So it’s back to where we were in 1992. Indirect “proximity” talks between Israel and the PLO/PA are finally set to begin once again, possibly within days. It’s despressing to realize that this is actually considered to be a step forward, especially after two decades of the “peace process”.
Amidst the renewal of talks, we have begun to observe yet another dual narrative. This time, however, it isn’t a divide between Hamas and Fatah, but between PA President Mahmoud Abbas and his Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.
President Abbas, whose term as president expired in January of 2009 I might add, is sticking to the Fatah position that has been maintained since Oslo. Mr. Abbas states that he wants a Palestinian state through negotiations with Israel. He places an emphasis on Jerusalem, refugees, and borders. Yet PA intransigence for the past sixteen months has clearly shown that his allegiance remains to Fatah, and not to the Palestinian people.
The strategy practiced by Arafat, Erekat, and now by Abbas is to avoid “peace talks” for as long as possible in order to (a) force more Israeli concessions and (b) receive more money from the international community. We’re talking about the same corrupt party that builds casinos instead of democratic institutions here.
Mr. Fayyad, an independent, on the other hand, is taking a different approach. He speaks of building a Palestinian state “from the bottom up”. This would include planning new cities, paving new roads, reforming the judiciary, and investing in a viable economy for the future. This way of thinking has annoyed Fatah cabinet ministers, who are now urging President Abbas to strip Mr. Fayyad of the finance portfolio.
Mr. Fayyad’s way of thinking is extremely refreshing. Yet he also speaks of “being ready for statehood by August 2011″. What does he mean by that?
The Hamas/Fatah divide combined with an impeding conflict between Israel and Iran, Hezbollah and possibly Syria will ensure that there will be no “solution” negotiated between Israel and the Palestinians by August 2011. Does that mean that Mr. Fayyad is planning a unilateral declaration of independence?
Such a declaration would be extremely dangerous. First, it would sever all economic, humanitarian and security-related arrangements between Israel and the PA. Second, due to the weakness of the PA, it would result in another Hamas takeover and renewed terrorism.
Therefore, negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians seem to be the only concrete way of ever achieving Palestinian statehood at some point in the future. However, if Mr. Fayyad is to ever bring about the creation of a Palestinian state, he’ll need nothing short of the destruction of Hamas followed by an erosion of Fatah, which in turn will allow a Palestinian pro-democracy movement to gain legitimacy.
Such major changes don’t happen overnight. In the meantime, it seems as if renewed talks between Israel and the PA will simply serve as a basis for developing new ideas. With larger-scale regional issues currently in the mix, it seems as if Mr. Fayyad’s vision will remain on the backburner for now.
Zach Paikin is a student at McGill University.
