Arab Columnists: Stopping the Negotiations Will Harm the Palestinians

In an article titled "Mu'allem the Teacher," the editor of the London daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, Tariq Alhomayed, argued that 'Abbas should not insist on the settlement freeze, because ultimately settlements are not an obstacle to peace, as was demonstrated by the Israeli-Egypt peace accords. He added that 'Abbas should take a page out of the book of Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mu'allem, who promoted Syria's interests by expressing a willingness to renew the negotiations with Israel over the Golan, and did not demanded that Israel freeze its settlements there. The following are excerpts from his article, as it appeared in the daily's English-language edition:[1]

"This article's title does not aim to ridicule Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mu'allem [whose surname in Arabic means 'teacher'], but rather to shed light on the free lesson that he has taught the Palestinian president regarding how to deal with the peace file. For while Mahmoud 'Abbas is seeking Arab cover for each step in the peace negotiations with Israel, and particularly [for steps regarding] the settlement issue, [and is] threatening to pull out of the negotiations without telling us what other alternative there is, Mu'allem has toured New York with diplomacy and tact, serving the interests of his own country without regard for the opinion of the general public and without looking for backing.

"At the UN, Mu'allem spoke about the negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians, saying that 'in Israel there is much talk about peace, yet the drums of war continue to sound…The relentless settlement activities are close to making the two-state solution a dead letter that stands no chance of survival.' A nice statement for anyone who likes hearing clichés such as this!

"However, in New York, Mu'allem was also concerned with resuming the [indirect] Syrian –Israeli negotiations, according to Assistant Secretary of State, Phillip J. Crowley... Crowley said that Mu'allem was 'very interested' in pursuing [indirect] peace talks with Israel and that 'there was a pledge that we would develop some ideas going forward on how to proceed.'

"More importantly, in answer to a question put forward by Al-Sharq Al-Awsat as to whether Mu'allem had brought up the issue of a the settlement freeze during his meeting with [U.S. Secretary of State Hillary] Clinton, Crowley said, 'I know that they touched on where the Palestinian and Israeli track stood, but it was not a significant area. They went past that right to their own direct interests.'

"This is the crux of the matter, and something that 'Abbas has yet to learn: Everybody is looking out for their own interests, while the Palestinian cause is just slogans. Therefore we see Hamas – which is searching for a role – alternatively throwing itself into the arms of the Iranians and into the arms of the Syrians, whilst not hesitating to court the U.S. [as well], now that its demands have become similar to those of the Palestinian Authority. All this has taken place without Hamas being subjected to criticism or looking for backing!

"The same applies to the Syrians, who have reiterated their willingness to resume negotiations despite what Israel is doing every day in the Golan Heights. Damascus has not called for a halt to construction there. This is because it understands that if a peace deal is reached, neither the Palestinians nor the Syrians... will [have to] foot the bill for [Israel's] construction. This is clever of the Syrians, because it means that the settlements are not an obstacle to peace, and this is something that we previously saw with regards to the Egypt-Israel peace treaty.

"Therefore the most important statement that Mu'allem made in New York – which is a lesson that 'Abbas has not yet learned – is that 'we desire to make peace,' and that Syria makes its own decisions.'Abbas must remember that both he and the Palestinian cause enjoy international support.' Abbas should revisit Obama's speech to the UN General Assembly and pay attention to the applause he got when he said that he hoped to see a new member state, [namely Palestine], joining the UN by next year...

"Therefore, the message that we send to President 'Abbas is, 'take your decision and negotiate... Expose Israel in front of the international community. Make your goal the announcement of the State of Palestine, regardless of how the Israelis try to delay this. If you want something done right, do it yourself!'"

Al-Arabiya TV Director: Neither 'Arafat Nor the Syrians Ever Demanded a Settlement Freeze

'Abd Al-Rahman Al-Rashed, Al-Arabiya TV director and former editor of Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, wrote that by focusing on the demand to halt construction in the settlements, 'Abbas has made this the main issue, and has neglected other more important issues such as Jerusalem and the refugees' right of return. The following are excerpts from a translation of his article, also published in the English edition of Al-Sharq Al-Awsat:[2]

"Palestinian President Mahmoud 'Abbas deserves the award for the world's Worst Negotiator... Despite my appreciation of this noble man, [I believe] he made a mistake by reducing the demands of the Palestinian people to one request, namely that all settlement construction be stopped. This has now become the highest of his ambitions. In doing so, 'Abbas has pleased two parties: the extremist Israelis, and Hamas, which seeks to sabotage any negotiations that it is not a part of...

"Ending settlement construction has become ['Abbas's] supreme ambition, instead of issues such as the liberation of the occupied lands, the refugees' right of return, Jerusalem as the capital [of Palestine], sovereignty, and the independent state. Now Mahmoud 'Abbas can sleep happily in the knowledge that negotiations will cease [by his insistence]. Of course, whilst 'Abbas is sleeping comfortably, settlement construction will continue. One can be confident that he will return to the negotiations in a year's time, and by that time the Israelis will have constructed thousands of houses, further expanding their settlements, and Obama will be busy preparing for the presidential elections. What is the value of such a demand [to cease construction in the settlements], which Yasser Arafat never demanded, nor have the Syrians requested it during their negotiations over the Golan Heights?

"The [Israeli] settlers celebrated Mahmoud 'Abbas's ultimatum, and thanked him for his moral stance, before returning to their old practices of climbing scaffolds and mixing cement. As for the ordinary Palestinian, he continues to look forward to this opportunity, which seems to be vanishing amidst bitter disappointment. The ordinary Palestinian is conscious that his leaders will bargain for less later on – the same old tragedy that has been repeating [itself] since 1948.

"The Palestinian President has put himself in a difficult corner, and does not know how to escape it. He has wasted Obama's time, and has thus wasted his American bargaining chips, which he could have used for more significant issues. [Yet] strangely, Mahmoud 'Abbas... should [actually] be happy, because he has in fact made a considerable gain, namely that the mediator, President Barack Obama, has reduced the negotiation timeframe to only one year, instead of two. This achievement is more important than stopping settlement construction. A one-year negotiation period will prevent procrastination, instigate serious negotiation, and shorten the time [available for] settlement construction. Most importantly, Obama will have at least a one year respite, prior to the 2012 U.S. presidential elections.

"Even if Netanyahu suspended settlement construction again, it would only be a symbolic 'retreat,' and the suspension would last for another three months. What gains will the Palestinian delegation make if settlement construction is frozen for another 90 days?

"It is for this reason that I decided to give Mahmoud 'Abbas the Award for Worst Negotiator in the world. Even with his insistence [to continue negotiations only if settlement construction stops], nobody has thanked him. Hamas claims to have imposed this stance upon him, [and] Israel still challenges him, whether [it decides to] freeze settlement construction or to continue with it.

"Thus, the settlements will remain the story on everyone's lips, [and people will] ask: Do mobile homes count as settlements? Is a bathroom enlargement in a house considered settlement expansion? Is the construction of a school part of settlement construction? Settlements have become the story – but what about the land, Jerusalem and the refugees?"

Arab Columnists: Continuing the Negotiations Will Improve the Palestinians' Position in the World

Columnist Faisal Abu Khadra wrote in the Jerusalem daily Al-Quds: "I urge the brave president Abu Mazen ['Abbas] to carry on with the negotiations and to continue pressuring the U.S. to minimize, as far as possible, the damage of the ongoing settlement [activity] – because [the issues of] Jerusalem, the refugees, the water, and the borders are more important than the [issue of additional] housing units constructed in existing settlements."[3]

Al-Sharq Al-Awsat columnist 'Adel Darwish complained that "both sides wasted 10 months before the negotiations began, [and now the negotiations] are in danger of collapse." He wondered how the leader of the Palestinian people could back down from his historic decision and place the matter into the hands of the Arab League foreign ministers – for no foreign minister puts the interests of some other nation before the interests of his own. Darwish concluded that "the behavior of 'Abbas and Netanyahu raises doubts as to whether they are serious about attaining a true peace."[4]

Another Al-Sharq Al-Awsat columnist, 'Ali Ibrahim, wrote: "Withdrawing from the negotiations will give the Palestinian nothing and will not stop the settlements. On the contrary: things will become harder with every [new] round of talks, months or years [from now]. Moreover, lack of hope will engender an atmosphere of violence, creating a new and unpredictable reality.

"On the other hand, continuing the direct talks will improve the position of the Palestinian negotiators vis-à-vis the international sponsors and forces, [by demonstrating to the latter] that the Palestinians are the side that is pursuing the path of peace and looking for solutions, rather than [the side] that tries to sabotage [the negotiations] or withdraw from them whenever a problem comes up. Moreover, [we] will not miss the current opportunity to lay down [the principles of] the final settlement, because everything will be documented and international guarantees will be granted...

"The present opportunity justifies some risk taking, and the negotiations should be pursued to the end, while circumventing obstacles and surprises here and there, if only for the sake of discovering what lies at the end of the road."[5]