People's Democracy

EDITORIAL

West Asia Peace: Hope & Ground Realities

THE possibilities of a new breakthrough to resolve the longstanding Palestinian problem in West Asia seems to have begun with the declaration of the summit meeting (on February 8, 2005) between Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, and the newly-elected president of State of Palestine, Mohmoud Abbas. Both sides have declared a ceasefire that would be  immediately operational. Abbas has said that this summit will usher a “new era of peace and hope”. Sharon has reportedly stated: “To our Palestinian neighbours, I would like to promise that we have a genuine intention for you to live in independence.  We do not want to control your lives”.

Though no formal ceasefire agreement has been signed, the public declarations are significant.  Ariel Sharon went back to Egypt for the summit after 23 years! After the horrendous Shabra and Shitila massacres, Ariel Sharon was not allowed to enter Egypt. This summit held in the Egyptian resort of Sharm al-Sheikh was also attended by Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak and Jordan’s king, Abdullah. The diplomatic relations between Egypt, Jordan and Israel, which were severed for decades, have now been restored. 

The hope that this summit will lead to the restoration of the peace process in West Asia culminating eventually in the creation of a legitimate State of Palestine, however, needs to be tempered with the actual ground realities. We had, through these columns, all along maintained that the Palestinians are being denied their legitimate right to a homeland as a result of a gigantic international conspiracy.   The main factor denying the Palestinians their right to a homeland has been the  illegal Israeli armed occupation of Palestinian  territories.  The Palestinian resistance to such Israeli occupation is what has been termed by imperialism and its media as “terrorist violence”.  The resistance is there because of Israeli occupation.  If Israel vacates its illegal occupation, then the cause for the resistance simply ceases.  It is this simple truth that, once again, needs to be asserted and implemented, if the peace process has to succeed.

During the last few years of the intifada (Palestinian resistance), 3225 Palestinians have been killed by Israelis apart from scores of thousands held as prisoners. 950 Israelis had also lost their lives. In this background, it is significant that Abbas has said after the summit that, “we have agreed to halting all violent actions against Palestinians and Israelis, wherever they are”.

Apart from the complete vacation of Israel from Palestinian territories, the crucial issues of East Jerusalem being the capital of Palestinian State; the return of Palestinian refugees; the dismantling of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories; and the delineation  of borders with the removal of the concrete wall erected by Israel are vexing issues that need to be solved. 

So far, Israel has pledged to free only 900 Palestinian prisoners over the next three months.  The two sides also plan to establish joint committees to oversee the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Palestinian cities on the West Bank and study the possible release of thousands of other Palestinian prisoners, including ones involved in armed attacks – a group Sharon had vowed never to free. 

There are other problems as well. Israel and Sharon have their share of domestic  preoccupations in 2005, including the possibilities of an election. On the Palestinian side, the spokesperson of the militant group, Hamas, has said that the ceasefire declarations were “not binding on its members”.  He, in fact, has gone to the extent of  stating that Abbas has taken a “unilateral stand” which was “not the result of the outcome of an intra Palestinian dialogue”.  Since the death of Yasser Arafat and with the election of Mohmoud Abbas, popularly called Abu Mazen, it was expected that the various groups within the Palestinians will thrash out their differences and arrive at a unified approach to deal with Israel.   This is a process that is yet to be completed.

Apart from such hard ground realities, the basic problem for the success of this summit declaration of ceasefire would be Israel’s sincerity in implementing what little has been accepted. Israel’s past track record shows its ability to violate, with impunity and contempt,  all past agreements. Israel, in fact, is the single country which has violated more resolutions of the  United Nations than any other country in the world.  Given this, only time will confirm  Israel’s sincerity. Such skepticism is also bolstered by the reaction of the US secretary of state, who said that “success is not assured, but America is resolute”. Through the past half a century, US imperialism has, indeed, been resolute in supporting all brazen military interventions of Israel. But for USA’s commitment and support, the military arsenal of Israel could never have been built.  If US imperialism is seeking to enforce, as a consequence of this summit,  the creation of an independent Palestinian State under the control and authority of Israel, then the possibilities of resolution of this problem are doomed once again. 

Finally, it should be clearly understood that the conflict in West Asia can cease only when Israel vacates its illegal occupation and a sovereign, free Palestinian State with its capital in East Jerusalem established. In this genuine struggle, the Palestinians have the full support and solidarity of the progressive forces in India. 

February 9, 2005