Wizbang’s Jay Tea asks a simple question
Can anyone — ANYONE — ever cite a single example where the Palestinians were called upon to make any sort of concession or “good faith gesture” and actually kept it? Just once?
It’s a good question. Unfortunately, the answer isn’t very encouraging. With the Palestinians, there were obligations that, by now, have been defined down to “good faith gestures.” For example see In Mideast, Rice Pushes Annapolis Talks
The first phase of the road map called for confidence-building security measures, including Palestinian action against armed groups, Israeli dismantlement of settlement outposts and the easing of restrictions on Palestinian movements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The Annapolis document, in its new format, would state that negotiations were proceeding toward the “final status” core issues.
For the Palestinians taking arms against a sea of terrorist groups is a “confidence building measure.” That’s how it goes in this parallel peace making universe. A step that most would consider a fundamental obligation of the Palestinians is now a “confidence building measure.”
On the Israeli side, the Palestinians no doubt consider dismantling settlements to be necessary, but nothing that Israel has signed has so obligated them. And it’s absurd to characterize “easing of restrictions” as a “security measure.” It is a measure that puts Israel’s security at risk and is done in the absence of Palestinian measures against terrorists.
Still calling a primary Palestinian obligation a “confidence building measure” is beyond absurd.
Crossposted on Socer Dad.
To the contrary, I think this is NOT a “final status” issue and I would argue that it is a “confidence building measure” in that if they at least “crackdown” on the terrorist groups at the very beginning, we can have “some” confidence that there is “some” chance they will uphold the rest of the agreements.
Without this issue addressed, there is no reason to move forward on anything else!
The endless talk of what’s on the table is just to keep the media — and us — occupied. Meanwhile, nothing real can happen until the Arab side gets its act together. We need to see it construct a civil society, which includes shutting down gangs and militias, and develop transparent financial institutions and an independent judiciary.
Olmert can agree to turn over anything he pleases, although the nation may not follow through on his promises, but it will lead neither to peace nor even to a real Palestinian government if they aren’t interested in the mechanics of governing. So far thay have shown neither interest nor aptitude for it.
I have no confidence in a two-state solution. They already have Jordan. let them go there and leave Eretz Yisrael to its rightful people.
I believe that they kept their word to their axis allies in the second phase of the World War. I also think that they kept their word to their Ottoman masters to only pretend to help the British in the first phase of the World War.