bitterlemons-international.org
Middle East Roundtable /
Edition 4 Volume 1
A Palestinian View:
Winograd report
serves the "peace-makers"
by Khader Khader No Palestinian
really believed that a new opportunity for the peace process was actually
emerging in the past few months after the reactivation of the Arab peace
initiative. Palestinians have become experienced in Israeli-American tactics
to give the impression that efforts are being exerted for the sake of the
peace process while at the same time facts on the ground lead nowhere.
Wishful thinking, on the other hand, pushed some to believe that since the
Palestinians agreed on a national unity program and government--which
represents more than 95 percent of the Palestinians in the occupied
Palestinian territories and which called for the establishment of an
independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders along with a just
solution to the Palestinian refugee problem based on UN General Assembly
Resolution 194--and given the Arab countries' move to re-launch the Arab
peace initiative and provide political support to the Palestinian people in
their quest for peace, a real opportunity emerged for the Palestinians and
Arabs to attack Israel with a peace offensive that could have gained the
approval of the international community.
However, and amid the "cautious" international euphoria, the Winograd
interim report came out to smash all dreams and bring Palestinians back to
reality. The content of the report and the severe criticism launched against
the main political players in the Israeli government means that Israel is no
longer in a position to allow it to deal with any peace process with the
Palestinians for some time in the future even if Israeli Prime Minister Ehud
Olmert has stated on many occasions that he is ready at any moment to meet
with "moderate" Arab leaders in public to discuss the Arab peace initiative.
Apart from its immediate impact on the political system in Israel and with
the growing possibilities for early elections, the Winograd report thus came
also to serve several parties involved in the Middle East peace process.
Taking into consideration the weak and "fragile" political position of the
current Israeli government, the United States can feel relieved of any
potential pressure exerted by the Palestinians or Arabs to push toward
Palestinian-Israeli final status negotiations. In fact, the most recent US
document on mutual measures and timetables between Israel and the PA is a
clear proof of the American position. The United States believes at this
moment that Israel is in no condition to be put under pressure to offer any
commitment pertaining to the peace process, so easing the restrictions on
Palestinian movement in exchange for a halt to rocket firing seems the most
logical thing that one can expect from Israel after the Winograd report. The
most recent media reports indicate that US Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice has postponed her scheduled visit to the region until further notice.
Furthermore, since the publication of the report, we have stopped hearing
statements from international officials on the "emerging window of
opportunity" for peace.
The Arab countries were also served by the report as they knew in advance
that Israel would not accept the Arab peace initiative. The Winograd report
and its political ramifications inside Israel thus saved them from any
embarrassment. At least, they can say, they did their share and no one can
blame them afterwards. If they want, the Palestinians can blame the Winograd
commission.
Experience has taught the Palestinian people that whenever the peace process
is activated, an Israeli prime minister resigns or a Winograd report is
published. This leads to early elections in Israel and Palestinians are made
to wait. This time, the Palestinians are made to wait and in addition suffer
economic and political sanctions imposed on them by those parties that exert
"peace efforts" in the region.- Published 7/5/2007 © bitterlemons.org
Khader Khader is a media analyst with the Jerusalem Media and Communications
Center.
Bitterlemons-international.org is an internet
forum for an array of world perspectives on the Middle East and its
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and political leaders to present their viewpoints and initiatives on the
region. Editors Ghassan Khatib and Yossi Alpher can be reached at
ghassan@bitterlemons-international.org
and
yossi@bitterlemons-international.org, respectively.
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07-05-2007 |