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What are the challenges facing the new Palestinian PM | 4 comments

[new] one difficult question (Avg. Score: none / Raters: 0) (#3)
by BrianHolmes on Wed Sep 24th, 2003 at 04:56:02 PM EURODISCORDIA TIME
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I agree with almost all the analysis of the situation presented here, as well as with the call for a sane approach based on reciprocity. But it seems that a difficult question hasn't been answered, and if it were answered, it would make the piece much stronger and more credible. The difficulty arises with these sentences: Any ceasefire agreement requires both parties to refrain from attacking the other. These agreements normally include a clause setting up some kind of neutral third party monitors and finally for such a ceasefire agreement to stand it must be followed immediately upon signing it with a concerted effort to produce a political solution to the issues that caused the warring parties to attack each other. The problem in the Israel-Palestine situation, as in other such situations (Bosnia...) is the status of the monitors. What do they do when a new colony starts to be built? What do they do when Hamas attacks? What do they do when the IDF responds? What I see (but I'm no expert) is that on both sides, violent attacks are either tolerated or encouraged by politicians who have also used them to get into power and to stay there. I agree that the US could pressure its client, Israel, into ceasing many of the actions that encourage and justify Palestinian militants. But how can the Palestinian Authority, acting on its own, succeed in restraining terrorist attacks, now that so many people have invested so much into this way of responding to the situation? The role of the "monitors" appears crucial. They would have to have the power to stop and imprison Israelis making incursions into Palestinian territory, continuing to build colonies or refusing to leave them. And they would have to arrest and imprison those Palestinians making or actively and materially supporting suicide attacks. They would have to be able to block the IDF's tanks, shoot down its missiles. Is this how you see it? Without finding an answer to this question, I am afraid there will be no solution and the new Palestinian PM will be in the same situation as the old one. Even if - miracle of miracles - a US president could be forced to put the necessary pressure on Israel. peace, Brian Holmes

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[new] the possible exception of arafat? (Avg. Score: none / Raters: 0) (#2)
by Anonymous Stranger on Thu Sep 18th, 2003 at 09:12:34 PM EURODISCORDIA TIME

Not to start a flame war here, but I'm absolutely amazed that you could see Arafat as the one person of those three leaders who is possibly committed to peace? I support neither Bush nor Sharon with their policies in this conflict, but yet it seems so obvious that Arafat is the major roadblock in the whole effort. Toward the end of Clinton's term, when Arafat and Barak met at camp David, Israel was prepared to make incredibly deep concessions for peace (far deeper than they are apparently willing to go now), including, if am not mistaken, the sharing of Jerusalem. Arafat squandered this opporunity, and now we find ourselves at this miserable point today. Arafat, as a leader, is inept. He, unlike Barak at Camp David, has been unwilling to make the extremely difficult choices necessary on his side to attain peace. Choices like giving Abbas far more support and control over the security forces (will he give the new PM a bit more flexibility?), putting full PA effort into reigning in the terrorists (yes, i use that word instead of militants) or at least giving the appearance of going after them with full effort, even if his resources are restricted. As long as he continues to waver on the issue of reigning in the bombers, he is effectively using them and their actions as bargaining chips with Israel, and that will never be tolerated.

Daoud, i respect your opinion, but I find it somewhat humorous that you characterize the suicide bombings as revenge attacks for assasination attempts on militants. I'm not saying that Israel should continue its assasination attempts, but I seem to recall a bus bombing killing 20 Israeli civilians as the start of this most recent wave of violence (so much for a cease fire... really just a re-arming). If they are revenge attacks, does that mean that if Israel ceases its assasination attempts there will be no more bombings? I somehow doubt that....

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What are the challenges facing the new Palestinian PM | 4 comments

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