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E. Glaubach: War in Gaza, An Emergency Call to All Related Governments
Written by Prof. Eliezer Glaubach-Gal, President, Jerusalem Forum for Peace and Security
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
The only solution is the Arab Peace Initiative 2002 for "normal relations" with Israel, backed by the Arab League, that includes 22 Arabic states.
On July 26, 2014 a new round of Gaza ceasefire talks took place in Paris. US Secretary of State John Kerry held talks on a possible long-term ceasefire in Gaza with the foreign ministers of Qatar and Turkey – major state supporters of Hamas – as well as France, Britain and Germany in Paris.
The talks went ahead as thousands of people took part in a pro-Palestinian rally in the French capital despite a police ban on the gathering. After the talks, the top diplomats called for the extension of a 12-hour humanitarian ceasefire.
Israel agreed to extend the ceasefire of 24 hours. But a Hamas spokesman said the Islamist group rejected the extension of the truce.
No representatives from Israel, Egypt or the Palestinian Authority were at the Paris talks.
The deputy leader of the Islamic Jihad, a militant Islamist group allied to Hamas, said Egypt’s mediation efforts were still being considered. But he added that his group was still looking for improvements to the deal and that, in the meantime, the fight would go on.
Hamas has also vowed to keep fighting until Israel and Egypt lift their blockades on the Gaza Strip.
Kerry has been on a diplomatic tour of the Middle East and Egypt this week in an attempt to broker a seven-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas-led militants in Gaza.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri, standing with Kerry at the news conference, backed the call for a pause in fighting for Eid.
As we can see, the regional and international actors related to the vicious war between Gaza and Israel are not able to tackle the situation mainly because of very deep divisions of interests: political, religious, economic, etc.
A comprehensive attitude is needed. The Israeli and the Palestinian nations have been struggling for over one hundred years, and numerous Arab - Israeli peace diplomatic initiatives and treaties have been issued:
- Faisal-Weizmann Agreement (1919)
- Armistice Agreements (1949)
- Camp David Accords (1978)
- Israel - Egypt Peace Treaty (1979)
- Madrid Conference (1991)
- Oslo Accords (1993)
- Israel - Jordan Treaty of Peace (1994)
- Camp David Summit (2000)
- Peace process in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
- Projects working for peace among Israelis and Arabs
- Scores of Middle East peace proposals
The Arab Peace Initiative of 2002 is no doubt both right and comprehensive. It derives from acting Saudi regent, Crown Prince Abdullah, as a potential solution to both the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Arab-Israeli conflict. It was published on March 28, 2002, during the meeting of the Arab League at the Beirut Summit, and achieved the unanimous consent of all members of the Arab League.
Considered a progressive proposal, it calls for the state of Israel to withdraw its forces from all the Palestinian Territories and recognize "an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital" in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as well as a "just solution" for the Palestinian refugees. In exchange, the Arab states affirmed that they would recognize the state of Israel, consider the Arab-Israeli conflict over, and establish "normal relations" with Israel.
The initiative is based upon the proposal, from Saudi Arabia, offering Israel recognition by the Arab countries, including peace agreements and normalization of relations if Israel would agree.
Jordan's foreign minister said: the Arab initiative put forth at the Beirut Summit in March offers comprehensive peace in the region based on the internationally recognized formulation of "land for peace" - a return to June 4, 1967, borders in exchange for normal relations and a collective peace treaty.
In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres welcomed it and said: "... the details of every peace plan must be discussed directly between Israel and the Palestinians, and to make this possible, the Palestinian Authority must put an end to terror, the horrifying expression of which we witnessed just last night in Netanya," referring to the Netanya suicide attack perpetrated on previous evening, which the Beirut Summit failed to address. Many in the Israeli camp argue that this proposal carries a lot less weight coming after the Palestinian Authority rejected Ehud Barak's offer at Camp David.
A compromise was eventually reached, citing the resolution but stating that the League would support any agreement between Israel and Palestinians on the issue.
In conclusion, a global political move agreed up by all factors involved should establish a framework for negotiations based on a road map of stages for implementation of elements in dispute between Israel and the Palestinians and the Arab world. The desirable outcome may lead to a united Palestinian state and normal relations between Israel and all Arabic members of the Arabic League.