following Trump’s announcement recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, as well as the relocation of its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
05/01/18 PLO: Palestinians Will Not Be Part of Any Peace Plan Proposed by US
04/01/18 Saudi Prince Meets with AIPAC, anti-BDS Leaders during US Visit
29 mar 2018
The American ambassador to the Israelis, David Friedman, has threatened to replace Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas if he persists on refusing to resume the process of peace talks, and boycotts US administration.
“Time does not stop, and if Abbas continues to refuse to run the negotiations, someone else will come to do so, Friedman told the Israeli daily “Shavei”.
He said that he did not take Abbas’ remarks against him and calling him the son of the dog seriously, adding that such statements hurt the status of Abbas among his people, and that uttering abusive words will not improve the lives of the Palestinians in the end.
According to Al Ray, Friedman referred to the law “Taylor Force,” which was enacted by the US Congress recently, and which requires the PA to stop the payment of salaries of prisoners and martyrs in order to keep receiving US funding.
“You can not show hostility against US interests and, at the same time, get aid as if nothing happened,” he said.
Earlier this month, Abbas described the American ambassador to Israel as a “son of a dog,” in response to Friedman’s harsh criticism of the PA over its refusal to condemn acts of resistance carried out by Palestinians.
It is worth mentioning that peace negotiations stalled after Israel refused to halt settlements, accept a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders, and release Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
“Time does not stop, and if Abbas continues to refuse to run the negotiations, someone else will come to do so, Friedman told the Israeli daily “Shavei”.
He said that he did not take Abbas’ remarks against him and calling him the son of the dog seriously, adding that such statements hurt the status of Abbas among his people, and that uttering abusive words will not improve the lives of the Palestinians in the end.
According to Al Ray, Friedman referred to the law “Taylor Force,” which was enacted by the US Congress recently, and which requires the PA to stop the payment of salaries of prisoners and martyrs in order to keep receiving US funding.
“You can not show hostility against US interests and, at the same time, get aid as if nothing happened,” he said.
Earlier this month, Abbas described the American ambassador to Israel as a “son of a dog,” in response to Friedman’s harsh criticism of the PA over its refusal to condemn acts of resistance carried out by Palestinians.
It is worth mentioning that peace negotiations stalled after Israel refused to halt settlements, accept a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders, and release Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
27 mar 2018
By Ramzy Baroud
The “deal of the century” is a farce. We suspected that, of course, but, upon his return from Washington, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed in more detail why the long-anticipated plan of the administration of US President Donald Trump has no basis in reality.
Netanyahu told his Cabinet that there are “no concrete details” to report on the US peace plan. One has to suspect that the “plan” was, all along, the US disavowal of the so-called peace process and the dropping of the “honest peace broker” act.
In fact, that much has been achieved, especially with the US decision last December to accept Israel’s illegal annexation of occupied East Jerusalem and agreement to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Since then, Israel has initiated a clear strategy to annexing the West Bank. Its top officials are contending that the “two-state solution” is not even deserving of a conversation.
“We are done with that,” said Israel’s education minister, in recent remarks to students in New York. “They have a Palestinian state in Gaza.”
The Palestinian Authority (PA) of Mahmoud Abbas was, thus, left with the inviable position. It is lashing out left and right, convulsing like a wounded animal.
It is hard to imagine that, at the moment, Abbas is orbiting within a grand strategy of any kind. Random statements, attacks on his Palestinian rivals, the Israelis and the Americans – mostly for betraying him – is all that seems to keep his name in the news.
“May God demolish his home,” was one of the statements attributed to the Palestinian leader, in response to Trump’s decision regarding Jerusalem.
That was on 14 January. A few days ago, Abbas referred to David Friedman, the ardently right-wing and pro-Israel US ambassador to Israel, as “son of a bitch”.
Friedman is an avid supporter of the illegal Jewish settlements, but name calling is not a promising sign of a constructive Palestinian strategy.
Abbas feels beleaguered, disowned by Washington and a victim of an elaborate US-Israeli plot that has cost Palestinians precious time and much land, while leaving Abbas with nothing but an embarrassing political legacy.
Abbas is not necessarily angry because the US has betrayed its role in the “peace process”. He is angry because he has, for years, perceived himself as a member in the American camp of “moderates” in the Middle East. Now, however, he matters not. The US government is notorious for betraying its allies.
The US, now run by the most pro-Israel administration in years, has no role for Abbas to play. They renounced him, just like that, and carried on to imagine a “solution” in Palestine that only serves the interests of Israel.
A recent meeting, chaired by leading pro-Israel officials in Washington, including Jared Kushner, was dubbed as a “brainstorming session” on how to solve the Gaza crisis. No Palestinian was involved in the conference.
Since Abbas has hung all his hopes on Washington, he is left with no plan B. The Europeans neither have the will, desire, nor political clout to replace the US. They have often served as lackeys to US foreign policy, and it would not be easy, if at all possible, for any European government to replace the US as the new “honest peace broker”.
Abbas’ popularity – and that of his Authority – among Palestinians is negligible. In fact, 70 per cent of Palestinians want him to step down immediately. That was according to a poll conducted last December. Yet, at 83 and suffering from ill health, Abbas is still holding on tightly to his chair.
It may appear that, during this time of political uncertainty and isolation, it would be advantageous for Abbas to reach out to other Palestinian factions. However, the opposite is true. Abbas is accusing his main rival, Hamas, of an assassination attempt targeting PA Prime Minister, Rami Hamdallah.
After a promising agreement, signed in Cairo between Fatah – Abbas’ party – and Hamas, all hopes have been dashed once more. In a joint conference with visiting Bulgarian President, Rumen Radev, in Ramallah, Abbas proclaimed: “The Gaza Strip has been hijacked by Hamas.”
“They must immediately hand over everything, first and foremost security, to the Palestinian national consensus government,” he said.
What “national consensus government” is Abbas referring to anyway? There have been no general elections since Hamas won the parliamentary majority in 2006. Abbas himself rules on an expired mandate. As of 9 January 2009, Abbas lost his democratic legitimacy.
Oddly, it is the conflict between him and Hamas that is allowing both sides to impose themselves on the Palestinian public – which is left disenchanted, practically leaderless and facing the brunt of occupation and apartheid on its own.
Instead of mending fences with the Palestinian people, Abbas continues with his political one-man show, encouraged by his enablers in the PA, who are equally responsible for the havoc wreaked by the US and Israeli governments.
Still, the Palestinian leadership (whether in the PA or the PLO) continues with its desperate attempts to resuscitate the “peace process”; lonely warriors in a political illusion that has been abandoned even by its own masters.
For Abbas and the PA, participating in the US-led project was the last bridge they wished not to burn. Trump’s decision to relocate his country’s embassy signaled that the last bridge was, indeed, up in flames, but Abbas is yet to be convinced of this obvious reality.
From American and Israeli viewpoints, the “peace process” could be considered a success. It allowed the US to define the political agenda in the Middle East and for Israel to shape the physical reality of the Occupied Territories in any way it found suitable.
The Palestinian leadership has emerged as the biggest loser. It first sat at the “negotiation table” to talk of borders, refugees, water, territories and Jerusalem, only to be left with nothing at the end.
It has lost both credibility and legitimacy. The space in which it was permitted to negotiate withered year after year.
Now, the Palestinian people must reflect on this current harsh reality, but also hope for a new beginning predicated on unity, the re-articulating of national priorities, and a new strategy.
- Dr. Ramzy Baroud has been writing about the Middle East for over 20 years. He is an internationally-syndicated columnist, a media consultant, an author of several books and the founder of PalestineChronicle.com.
The “deal of the century” is a farce. We suspected that, of course, but, upon his return from Washington, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed in more detail why the long-anticipated plan of the administration of US President Donald Trump has no basis in reality.
Netanyahu told his Cabinet that there are “no concrete details” to report on the US peace plan. One has to suspect that the “plan” was, all along, the US disavowal of the so-called peace process and the dropping of the “honest peace broker” act.
In fact, that much has been achieved, especially with the US decision last December to accept Israel’s illegal annexation of occupied East Jerusalem and agreement to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Since then, Israel has initiated a clear strategy to annexing the West Bank. Its top officials are contending that the “two-state solution” is not even deserving of a conversation.
“We are done with that,” said Israel’s education minister, in recent remarks to students in New York. “They have a Palestinian state in Gaza.”
The Palestinian Authority (PA) of Mahmoud Abbas was, thus, left with the inviable position. It is lashing out left and right, convulsing like a wounded animal.
It is hard to imagine that, at the moment, Abbas is orbiting within a grand strategy of any kind. Random statements, attacks on his Palestinian rivals, the Israelis and the Americans – mostly for betraying him – is all that seems to keep his name in the news.
“May God demolish his home,” was one of the statements attributed to the Palestinian leader, in response to Trump’s decision regarding Jerusalem.
That was on 14 January. A few days ago, Abbas referred to David Friedman, the ardently right-wing and pro-Israel US ambassador to Israel, as “son of a bitch”.
Friedman is an avid supporter of the illegal Jewish settlements, but name calling is not a promising sign of a constructive Palestinian strategy.
Abbas feels beleaguered, disowned by Washington and a victim of an elaborate US-Israeli plot that has cost Palestinians precious time and much land, while leaving Abbas with nothing but an embarrassing political legacy.
Abbas is not necessarily angry because the US has betrayed its role in the “peace process”. He is angry because he has, for years, perceived himself as a member in the American camp of “moderates” in the Middle East. Now, however, he matters not. The US government is notorious for betraying its allies.
The US, now run by the most pro-Israel administration in years, has no role for Abbas to play. They renounced him, just like that, and carried on to imagine a “solution” in Palestine that only serves the interests of Israel.
A recent meeting, chaired by leading pro-Israel officials in Washington, including Jared Kushner, was dubbed as a “brainstorming session” on how to solve the Gaza crisis. No Palestinian was involved in the conference.
Since Abbas has hung all his hopes on Washington, he is left with no plan B. The Europeans neither have the will, desire, nor political clout to replace the US. They have often served as lackeys to US foreign policy, and it would not be easy, if at all possible, for any European government to replace the US as the new “honest peace broker”.
Abbas’ popularity – and that of his Authority – among Palestinians is negligible. In fact, 70 per cent of Palestinians want him to step down immediately. That was according to a poll conducted last December. Yet, at 83 and suffering from ill health, Abbas is still holding on tightly to his chair.
It may appear that, during this time of political uncertainty and isolation, it would be advantageous for Abbas to reach out to other Palestinian factions. However, the opposite is true. Abbas is accusing his main rival, Hamas, of an assassination attempt targeting PA Prime Minister, Rami Hamdallah.
After a promising agreement, signed in Cairo between Fatah – Abbas’ party – and Hamas, all hopes have been dashed once more. In a joint conference with visiting Bulgarian President, Rumen Radev, in Ramallah, Abbas proclaimed: “The Gaza Strip has been hijacked by Hamas.”
“They must immediately hand over everything, first and foremost security, to the Palestinian national consensus government,” he said.
What “national consensus government” is Abbas referring to anyway? There have been no general elections since Hamas won the parliamentary majority in 2006. Abbas himself rules on an expired mandate. As of 9 January 2009, Abbas lost his democratic legitimacy.
Oddly, it is the conflict between him and Hamas that is allowing both sides to impose themselves on the Palestinian public – which is left disenchanted, practically leaderless and facing the brunt of occupation and apartheid on its own.
Instead of mending fences with the Palestinian people, Abbas continues with his political one-man show, encouraged by his enablers in the PA, who are equally responsible for the havoc wreaked by the US and Israeli governments.
Still, the Palestinian leadership (whether in the PA or the PLO) continues with its desperate attempts to resuscitate the “peace process”; lonely warriors in a political illusion that has been abandoned even by its own masters.
For Abbas and the PA, participating in the US-led project was the last bridge they wished not to burn. Trump’s decision to relocate his country’s embassy signaled that the last bridge was, indeed, up in flames, but Abbas is yet to be convinced of this obvious reality.
From American and Israeli viewpoints, the “peace process” could be considered a success. It allowed the US to define the political agenda in the Middle East and for Israel to shape the physical reality of the Occupied Territories in any way it found suitable.
The Palestinian leadership has emerged as the biggest loser. It first sat at the “negotiation table” to talk of borders, refugees, water, territories and Jerusalem, only to be left with nothing at the end.
It has lost both credibility and legitimacy. The space in which it was permitted to negotiate withered year after year.
Now, the Palestinian people must reflect on this current harsh reality, but also hope for a new beginning predicated on unity, the re-articulating of national priorities, and a new strategy.
- Dr. Ramzy Baroud has been writing about the Middle East for over 20 years. He is an internationally-syndicated columnist, a media consultant, an author of several books and the founder of PalestineChronicle.com.