By Moshe Dann Friday, August 27, 2010
During a debate on Tuesday between former Meretz MK Yossi Beilin, left-wing architect of the Oslo Accords and right-wing National Union MK Aryeh Eldad, the latter challenged the former’s elaborate scheme of moving towards the establishment of a second Arab Palestinian state, and his fundamental premise.
“This is not a territorial dispute,” Eldad asserted, “but a theological one, a religious war. The Arabs consider Israel Wakf land (under Muslim authority) and therefore they cannot and will not recognize a state run by infidels – Jews – under any circumstances.”
Beilin dismissed this as a “philosophical argument,” and refused to respond. “I am here as a technical expert” he insisted. Eldad offered a medical model to expose the problem: A doctor prescribes antibiotics, but his diagnosis is incorrect, and the patient remains sick. This explains why efforts to achieve a compromise with Arabs have not worked, and will not.
According to Eldad, as long as refusing to recognize the right of a Jewish state to exist and to accept the right of Jewish national self-determination are fundamental beliefs, peace negotiations will not only fail, inherently, they must.
Beilin’s refusal to accept this operative assumption, his focus on technical adjustments, land swaps, transfers of power, etc. are based on the belief that one day the Arabs will change and accept Israel. In order for that to happen, however, it would require an unprecedented theological upheaval.
Even if a secular, “moderate” Arab Palestinian leader took such a position, Eldad suggested, he would be quickly dispatched by radical and vastly more powerful elements. Beilin’s refusal to relate to the importance of the theological issues is understandable; it means that technical adjustments are insufficient.
Avoiding such critical issues, and others, such as demands for the “Palestinian right of return” to Israel, the expulsion of all Jews from territory under PA control, supporting incitement and terrorism, not only prevent any meaningful peace process, it encourages Palestinian resistance.
Dodging the issues
Beilin’s dilemma – and that of the Left - is that allowing “theological” and “philosophical” issues to enter the discussion threaten any solution based on technical proposals; but the reality of Arab/Muslim anathema towards a Jewish state is the elephant in the room. If there is no way of reconciling these basic axioms, that leaves Israel in a state of permanent conflict.
Beilin wants to avoid this situation by offering concessions, hoping that at some point in the distant future, Arabs and Muslims will accept Israel’s existence. Eldad prefers to maintain Israel’s strategic advantages, hoping that our enemies will tire of conflict, or be defeated, and eventually learn to live with Israel.
But, if the Left is in denial about Arab and Muslim intentions and beliefs, Beilin would argue that the Right is in denial about Israel’s ability to withstand pressure from the international community to “end the occupation,” a growing isolation and demonization, the “demographic (Arab) time bomb,” and its future as a democratic state.
Eldad charges Beilin’s left-wing policies re suicidal; Beilin charges Eldad’s right-wing policies are threatening the future of the State. The question seems to be not which has the greatest potential for success, but which has the least potential for disaster. And, which options allow for survival.
These are the parameters for Israeli and Arab leaders as they maneuver with each other and the international community. Neither side can afford to be in denial of realities – regardless of how they are perceived. Their ability to come to terms with reality will be a measure of their success.
Arab antipathy for Jews and Israel, like it or not, is a reality; it will not go away with land swaps or payoffs, and it is not “irrelevant,” as Beilin would have us believe. The danger of denial is that it leads to delusion, false hopes, and ultimately, despair, and sometimes violence. We’ve been there; we can do better with our eyes wide open.
Beilin dodged all the important issues that have plagued negotiations for decades: Israel’s legitimacy, an end to terrorism, Arab refugees, and Jerusalem. After so many failures, one would think he would have learned something.
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/27031
Moshe Dann
Moshe Dann was an Assisant Professor of History at CUNY and other institutions in the NYC area before moving to Israel 30 years ago. Moshe is a writer and journalist living in Jerusalem. Moshe can be reached at: moshedan@netvision.net.il
Wastewater treatment project in Gaza gets World Bank funds
http://www.waterworld.com/index/display/article-display.articles.waterworld.world-regions.middle-east.2010.08.Wastewater-treatment-in-Gaza.QP129867.dcmp=rss.page=1.html
GAZA, Aug. 26, 2010 -- The World Bank Board of Directors approved today an additional financing grant of $7 million for the North Gaza Emergency Sewage Treatment (NGEST) project. The grant will support the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant under the second phase of the project and will provide a long term solution to the treatment of wastewater in the Northern Governorate of Gaza.
The project benefits a population of about 250,000 people living in the communities of Jabalya, Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun, and Um Al Nasser. The primary objective of the first phase of the project was to mitigate the immediate health and environmental safety threats to the communities surrounding the effluent lake at the old Beit Lahiya wastewater treatment plant that was first designed to serve a population of 50,000. The effluent lake has been drained and the wastewater is being managed at the new site pending completion of the new treatment plant.
"We are now moving towards achieving a much needed long-term solution," said Richard Pollard, Senior Water and Sanitation Specialist, "The construction of a modern wastewater treatment plant will provide advanced secondary treatment sufficient for water reuse for agriculture, as well as environmental remediation for the land at the Beit Lahiya site."
"This development project has a noteworthy impact," added Mariam Sherman, Country Director for West Bank and Gaza, "Eliminating the imminent threat of flooding due to severe overloading of the outdated Beit Lahyia wastewater treatment plant was a true success. However, adequate sanitation, treatment and disposal of wastewater, are basic services to which Gaza's population is entitled."
The project is a result of strong collaboration between the Palestinian Water Authority, the World Bank, Sweden, Belgium, France, the European Commission and the European Investment Bank. It is also supported by Quartet Representative, Tony Blair. Project implementation is conducted in close coordination with the Israeli Government.
The NGEST is the fourth in a series of water and sanitation projects supported by the World Bank, through the Trust Fund for Gaza and West Bank, since 1993. World Bank contribution to the project has totaled $26.8 million.
For more information on the World Bank's work in West Bank and Gaza, please visit www.worldbank.org/ps
UN Gaza flotilla fact-finding mission concludes visit to Turkey
27/08/2010
http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/detail/100679.html
The international independent fact-finding mission appointed by the President of the Human Rights Council to investigate the Gaza flotilla incident has concluded its one week visit to Turkey.
The three high-level experts interviewed witnesses and government officials on the incident in which nine Turkish passengers died on 31 May 2010 when Israeli forces intercepted a flotilla with humanitarian aid headed for Gaza.
In addition, technical and legal experts accompanying the mission held meetings with forensic and judiciary officials and also inspected the ship Mavi Marmara.
The fact-finding mission will visit Jordan for one week starting on Sunday to interview witnesses based in Jordan and in neighbouring countries.
Juan Carlos Monge is the Coordinator for the mission's Secretariat.
"The high level experts decided to have four venues to interview witnesses from different countries. They decided to interview witnesses in Geneva, in London, in Istanbul, and in Amman, Jordan. And after interviewing witnesses and in gathering official information, if they deem it necessary to find a way to go into Israel they will make it public and they will request it accordingly."
The fact-finding mission will prepare a report to be submitted to the Human Rights Council in September.
Dianne Penn, United Nations Radio.
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