I get serious pains just thinking about repeating the Oslo debacle for Palestinian/Israeli peace. Now that we have President Bush's roadmap for peace, will things be different this time around?
The new Palestinian Prime Minister, Abu Mazen, recently accepted the roadmap. Today, Israeli Prime Minister Sharon's cabinet accepted the roadmap, with some reservations. My friends at IsraPundit, whom I hold with the greatest respect, believe that this roadmap is a reward to the Palestinians for terrorism. I tend to agree, but part of me also sees a silver lining in what's happening, even with Israelis' valid concerns.
It seems only natural that Israelis would be hesitant about repeating the whole Oslo disaster again. Let us not forget that it was Palestinian "President" Yasir Arafat who in July 2000 rejected Israel's generous offer to end the conflict. Palestinian terrorists responded to Israel's offer with the "most sustained wave of Palestinian suicide bombings in Israeli history." The Palestinian Authority never lived up to its Oslo commitments. Are these valid issues? You bet. One of Israel's most important concerns is over Arab demands to allow all Palestinian refugees and their descendents the "right of return" to Israel after any peace agreement.
The "right of return" would spell an end to Israel. The historical basis for this "right" stands on shaky historical grounds. I don't believe it will ever happen. Just as Israelis will grudgingly have to give up settlements, Palestinians will have to give up returning to current day Israel. Peace will be painful for both sides. But--back to my most important point today--why do I see a silver lining in the roadmap?
The silver lining is the woven from the fabric of four events: 1) President Bush becoming American president, 2) Ariel Sharon becoming Israeli prime minister, 3) the defeat of the Taliban in Afghanistan, and 4) the defeat of Saddam Hussein's Iraqi regime.
As my partner here a netWMD put it so eloquently:
The Bush doctrine makes clear that terrorism is the enemy and must be stopped, and love him or hate him, Bush is not a leader to renege on his principles. [1]In his roadmap, Bush emphasized that the "United States will not support the establishment of a Palestinian state until its leaders engage in a sustained fight against the terrorists and dismantle their infrastructure." I truly believe he means this. His pressure on Israel to accept the roadmap is an attempt to find out what Abu Mazen is really made out of, I believe. With roadmap acceptance, Bush will place the onus on the Palestinians to destroy the terrorists who now live so freely among them. I see this as Bush's litmus test. Bush has shown true resolve in destroying the Taliban and taking out Saddam Hussein. I don't think many people believed he ever would've accomplished these tasks. Most of you now know how deeply the fall of Saddam and the Taliban has changed the political landscape of the Middle East. What is now happening in Iran is a result of the seismic shift in the region's politics. The French and Russians have officially accepted U.S. and British control of Iraq (who would've thought it possible?).
And Bush has a tough partner/counterpart in Israeli PM Sharon. Remember how he cleaned up the Palestinian terror nest of Jenin--despite the world outcry? Sharon will stay tough and do what's needed to be done.
Maybe it is just my folly to believe there is a silver lining to the roadmap. But 6 months ago, I would've never believed that Palestinians would protest against Hamas or that thousands of Moroccans would hold a massive protest against terrorism. The times, they are a changin.'
[1] Donnel Jones, "End of terrorism is the key to peace," Dayton City Paper, May 8-14, 2003, Yesse Ohio Inc., p. 4.