North peace process has one major lesson for Israel
I would argue there is one major message, and that is the recognition by the British government that one makes peace with one’s enemies and not one’s friends.
Negotiations in Northern Ireland were conducted with elected members of parties which were representing so-called ‘terrorists’.
Israel, unfortunately supported by the west, has on many occasions refused to negotiate with democratically-elected Palestinian governments.
Mr Cohen should also remember that essential element of the Northern Ireland peace process, which equally applies to an Israeli-Palestinian settlement, is that both communities would achieve a ‘peace dividend’.
Mr Cohen goes on to present the usual Israeli analysis of the situation — one in which it is the Palestinians who refuse to negotiate, engage in terrorism, wilfully destroy infrastructure and economic opportunities and are the main cause of their present horrendous situation.
Let’s have a reality check: the Palestinian economy was not showing signs that it would “flourish and grow” in 2000. Rather it was in decline due to (1) Israel’s refusal to implement the Oslo economic protocols and (2) the policy of closure. It was not the Palestinians who ‘abandoned’ the Camp David/Taba negotiations, but rather Barak who was fearful of making concessions with an election on the horizon.
The outbreak of the second intifada did not involve a “wave of terror attacks on Israel”.
These attacks only began after Israel’s totally disproportionate response to the riots by ordinary, unarmed Palestinians during which a UN inquiry found “the Israeli arm... endured not a single casualty’ while hundreds of Palestinians were killed by gunfire.
Mr Cohen also states “that Israel is willing to make huge sacrifices for peace”.
What exactly are these “huge sacrifices” we keep hearing about?
The biggest sacrifice we have seen in the process so far is by the Palestinians who have been prepared to negotiate on the basis of a two-state solution, ie, they have ceded the right to 78% of Palestine.
As always in an Israeli analysis, the word ‘occupation’ never appears.
No mention of the large number of Palestinian deaths and injuries through bombings and incursions by the Israeli occupying forces.
No mention of the huge, wanton destruction carried out by Israel during these incursions.
And no mention of the thousands of houses demolished and olive trees destroyed during these raids.
No mention of the daily humiliation and restrictions imposed on Palestinians with its negative impact of economic growth, unemployment, social and cultural life.
No mention of babies and cancer victims dying because they are not allowed through checkpoints.
As for Gaza, from which apparently Israel withdrew in its ‘efforts for peace’, there is no mention that Israel has just reorganised the occupation with its total control over the land, sea and air spaces of Gaza. making it the world’s largest open-air prison.
And no mention that the Gaza port project and the Gaza airport — both funded by members of the EU — were destroyed by the Israeli occupying forces.
Gaza’s suffering is no less than the sufferings in the West Bank, as both constitute the future state of Palestine.
Until Israel is prepared to admit its role in the ongoing dispossession of the Palestinians and recognise the suffering they have caused to the Palestinians over the past 60 years, there will be no prospect of peace — under any model of conflict resolution.
Yussef Dorkhom
Counsellor
General Delegation of Palestine
10 Mount Merrion Ave
Blackrock
Co Dublin
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