(The same guy who said of his then hosts, Peace Now Glasgow, "With enemies like you who needs friends?") SG
| Feb, 25, 2011 08:00 PM - Palestine News Network |  |
Bethlehem – PNN - I believe in peace without negotiations, the ambassador told an international gathering Thursday night in Bethlehem. Approximately 200 participants from 15 different countries came to Bethlehem this week for the Eighth Sabeel International Conference: "Challenging Empire: God, Faithfulness and Resistance". Sabeel is an ecumenical liberation theology center based in Jerusalem. The conference will continue until February 28th. We need to agree on the finality (final outcome) and move backwards, rather than step-by-step to nowhere, said Mr. Safieh, at the Sabeel International Conference. Mr. Safieh said it is time to adopt the preference of the international community. He said timing will be key, as there is a need to capitalize on the maturation of public opinion (in favor of the Palestinian cause.) History is still in the making, said Mr. Safieh, and our job is to help history make the right choice. Today, we have respected all our commitments to the international community. The question is whether the international community will keep its commitments to the Palestinians, said Mr. Safieh.The ambassador says the peace process has been the art of delaying the inevitable. He added The real cause of the impasse is the imbalance of power. Since 2009 Dr. Safieh has served as the Palestinian Roving Ambassador for Special Missions, based in London, as well as the Deputy Commissioner for International Relations. In the past, Mr. Safieh represented Palestine in the Netherlands, Russia, and the United Kingdom.Internally Mr. Safieh says Hamas and Fatah need to put their split behind them in order to form a national coalition government. He says he still believes in a two state solution and that independence must preceed inter-dependency. Israel is an intriguing traumatized and traumatizing society, said Mr. Safieh. He says Israel will need to apologize to Palestinians for there to be authentic reconciliation. We need to revitalize the United Nations. The only alternative to the United States hegemony is U.N. supremacy, he told the conference of over 250 delegates and guests.Speaking of the role of the United States in supporting Israel, he said, we need America to reconcile its power with its principles. However, he added, I believe the battle for Washington is winnable. We are still stunned by the veto we saw a few days ago, said Mr. Safieh, commenting on the United States veto against the United Nations resolution to end the extension of settlements in the West Bank.Mr. Safieh said President Obama could be more assertive with Prime Minister Netanyahu. I still have a favorable opinion of (President) Obama, especially when I compare him to the alternatives, said Mr. Safieh.Safieh says any new state requires constitutional pluralism, rule of the majority, respect for the minority, and for the latest election to not be the last election.
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