U.S. Backing Of Palestine Becomes Key Bargaining Chip

by N. Janardhan

Many were hoping that the recent diplomatic boost the Palestinian cause received in the wake of the Sept. 11 bombings from the United States and Europe, particularly Britain, would signal a positive turn in the peace process.

Coming against what seemed to be an inherent realization that the crisis over international terrorism is related to frustration over the Palestinian cause and what critics call the "fundamentally flawed" American approach to the Middle Eastern conflict, the statements from the White House and Downing Street were welcome.

But then came the jolt with the assassination earlier this month of Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi -- the first Israeli Cabinet minister ever to be assassinated -- in a revenge killing by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, whose leader Abu Ali Mustafa had been shot dead as part of Israel's policy of "targeted killing" a few months ago.

What followed was mayhem: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon cut all contacts with the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and sent his army into six PNA-administered towns in the West Bank, asking the Palestinians to turn over those suspected of killing Zeevi. This unleashed a new wave of violence, claiming more than 50 lives in 10 days.

Palestinian political analyst Ghasan Al Khatib says, "Israel's ability to reoccupy Palestinian-ruled areas at will has set a precedent which threatens arrangements which took effect after the Oslo interim peace accords were signed in 1993."

Israel has since withdrawn from two towns after coming under intense pressure from the U.S. administration. But critics say a lot of damage has already been done -- not just for the Muslims, but also for the Christian community because of Israel's violent actions in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, which is a PNA-controlled area.

Archbishop Hanna Atallah, spokesman of the Greek Orthodox Church in the Holy Land, says: "Throughout the past 2,000 years, the road between Jerusalem and Bethlehem has never been blocked the way it was the last few days. In the era of Israeli occupation, these two cities were separated by force and this in itself is an act of terror and racism that contradicts all spiritual values of civilization and humanity."

What is more alarming are rumors that Israel may be planning to assassinate Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and destabilize the PNA.

Regardless of the authenticity of the claim, it has sent shockwaves through the region.

Dr. Musa Keilani, a Jordan-based journalist, says: "It was no knee-jerk reaction -- the no-holds-barred approach Israel assumed following Bush's public endorsement that Washington always saw the creation of a Palestinian state as the natural outcome of the peace process."

"Sharon understood that Bush's comments reflected an implicit realization that the attacks on the United States had some link with the Muslim and Palestinian frustrations. Israel could ill-afford that realization in a serving American president," he says.

Sharon's ministers went to the extent of warning Bush that the support that Israel enjoys in the U.S. Congress was enough to ensure that the president would be overridden on the issue of Palestinian independence and statehood.

But the also Arabs realize that they have their best bargaining chip in recent history -- the Muslim world's support for the U.S.-led attacks in Afghanistan. And the U.S. seems to understand it.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia, the two Middle East powers and the United States' closest allies in the region, have repeatedly called for a proactive international intervention to stem the crisis. That voice seems to have gained strength after Sept. 11.

Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz: "The international community must deplore and condemn aggression by Israeli occupation authorities against the Palestinians, as the world wages war on all forms of international terrorism."

Commenting about a link between the Sept. 11 attacks and U.S. and other policies toward the Middle East, Mubarak said: "The world will never see the end of terrorism if the Palestinian question is not resolved."

Meantime, like in all crises, the Palestinian common people are the most affected.

Abu Ahmad, a boutique owner in Ramallah, says: "We have not been doing any business lately. I come to my shop in the morning, open up, read newspapers and go home sometimes without even selling a single pair of trousers."

He says in the beginning he managed to cope, but after a whole year of lack of work, his savings has dwindled and he will soon be unable to buy basic items for his family.

In the past, he recalls, there were always ups and downs in the security situation, but today "we are witnessing a phenomenon of continued deterioration in which you find yourself spending more and more money while having no income."

Abu Ahmad says that all he needs -- along with thousands of other business owners in the Palestinian areas -- is a return to normal life for some time, to see if a political deal can still be reached.

"We do not fight for the sake of fighting but in order to achieve a better position in future talks and I guess that is exactly what will happen," he adds.

According to Shawqi Issa, executive director of the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment: "As long as the international community fails to take a strong position against the crimes being committed by Israel, this same community shares the responsibility of gross violations of human rights being committed on a daily basis against Palestinians."

PV Vivekanand, editor of a Gulf daily, says: "The worst mistake Israel ever made in the Middle East peace process was taking the Palestinian people for granted and assuming that the decades of brutal occupation have coopted them into accepting that they were not a match to Israel's military might and, as such, they should be thankful to whatever Israel was willing to offer them."

Agreements were reached, he argues, but they involved Palestinian compromises more than Israeli "concessions."

Keilani says: "The requirements of peace are clear: The Israeli leadership should treat its Palestinian counterpart as an equal partner in the quest for peace instead of looking at it as an enemy to be handled with contempt and hostility."