Annapolis disappoints

 

 

“There may have been no shortage of arguments for pessimism, but there are a few strong reasons not to give up just yet.” And that is precisely what Arab and Israeli leaders were trying to do in Annapolis, Maryland. Nothing much was expected from a peace-conference that was pegged as “doomed” from the very beginning. However, President Bush must be given credit for starting a process that seemed to hit the dead end seven years ago—the process to make Israelis and Arabs talk.

After months of squabbling over the actual text of the declaration, President Bush finally was successful in securing the concord of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to what is being called as a “joint understanding” on future negotiations on an independent Palestinian state. Nevertheless, the declaration, sadly, contained aspirations rather than principles and fell far short of Palestinian hopes of a more elaborate outline for the negotiation. Israel refused to work under a tight deadline and said that it will “make every effort” to conclude an agreement by the end of 2008.

Israel occupied Arab settlements of Golan Heights, Gaza Strip and West Bank during the Arab-Israeli war of 1967. Yet neither was there a mention of Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory nor was there any reference to another key issue, the status of East Jerusalem, the return of which the Palestinians seek for their capital. Reacting on the result, noted Israeli commentator Saul Singer told TSI: “The US will never ask Israel to compromise on security. The result of easing the pressure on the terrorist infrastructure will be more dead Israelis and Palestinians.”

The leaders on both sides of the negotiating table were only too aware of their need for consolidating their position at home. While Olmert does not have much support in Israel, Mahmoud Abbas does not represent even a fraction of the Palestinian people. One who does—Hamas—maintained that “the only dialogue with the enemy will be with rifles and rockets.”

Talking to TSI, noted Washington based Palestinian expert, Hisham Melhem said: “The Palestinians had another setback at Annapolis, a calamity similar to what they experienced after Camp David in 2000. The US missed another opportunity to do the right thing. It is all sham.” Clearly, disappointment marked the talks that generated great expectations.