The
Turbulent Winds Of
The Annapolis Conference
By Dan Lieberman
21 November, 2007
Countercurrents.org
Discussing
the proposed Annapolis Conference, in face-to-face talks with the prime
ministers, foreign ministers and non-government officials (NGOs) of
Israel, Palestinian Authority, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, revealed how
far we are from achieving peace in the Middle East and how far Annapolis
is from the Earth that others walk upon. As part of a delegation of
six intrepid fact finders, supported by the Council for the National
Interest (CNI), a Washington based NGO that labors intensively to determine
paths towards Middle East peace, I found a hopeful wind that moved Israeli
and Palestinian to portray optimism. This hopeful wind slowly reduced
in force in Jordan, quickly diminished when meeting Syrian vice-presidents
and turned to an ill wind in meetings with the Lebanese president, prime
minister and foreign minister in the second week of November.
The search for Middle East
peace started on a discordant note at a meeting with Gush Shalom (peace
bloc) spokesperson Uri Avnery, the most notable advocate for a just
peace with the Palestinians. Uri used the words “unsure”
and “window dressing” to describe the intended conference.
He didn’t sense that Hamas, with whom he has close contacts, would
agree to a piece of paper and voiced the opinion that Hamas would “only
make a truce and not a peace pact.”
Kadima’s Knesset member
Amira Dotan spoke of “Annapolis as a symbol,” with its “success
defined as starting a process.” Deputy Speaker Dr. Ahmed Tibi
said: “The U.S. should create the conditions for making it a success.
Its failure will strengthen Hamas, Hezbollah and the Iranian/Syrian
axis.” Other official sources were more open; expressing views
that Israel is an army that has a state and Defense Minister Barak is
the major culprit in preventing any peace initiative.
The Ramallah landscape of
enormous white brick housing developments against the brown dirt background
disguises the actual despondency and poverty of the Palestinian people.
Palestinian Authority (PA) officials, especially Foreign Minister Riad
al-Maliki, tried to be optimistic about the Annapolis conference. They
want a complete agenda with final talks, but have become more motivated,
in Prime Minister Salam Fayed’s words, “by fear of failure
than promise of success,” and are being forced into unwanted compromises
just to justify a meeting. President Abbas’ Chief of Staff Rafiq
Husseini insisted that Israel must move the separation wall to the Green
Line. Interior Minister Abdel Razzah al-Yahya reiterated that “there
will be no two-state solution if Israel does not withdraw to the 1967
boundaries and does not give the Palestinians “oxygen to breathe.”
The lack of oxygen stifles the Palestinians, who are already torn by
internecine warfare between Fatah and Hamas and by conflict with organizations
in Nablus that are a combination of criminals, protestors against social
and economic negligence, and militants against Israel occupation. .
The Palestinian Authority is powerless and it is not obvious how they
can negotiate anything and receive approval from a majority of Palestinians,
especially when they continue to experience Israel’s brutal occupation
of the West Bank
Illegal settlements have
destroyed Palestinian life in central Hebron. When the Israeli military
attempted to evict the settlers, the settlers broke windows and ruined
the Palestinian shops. For an incomprehensible reason, the settlers
have returned to their illegal positions and Palestinian shops and houses
are now empty. To enforce the settler presence, Israeli security checkpoints
have been installed at all former entrances to the market. These settlers
make claim to properties “taken” from Jews during riots
against Hebron Jews back in 1929, but do not display any rights of inheritance
or deeds to any of the properties. Can this claim of a ‘collective
right’ have a legal basis? Contrast the Hebron settlers’
illegal positions and false claims with Palestinians, who have legal
deeds to properties in Israel, and are prevented from recovering their
properties.
A separation wall winds through
West Bank territory and completely encircles West Bank cities, such
as Qualqilya and Abu Dis. Residents are hindered from leaving these
cities, from going to schools and from cultivating lands. The wall has
also caused accumulations of water and created puddles in the Palestinian
neighborhoods. The obstructive wall includes 580 fortified checkpoints
every five miles. There are also flying checkpoints, settler bypass
roads, a planned North South super highway for Israelis only, blocked
Palestinian village roads, and travel restrictions to Jerusalem. These
restrictive conditions have separated Palestinian communities and families,
choked the Palestinian economy and obstructed daily exchanges between
peoples. Highways slice through Palestinian lands and completely separate
farm homes from agriculture. The inhumanity of all these installations
and regulations is beyond belief.
Hamas. Rafiq Husseini summed
the PA attitude with a sigh and said, “Don’t worry, this
is the land of miracles. What we need is a prayer meeting.”
Jordan is also a land of
miracles, its capital city Amman spanning hills with an advanced network
of bridges, tunnels and super highways. Traffic is horrific and only
moves because there are few traffic lights in the entire city. Jordan’s
increasing prosperity and touchy stability depends upon western investment,
special export privileges and friendly relations to neighbors, especially
Israel.
Depending upon foreign investment,
coping with the 500,000 – 700,000 Iraq displaced persons, still
contending with the integration of the massive Palestinian population
within, and maintaining friendly relations with Israel guide Jordan’s
foreign policies. Foreign Minister Abdelelah al-Khatib, as most Middle
East leaders, considered the Israel/Palestinian conflict as the core
issue to be resolved before peace and stability can arrive in the Middle
East. He volunteered that Avigdor Lieberman, Israel’s’ Russian
immigrant hardliner, has become most influential in the “peace
process.” A highly important Jordanian official was blunt. He
was not positive on Annapolis, believes Israel does not want peace,
does not have the political will to seek peace and wants to shift the
burden of more displaced Palestinians to Jordan. Minister of Planning
Suhair al-Ali, as gracious as a woman can be, noted that deceased “King
Hussein was into politics,” but the new King Abdullah “is
more into development.” She had one plea: “No matter the
results of Annapolis, don’t demonize Islam.”
Damascus is a surprise. Expect
a faded grey and ancient city, still struggling with the 20th century,
and find a lively, advanced city with sparkling new neighborhoods, super
highways that don’t interfere with the city’s appearance
and a population that is amicable and sympathetic; never a harsh look,
never a bitter word, although Syria remains a totalitarian government
that does not allow much free expression. To its credit, Syria has succored
Palestinians forced from Israel, who have established their own neighborhoods,
but still remain committed to return to their homeland. Added to its
credit is the recent sacrifice in allowing 1.2 million Iraqi displaced
persons (similar to Jordan, Syria refuses to call them refugees) to
move among its population and secure housing, free education and entry
to the health system. Syria deserves commendation for acting as a safety
valve to the calamities resulting from displaced Palestinians and Iraqis
that have occurred from several wars.
Not surprisingly, Syrian
vice president of Foreign Relations Farouk Sharaa didn’t have
much expectation for the Annapolis conference, believes all Israel’s
political parties fear peace and senses that the U.S. policies encouraged
Israel to attack Lebanon and continue the conflict. Israel is on a suicide
path and, if Israel is a decision maker in the U.S. then the U.S. loses.
The vice president contradicted an accepted belief that Syria will not
accept direct assistance for the Iraqi displaced persons. NGOs and the
U.S. government are welcome to contribute their assistance. CNI made
news by revealing to the U.S. Press a Syrian commitment to screen Iraqi
displaced persons for entry into the U.S.
The Vice president of Cultural
Affair. Najah al-Attar, exhibited welcoming smiles, and sensitivity
and empathy for oppressed peoples. She spoke of “there not being
peace without justice,“ made references to the destruction of
the Palestinians and noted that Jews lived in peace in Syria, where
they were prosperous and accepted members of the parliament. A small
Jewish community survives in Northern Syria, and a Rabbi is flown in
each week from Turkey to perform the rabbinical rites that assure the
food is kosher.
Not kosher was a clandestine
trip to meet a “minor” Hamas official, who turned out to
be Khalid Meshal, official leader of Hamas, exiled in Damascus. The
world became more aware of Meshal when Israel’s Mossad tried to
assassinate him in Amman. Jordan’s King Abdullah forced Israel
to immediately supply an antidote to the poison given to Meshal by threatening
to publicly hang the Mossad agents who tried to kill the Hamas leader.
Meshal does not fill the western media description of a wild eyed fanatic.
On the contrary, he is a friendly, deliberate and well spoken person
who makes sense to the many who subscribe to similar positions.
He said that Israel does
not want peace and both negotiating parties aren’t strong enough
to market their results to their peoples. Meshal doesn’t delineate
Hamas’ positions, but defers to a Palestinian position that accepts
1967 borders and an Arab position that has accepted the two-state solution.
Since 2002, Bush has repeatedly spoken of support for a two-state solution,
but where is it? The Hamas leader expects the region to be more explosive.
Nevertheless, if the PA feels the Palestinian rights have been fulfilled,
Hamas will welcome that. He has proposed a Hudna (truce), and if Israel
responds positively, Hamas will not be an obstacle to peace. If the
Right of Return is the only remaining problem, Hamas will compromise,
and accept the will of the people. He claims Hamas does not encourage
militancy, does not desire a theocratic state, is a national liberation
movement and will let the Palestinian people decide its own government.
Lebanon greets the visitor
with an ominous view of the famous Mdairej bridge, the highest bridge
in the Middle East and the pride of Lebanon. The mid-section of its
elegant span remains gone, destroyed by Israeli jets on the first day
of war. Beirut and Southern Lebanon still show scars of the war; destroyed
bridges, damaged roads, and huge holes in Beirut sections. The old section
of Bent Jabal (daughter of the mountain), which was invaded by Israeli
troop, is completely damaged. It is now a rubble of ancient rocks.
Lebanon is again in one of
its perpetual crises; an inability to reach a parliamentary consensus
and elect a new president. Although some are quick to blame Syria and
Hezbollah for creating a climate of fear and for the lack of consensus,
major Lebanese officials don’t agree that Hezbollah is the culprit
for the impasse, just the opposite, the majority holds power by an archaic
law and fears becoming a minority.
The majority is most represented
by billionaire Member of Parliament (MP), Saad Hariri, son of assassinated
former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri. Saad Hariri senses a significant
negative shift in Israel’s attitude towards wanting peace after
Rabin’s assassination. Nevertheless, he feels Abu Mazen wants
peace and Annapolis, even if delayed, must still happen.” The
two sides can reach an agreement.” He is less optimistic concerning
his own nation: “Money and arms are pouring into the arms of the
allies of Syria.” Hariri has not moved about Beirut for 2 ½
years and has received death threats. Fifty of his fellow MPs are barricaded
in the Phoenician hotel, fearful of their lives. Except for Prime Minister
Siniora, who accuses Syria and Hezbollah of creating this fear, of being
uncooperative and wanting to keep situations unresolved so that Hezbollah
can maintain its arms, the other principal government officials support
Hezbollah’s position.
Former General and now MP,
Michael Aoun, described the year 2000 law that gerrymanded the nation
so that the March 14 Party and its allies acquired a majority of 72
parliament seats, although receiving only 1/3 of the vote. This makes
the present government illegitimate and favors Hezbollah’s proposition
that the only fair solution to the impasse is a new election law, followed
by a new election that will award seats in proportion to popular vote.
President Emil Lahoud claims the present parliament majority has the
backing of the major western powers and is working against the constitution.
For this reason, the opposition, meaning Hezbollah, has the right to
avoid reaching consensus. Foreign Minister Fawzi Sallougkh read carefully
from a prepared document. He doesn’t believe Iran wants to dominate
Lebanon and believes the U.S. should establish good relations with Iran.
Lebanese leaders were particularly
angered with Israel’s aggressive attitude towards the Arab world
and what they perceived as U.S. support for this attitude. They are
most concerned with the negotiations that will decide the fate of the
Palestinian refugees, the reason being that the refugees cannot receive
citizenship in Lebanon and have created social and economic havoc for
decades. Prime Minister Fouad Siniora was more sanguine and more universal
in his characterization of what he termed to be an Arab/Israeli conflict.
He considered Israel to be guilty of the situation and leading the world
into a catastrophe that will affect all peoples. He allowed permission
to quote him, and my notes show these remarks:
“The Arab/Israel conflict
is the maker of most problems and control of Jerusalem is a paramount
issue. The conflict consumes most efforts in the region, is not restricted
to the Middle East and diverts attention from other meaningful issues
in all regions. The conflict started from the Balfour Declaration, arose
from the extent of injustice inflicted upon the Palestinian people,
is leading to further frustration in the Arab world, and is generating
extremism. The Israeli 1980 invasion created Hezbollah and a new set
of problems. Now, Syria, and other parties (meaning Hezbollah), are
not showing cooperation and want to keep issues unresolved. Nevertheless,
President Bush has been unfair to Lebanon, Arab nations and also to
his own United States. The U.S. keeps preaching democracy but defends
dictatorships.”
Hezbollah, the Party of God,
remains the contentious focus of Lebanon politics. Nevertheless, the
Lebanese government has denominated Hezbollah as a resistance movement
rather than a militia so that they can keep their arms despite the truce
agreement which banned militias. Hezbollah leaders are firm that they
will never recognize Israel. Surprisingly, they favor a single democratic
state where all peoples are equal and all religions can be practiced
without interference. They claim to be politically secular and their
government operations don’t contradict that thesis.
Annapolis is 50 miles from
the nation’s capital, but it is light years away from the hearts
and minds of Arab peoples who want assurance of peace and stability
in the Middle East. That is one observer’s conclusions from travels
through the Middle East capitals.
Dan Lieberman
has been active in alternative politics for many years. He is the editor
of Alternative
Insight , a monthly web based newsletter. Dan has many
published articles on the Middle East conflicts.Email: [email protected]
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