sam04u
Comrades, Comrades!
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2003
- Messages
- 2,867
- Gender
- Male
- HSC
- 2006
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7044914.stm
I would like to state my opinion on the new development and the U.S led campaign for an independance of Palestine in a few short paragraphs. According to Palestinian sources there is a feeling of optimism and joy in the air as peace talks such as these. Where the occupied territories of 1967, are being so openly recognised as belonging to the Palestinians, and these words have not been uttered since the Oslo agreement, and probably further back in the 1948, U.N partition plan.
However, there is also a feeling of mistrust amongst Palestinians and people in the wider community alike. They feel this will be nothing more than bureaucracy in order to improve the Republicans election campaign. The status quo, painted as promising and hopeful. Perhaps even a temporary solution, like placing a bandage over a flesh wound. Infact there is growing speculation that this is a final measure in order to win credibility by the Bush administration, in order to funnel support for an Israeli led offensive on Iran.
Personally I believe that this is a major development, and I can only imagine the chanting of young Palestinian boys and girls as they gain independance and become recognised as a sovereign state.
I admit hearing Ehud Olmert (a man I still largely despise for his actions in the 2006 Lebanon war, where he authorised excessive force) saying "Was it necessary to annex...", almost brought tears of joy to my eyes. Almost as if this small piece of land which is at the center of so many conflicts, may finally be resolved. Sadly, and I say this with utmost lament to the way things have progressed; The great Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin, never did live to see this major development in modern times.
They both died as martyrs to their cause, which was to live in unity and peace. Even though it was in a two state solution, atleast both were to be sovereign. Sadly, they were both executed for their pressure on Israel, Palestine and the United Nations.
However, none can be blamed for remaining sceptical at both the timing of this development and the signatories or involved parties. The leader of the elected govenment of the Palestinian territories (of the Hamas party), was not invited to attend this conference, which is quite startling. Instead Abbass (The leader of the countries only opposition, and one of the Signatories of the Oslo Accords), is the Palestinian representative.
Which shows that Israel might still be up to its dirty tricks. It supported Hamas when Fatah was in power. Now that Hamas is in power, it's supporting Fatah. Which leads one to question what is their true intention. However, I'm not going to be cynical where it's not needed, infact this is a cause for celebration (and scepticism) for the mean time!
tl;dr! Woot! Free Palestine!
The US secretary of state has said it is time for a Palestinian state to be founded, and that the US will put its full weight behind such efforts.
Condoleezza Rice said reaching a two-state solution was a priority for her and US President George Bush.
Ms Rice was speaking from the West Bank, where she has been trying to get agreement for a peace summit in the US.
Meanwhile the Israeli PM has hinted he may consider giving up Palestinian districts in Jerusalem in a peace deal.
Ehud Olmert told parliament "legitimate questions" could be asked about the Israeli annexing of outlying Palestinian neighbourhoods in East Jerusalem following the 1967 war.
Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state of Palestine, and the issue is one of the most sensitive and intractable of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
'It is time'
"Frankly it is time for the establishment of a Palestinian state," Ms Rice told reporters in a news conference which she held with the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.
She said the US regarded a two-state solution "as absolutely essential for the future, not just of Palestinians and Israelis but also for the Middle East and indeed for American interests".
She said Mr Bush would make finding a resolution a top priority of his time in office, and that she would devote her "last ounce of energy" to the issue.
Ms Rice said she wanted agreement on the peace summit, set to be held in Annapolis, Maryland - but that it would have to be "a serious and substantive conference that will advance the cause of a Palestinian state.
"We frankly have better things to do than invite people to Annapolis for a photo op," said Ms Rice.
The Palestinians have warned that if no tightly-worded text is agreed on which to base talks, they will not attend. The Israelis say they do not believe an agreed text is necessary.
Despite Ms Rice's assertion that the current diplomacy represented "the most serious effort to end this conflict in many, many years", the BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Ramallah cautions that huge differences remain between the two sides.
Ms Rice will now meet other regional leaders. She will need to convince them, too, that a peace conference will be worth turning up for, says our correspondent.
Difficult negotiations
At the same news conference, Mr Abbas said Israeli and Palestinian negotiators were working together.
"We are working on a joint document with the Israeli side. The document will set out the basis of the solutions to the final status issues: Jerusalem, borders, settlements, refugees, security, water and bilateral relations," he said.
The Palestinians want detailed agreement and a timetable for the implementation of solutions to some of the key disputes, while the Israelis want a broader, more general document with no timetable. The disagreement has threatened to derail the conference entirely.
But on Monday, Mr Olmert appeared to suggest he might be open to compromise on one of the thorniest issues - the status of Jerusalem.
He questioned the logic of a decision to include Palestinian areas within the city's expanded boundaries after Israel captured them in the 1967 Middle East war.
"Was it necessary to annex the Shufat refugee camp, al-Sawahra, Walajeh and other villages and state that this is also Jerusalem?" Mr Olmert asked in a speech to the Knesset.
"I must admit, one can ask some legitimate questions on the issue," he told parliament.
I would like to state my opinion on the new development and the U.S led campaign for an independance of Palestine in a few short paragraphs. According to Palestinian sources there is a feeling of optimism and joy in the air as peace talks such as these. Where the occupied territories of 1967, are being so openly recognised as belonging to the Palestinians, and these words have not been uttered since the Oslo agreement, and probably further back in the 1948, U.N partition plan.
However, there is also a feeling of mistrust amongst Palestinians and people in the wider community alike. They feel this will be nothing more than bureaucracy in order to improve the Republicans election campaign. The status quo, painted as promising and hopeful. Perhaps even a temporary solution, like placing a bandage over a flesh wound. Infact there is growing speculation that this is a final measure in order to win credibility by the Bush administration, in order to funnel support for an Israeli led offensive on Iran.
Personally I believe that this is a major development, and I can only imagine the chanting of young Palestinian boys and girls as they gain independance and become recognised as a sovereign state.
I admit hearing Ehud Olmert (a man I still largely despise for his actions in the 2006 Lebanon war, where he authorised excessive force) saying "Was it necessary to annex...", almost brought tears of joy to my eyes. Almost as if this small piece of land which is at the center of so many conflicts, may finally be resolved. Sadly, and I say this with utmost lament to the way things have progressed; The great Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin, never did live to see this major development in modern times.
They both died as martyrs to their cause, which was to live in unity and peace. Even though it was in a two state solution, atleast both were to be sovereign. Sadly, they were both executed for their pressure on Israel, Palestine and the United Nations.
However, none can be blamed for remaining sceptical at both the timing of this development and the signatories or involved parties. The leader of the elected govenment of the Palestinian territories (of the Hamas party), was not invited to attend this conference, which is quite startling. Instead Abbass (The leader of the countries only opposition, and one of the Signatories of the Oslo Accords), is the Palestinian representative.
Which shows that Israel might still be up to its dirty tricks. It supported Hamas when Fatah was in power. Now that Hamas is in power, it's supporting Fatah. Which leads one to question what is their true intention. However, I'm not going to be cynical where it's not needed, infact this is a cause for celebration (and scepticism) for the mean time!
tl;dr! Woot! Free Palestine!
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