Israeli-Palestinian Peace Gets Closer

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright Septembre 23, 2010
All Rights Reserved.                                

             Speaking to the U.N. General Assembly, President Obama urged both Israelis and Palestinians to remain focused on a peace deal, asking Israeali Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to renew a moratorium on building in the West Bank.  Ten months ago Netayahu declared a building freeze on in the West Bank and Jerusalem, paving the way for peace talks that began on Sept. 2.  Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on Israel to continue its 10-month-old freeze on West Bank building, opening the doors for more peace talks.  With Netanyahu’s 10-month freeze on West Bank building slated to end Sunday, Sept. 26, Obama insisted the building halt “made a difference on the ground, and improved the atmosphere for talks.  Both sides know that, with or without a construction freeze, Palestinians stand to gain valuable completed developments in any negotiated peace deal.

            Timing for talks this time around appear different from previous peace attempts that went south.  What differs this time is not the extent of Israeli concessions or willingness to compromise but the Abbas recognition that a peace deal would force Hamas, the governing entity in Gaza, to either accept a peace deal or face inevitable war.  Abbas has tried but failed to get Gaza’s Ismail Haniyeh to recognize his supreme authority with the Palestinian people.  Since Hamas won parliamentary elections Jan. 27, 2006, they have refused to capitulate to U.S. or Israeli attempts at peace.  Only a year-and-a-half later, Hamas evicted the Palestinian Authority from Gaza June 14, 2007.  When former conservative Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ordered Israel out of Gaza Sept. 12, 2005, the world hoped for peace.  Hamas has sabotaged every peace deal since seizing Gaza.

            When the Israelis pulled out of Gaza in 2005, the Palestinians benefited from nearly 40 years of Israeli construction and infrastructure development.  While some radicals torched Israeli developments, the vast majority of Israeli settlements and construction projects continue benefit the Palestinians.  Abbas knows that more Israeli construction in Jerusalem or the West Bank only gives Palestinians a running start on an independent Palestinian state.  Netanyahu faces a mutiny within his Likud Party for not resuming settlement construction.  “We have decided that the best way to end the freeze is to begin building,” said Danny Danon, deputy speaker of Israel’s parliament, demonstrating the kind of defiance facing Netanyahu.  Under pressure from his own  base, Abbas also faces the kind of counterproductive pressure to end peace talks unless the Israelis freeze new building.

            Abbas knows he can’t allow Hamas to sabotage talks this time around.  Without a deal with U.S. backing, he’s going to lose his grip on power in the West Bank.  “I cannot say I will leave the negotiations, but it’s very difficult for me to resume talks if Prime Minister Netanyahu declares that he will continue his [settlement] activity in the West Bank and Jerusalem,” signaling new flexibility.  Netanyahu has no intention of ending the moratorium given the progress in peace talks.  With Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton leading the way, both Netanyahu and Abbas want to seize the moment.  Abbas’ negotiation team headed by former Yasser Arafat right hand aid Saeb Erekat, knows that Hamas won’t cooperate in any peace deal.  More than ever, Abbas’ Palestinian Authority realizes that survival and that of the late Arafat’s Fatah movement, depends on a peace.

            Netanyahu, whose conservative Likud Party has traditionally taken a tough line on peace negotiations, appears ready to meet Abbas halfway.   Brokering a peace deal, which offers Abbas and independent Palestinian state, provides the best security to Israel moving forward.  Israel’s security is best met by a comprehensive settlement with at least half the Palestinian population in the West Bank.  Whether Hamas rejects the deal or not, Abbas would have added leverage to reclaim sovereignty in Gaza.  Signing a peace deal would force Hamas to accept Palestinian Authority sovereignty or invite the U.S. and Israel to help expel the militant group from Gaza.  U.S. officials, led by Hillary, want to pressure Hamas into accepting the peace deal or relinquish control of Gaza, something Damascus-based Hamas refuses to do.  Abbas knows that some kind of peace deal remains within reach

            Israelis and Palestinians, led by Abbas, seem dead serious this time around about brokering a peace deal leading to an independent Palestinian State.  Past peace efforts were sabotaged by radical elements inside Israel and the Palestinian territories.  What makes the situation different this time around involves Abbas’ recognition that his survival depends on brokering a deal with Israel.  Hamas can no longer torpedo a peace agreement when the vast majority of Israelis and Palestinians have had enough war and hardship and now seek a better life through peace.  However jaded certain Israelis and Palestinians are about the prospects for peace, Netanyahu and Abbas see only pluses in resolving the 62-year-old conflict.  What Arafat couldn’t get done before his suspicious death Nov. 11, 2004, Abbas now believes that a sovereign Palestinian state is well within his reach.

About the Author  

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.