In Peace Negotiations, Israel Claims Progress but Feigns Commitment

Israel Welcomes Mitchell by Committing More Violations and Strengthening Feelings of Hatred

Over the past few weeks, both Israel and the United States have issued statements proclaiming that because some progress has been made, negotiations between Israel and Palestine should move from proximity talks to direct talks. However, Palestine opposes the move to direct talks, claiming that there has been no progress whatsoever, especially regarding the issues of borders and security.

U.S. Middle East Peace Envoy George Mitchell will visit the region in order to persuade the Palestinians to accept the new developments and demands. Israel preceded his last tour with more violations, which only demonstrated the lack of a true commitment by the Israeli government to make progress in establishing the necessary conditions of a just peace.

The Israeli forces have destroyed a number of houses in Jerusalem and elsewhere; resumed construction on hundreds of settlements in the sacred city; seized more land in the West Bank; gone to extremes in their policy of displacing people; and bombed some sites in Gaza again, which led to injury and death among the Palestinians. Israeli leaders have repeatedly refused to include Jerusalem in negotiations, and yet a throng of extremist Jews gathered at the ancient gates of Jerusalem asking for permanent access to the sacred city.

Israel talks openly about progress and their commitment to pay the price of peace, but in reality they practice the very opposite. Israel and its prime minister rely entirely on military power, international politics and diplomacy to influence decision-makers, but omit facts that cannot be ignored by reasonable people.

The two-state solution would benefit not only Palestine but also provide a basic solution for Israel and benefit the United States, as confirmed by the White House. The only way Israel can enjoy recognition and a stable existence in the Middle East is through peace and the two-state solution. Force cannot last forever, and neither will the weak situation and oppression of the Arab people, especially because Israel is forcing the whole region — including the Arab countries that maintain either official or unofficial diplomatic relations with it — toward internal crisis. Israel’s practices and repeated violations provide a continuous motivation for hatred, making it difficult for any Arab or Muslim to believe in Israel’s good faith or its willingness to actually achieve the desired equality. In this way, Israel becomes its own enemy in the middle- and long-term, despite its ignorance of this in the present and short-term.