Article Number 299 on Articlesbase: Palestinian Interest Is the Principle for the Palestinian Negotiation Team

Article Number 299 on Articlesbase: Palestinian Interest Is the Principle for the Palestinian Negotiation Team

Hasan A. Yahya, Ph.Ds, a writer from the Holy Land.

I will begin with a self talk to say: as an Independent Arab, Palestinian, Jordanian, American (marginal) scholar, I wrotehundreds of articles (this article number 299 on articlesbase). Many of these articles were about the conflict in Palestine. I wrote a book on Arab Palestinians and Jews in 2009. I completed successfully writing and publishing sixty plus books on various topics from religion, to politics and psychology. I was neither invited by the Palestinian Authority or Arab states of the widely accepted intellectual organizations, to explain some of the ideas in my writings. While feeling as an Arab, still constitutes my thinking. I tried to validate my writings by bringing reliable data, and facts, and using resonable methods of thought, but, alas, Arab thinkers are put in the backseat of politics. But, understanding the difficulties in many Arab countries, does not prevent me from writing ideas of common sense, as a thinker knows a little more than lay men, with only two Ph.D degrees, provides solutions for common cause of both Arabs and Palestinians. My background life and career, I lived in Palestine (West Bank) 10 years, 10 years in Jordan, 17 years in Kuwait, and the rest (30 years) in the United States. Visited too many countries around the world, achieved the highest educational degrees, and witnissed the development of Arab and Palestinian history in the last fifty years. This background may give someone in my position, the right to think and write what is right in terms of science and culture, with emphasis on logic and common sense. I hope I succeeded in this regard, in spite of the few thousands of readers and students, who appreciate my efforts as an Arab, Palestinian, Jordanian, and American scholar, therefore, the power of this writer is the power of his logic put in words for Palestinians and Jews live inside or outside Palestine to be learned, understood, appreciated, negotiated and applied for the two states solution. While the one state solution remains utopia, neither solution will reduce animosity and detestation between Jews and Palestinian Arabs. Furthermore, no solution will remain forever, in terms of power and decay of nations. In my view, the most serious "Road Locks" or "Obstacles" facing the Palestinian Authority to continue negotiations with peace in Palestine, are two concern Israel, and two concern the Palestinian side. This writer will emphasize the four serious problems in this article to help Palestinian negotiating team to overcome these obstacles. Concerning Israel the two obstacles are:

The notion of "two states for two peoples", meaning Israel as a Jewish state alongside a Palestinian state, rather than a homogeneous Palestinian state alongside a bi-national Israel.

The notion of building new settlements in the occupied territories.

The Palestinian obstacles can be summarized in these two points:

The disunity of Palestinian decision implies failure of negotiation with Israel.

The short sighted view of the Palestinian negotiation team, and the isolation from Arab states.

The first point does not change Jewish temper or behavior or will to stop believing that Palestine is their Jewish homeland.No matter what Israel wants to be , a Jewish homeland or a Devil homeland, this has nothing to do with negotiation for two states. Who can determine what and how a state could apply its policies to the people. Israel is a Jewish state, wither we accept or reject, its policies toward non-Jews can continue, we can easily describe Israeli policies since 1948, as unfair, racially (or militarily) policies were already determined.

In terms of the settlements, Jews are famous in doing business, when it comes to land value, they know that the land is not theirs in West Bank and Gaza Strip, therefore, they will negotiate to buy or rent, which is possible solutions for peace. To have a Palestinian state, you have the control over the people live under the state flag, wither they are Jews, Arabs, or Christians or else. Policies of the new states will be represented by the people of the land, even the Jews under Palestinian authority. These settlements should be a strong factor support the Palestinian negotiation team not a destroying factor. Because if you accept Israel as a homeland for Jews, Israel have to accept Palestine state as a homeland of Palestinians (without Jews). This factor brings Arabs 1948, as a bargain for Jews live in the settlements.

In terms of Palestinian disunity, inciting fundamentalism in both Jewish as well Palestinian authorities, made the divide between two fractions in both Israel represented by the Labor Party, and the Lekud Party. The Palestinian side was also divided into two: Hamas and the mainstream Palestinians through Fatah ( or the Palestinian Authority). These divisions should give new insights for negotiators to be aware of disunity powers to influence negotiations continuous situation until reaching the final goal, which is the state of Palestine.

The problems concerning Palestinians, since 2000, 'Provocative' mosque Sharon visit to al-Aqsa Mosque, settlements were rapidly planned and built in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Since then, the Palestinian problem became more and more retreating, because policies toward the occupied territories have changed according to the mentality of Israelis influenced by the radical ministers and fundamentalist religious dogmas, which took place by introducing Netanyahu from America to lead the new policies of Israeli Jewish homeland. The wall was built afterwards, hundreds of settlements were built, to reduce the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state. They succeeded so far, while settlements should not be an excuse for Palestinians to ruin negotiations. I feel with Palestinians, think as a liberal Palestinian, but I look to a bright future for Palestinians, to live free, secured, and safe in their lands and homes in a new free state.

Recent history shows, that the Arab presence in world arena was almost empty, and the short sighted Arab leaders and policy makers to evaluate the situation give them the excuse to make Palestinians work alone. Signs began to stretch from Jordan first, to UAE first, to Morocco first, etc., which I believe deteriorated the decision making among Arab states. Where Qatarization (employment for national replacement of foreigners) took place after Kuwaitization, and Saudaization followed. But Palestinians were accustomed to live side by side with Arab support. But Arab states became more and more neglecting the Palestinian cause from their own policies, internally and externally. They became more preoccupied by the external threats of Saddam Hussein first, then the danger of importing revolution to the Arab states from the Khumeini Shia'h system in Iran. Internally, however, non-employment and displacement of wealth and development factors were preoccupying the Arab world individually rather than collectively, While the Arab League, still absent from the stage as a factor uniting Arabs. The only possible, effective role, is the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC the political and economic union involving the six Arab states of the Persian or Arab Gulf with many economic and social objectives. Such GCCis limited regionally to protect initially the member states wealth and interest directed toward the imaginary threat of (nuclear Muslim nation) Iran as was the main issue for discussion in the recent meeting at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

In fact, the PA should take measures to negotiate with countries other than Arab States about their aspirations of having a state soon, in the case of Arab states, Palestinians concerns in these countries, should be negotiated beside negotiation with Israel. The Palestinian refugees inside and outside Palestine should take a larger chunk and greater discussion in the future map of the State of Palestine. In terms of unity among Palestinians, it is only a matter of time, dogmatic leaders will fall down, in a modern state, where dogmatic people (secular or theology defenders) should not deceive people, in the march of Palestinian people toward freedom. There, should be a new Manifesto for Palestinians to go through the difficult negotiation with Israel, no matter what Israel attempts to make any progress look small toward the final stage of the two states. The new Manifesto, includes open minded mentalities and bold non-traditional ideas, and creating new methods for successful results and solutions concern the interest of ONLY Palestinian people. The writer thinks that Palestinians are close from that stage of the new Manifesto to be the backbone of the new state.

In conclusion, many intellectual (and some political) Palestinians and Arabs may agree with the writer, that Palestinians should take measures to change their course and understanding to negotiations situations, and begin new insights to win some of the lost dreams already made by Israel. Like recognition of Palestinian state, internationally. What Israel want to be, its her business, to be Jewish, to be devils, its up to them. The free life of Palestinians under state rules, will be much better than irresponsible Authority, does not know what is good to the Palestinian public in both the short and long run, These road locks, or obstacles should not be obstacles in the process of negotiation, unfortunately, Israel was the winner in all these obstacles, while Palestinians looked strange to talk about settlements rather than OCCUPATION. If the negotiation for a state, on the grounds of 1967, and UN Resolutions for peace and security, Palestinian team should be equipped with new understanding of the interest of Palestinian people, rather than the interest of the few in authority, and neighboring traditional Arab states. Palestinian interest should be the principle for the new state and no more. Not the settlements or the type of Israeli state. (1594 words) www.askdryahya.com [ Comments are accepted to: palestinevoice1@aol.com ]

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