Palestinian statehood- now is the time

This week sees the Palestinians go to the UN and ask for full membership at the UN and also international recognition of their state based on 1967 borders – the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. Today the position of the Labour Party was definitively expressed by Shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander, who in a statement on the Labour party website  http://www.labour.org.uk/united-nations-general-assembly,2011-09-20 stated:
 
“The case made by the Palestinians for recognition as a state is strong. This week, at the United Nations, the British Government should be willing to support the recognition of Palestinian statehood as part of continuing steps to achieve a comprehensive two state solution.
 
“But there also remains a heavy onus upon the British government and other members of the international community this week to work to ensure that any change in the level of Palestinian recognition is then followed by meaningful negotiations between the parties.”

David Miliband has also been supportive of the move – albeit more cautiously than Douglas Alexander. In a blog for the Huffington Post, Miliband said that:

“My view is that the use of the UN is a smart tactical move by the Palestinians. My reasoning is that nothing else has produced any give in the situation.”

So will we see a two state solution brought closer this week? With the US stating it will veto, I’m not so sure, but either way I am extremely proud of my party’s policy regarding this especially when at the time of writing, the Government’s position remains elusive. I do however remain hopeful that if recognition is given, a state for the Palestinians alonside their Israeli neighbours myay become a step closer.

Today

Is today the day when they see what has been there all along,

When they try to right wrongs?

Will this day be spoken of in legends, in songs,

A day when hope shone in the decades dark skies,

A day when 2 peoples can recognise and live side by side,

Will this be the day?

 

What a tangled web they weave… the palestine papers.

An interesting blog came my way today on Left Foot Forward by Seph Brown regarding the so called Palestine paper leak and possible implications on peace in the Middle east- http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/01/palestine-papers-revelations/ .

Yesterday evening Al Jazeera and The Guardian began releasing almost 1,700 confidential internal documents, including  e-mails and memos relating to the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The papers, dating from 1999 to 2010, originate solely from the Palestinian side, reveal how negotiators offered compromises on redrawing the 1967 borders, ceding parts of East Jerusalem, giving up a full right of return for refugees and accepting international oversight of holy sites, including the Haram al-Sharif (the Temple Mount and Dome of the Rock), all of which Brown describes as ”sacred cows of the Palestinian national narrative.”

Brown comes to the conclusion and to this I heartily agree, is that Israel must “move beyond its traditional tactic of branding the Palestinians radical or inflexible - everyone can see through that now.” In my opinion its time that Israel was willing to meet the Palestinians half way and acknowlegde the price the PA is willing to pay for peace.  International law is very clear on Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza; the Palestinian Authority are well within their rights to hide behind it, repeatedly demanding full withdrawal or nothing – but they didn’t and to me this shows that rather than the familiar narrtive of Palestinians disrupting talks, they are the ones willing to do anything to achieve peace.

Lets hope from the revelations in these documents, both sides can work together and do what it takes to achieve peace. We have waited 63 years for this after all.

They say it takes two to tango,

But where he leads she does not know,

So many false starts, false hopes,

They shrivel up in the heat of the Judean hills.

She is prepared to give, give and give again,

Her home, her city, her repsect,

Yet he wants more, he gives nothing,

Using force to have his wicked way,

Her tears continue, the beatings, the torture,

Bloodshed, she fights back, the cycle never ends,

The violence, the tears never end.

Both of you come to the table please,

Lets end this war today, tommorow, please!

Now or never! Peace elusive!

15 years ago today, Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated in Tel Aviv by  the assassin, Yigal Amir, a right-wing religious Zionist  who opposed Rabin’s peace initiative and particularly the signing of the Oslo Accords. 15 years later, peace still elusive as ever,  with Foreign Secretary William Hague warning that “the window is closing” on the possibility of a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians.

He expressed concern that peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians had stalled over the issue of renewed building in Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. stating that both sides had obligations, but that it was largely up to Israel to break the impasse.

“We do want Israel to announce a new moratorium on settlements… That is what the whole of Europe wants, that is what the United States wants,” he said.

“We do urge all concerned to do what is necessary to allow a two-state solution to come about. I am very worried that the window is closing on that possibility, there is a real urgency to this,” he added.

The Palestinians – backed by the Arab League – have pledged not to return to direct talks without a full settlement construction freeze, but have given US negotiators until early November to try to break the impasse however Israel has refused to renew the freeze despite international pressure.

15 years later and nothing has changed. Israel, how many more have to die before peace is realised? Are you not ready to do what it takes for peace? Palestine and Israel, you need to sort this, do you not want to live in peace?

15 years ago,

The peacemaker slaughtered,

An earthquake shakes the earth to the core,

Peace is slaughtered by perpetual war.

15 years later,

The earth still fractured, gaping wound

Build a bridge across the chasm,

Rise again, leave behind the wounds of hate,

Embrace his message, talk I beg you,

Embrace peace before its too late!

The quest for an elusive peace!

Tonight on the Foreign Office website, the Foreign secretary William Hague (how I miss saying someone elses name here!) issued a statement on the Middle East peace process, commending the leadership of President Abbas, and urging further progress on direct negotiations.

Foreign Secretary William Hague said:

“I spoke with President Abbas late last night and was impressed by his resolve to return to direct negotiation if possible. I welcome the significant progress achieved by the Palestinians in recent years on their Road Map obligations with regard to security and institution building, including reducing violence against Israel substantially.

A freeze on settlement activity is now urgently important to enable talks to continue and achieve the real prize of a peace deal of a secure Israel living alongside a sovereign and viable Palestinian state. We must make progress before the window closes on a two state solution.

I commend President Abbas’ unwavering commitment to peace and the leadership he provides to the Palestinian people.”

As you probably know from my previous blogposts on the subject, I am fully in favour of a peaceful solution to this long conflict and on this rare occasion, I must say I agree with William Hague here. At his Britain in the world speech at the Labour conference, my mentor and friend David Miliband stated that “the peoples of the Middle East need a friend in Britain who knows the different between right and wrong”, and added that “It is wrong to build settlement houses on land that is not yours, it is wrong to try to “squeeze the life out of Gaza, because the only peace settlement will have to involve Gaza. And it is wrong to be sending rockets into Israel,” echoing the same sentiments for peace! (and what a speech it was )

What needs to happen is that ALL sides should recognise that peace is the way and that these peace talks are the vehicle for such a future. Look to the future and don’t miss the train and dwell in the past! The cycle of violence must be broken now!

Give peace a chance!

Today, talks between the Israelis and Palestinians continue their talks in Egypt, but one major issue looms over the talks, the imminent expiry of Israel’s partial ban on West Bank settlement building. Hillary Clinton stated that Israel should extend the ban, with the Palestinians threatening to walk out the talks if the settlement building resumes.

The fact that the talks have continued may be a promising sign, however I believe that Israel should show a sign of good faith here and extend the freeze.  In so doing, Israel will be able to prolongue the talks long enough for a proper discussion to take place. However, I have a feeling this will not be that simple as these things never are. Lets hope that what may be the last chance for a peaceful 2 state solution for this long conflict isnt killed in its infancy!

The clock is ticking,

Tick- tock, tick-tock, the hands continue to move,

This is the time for action.

Pax, a sickly child in the cradle,

Stop these cranes rolling accorss the hills of Samaria,

Don’t leave the child to die so soon, stolen in the night,

Don’t let this sand slip through our fingers,

Tick- tock, tick-tock, tick-tock!

Israel Palestine- time for peace?

Is it now time for peace?

BBC news brought the good news that the Israelis and Palestinians ”have agreed to resume direct negotiations for the first time in 20 months, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas have been invited to Washington on 2 September to start the talks.”

Many observers are sceptical of success, stating that their are serious obstacles to overcome such as the construction of Jewish settlements on occupied territory, the status of Jerusalem, and the borders of a future Palestinian state.

Shadow Foreign Secretary David Miliband stated on his site that he welcomed the announcement of the talks, and stated that “it is vital that the vitality and integrity of this political process is shown to be real. Britain’s national interest is that a Palestinian state is built to live in peace alongside Israel, based on 1967 borders, comprising Gaza and the West Bank, with Jerusalem as a shared capital, and a fair resolution of the refugees issue.”

http://www.davidmiliband.net/2010/08/20/i-welcome-the-middle-east-peace-talks/comment-page-1/#comment-2864

I, like David welcome this news and as hopeful as I am for success, I am also cautious as so many of these talks have come to nothing and peace in that region is still elusive. Maybe now after 62 years of bloodshed and mistrust, maybe now it is time for peace and the two states of Israel and Palestine to live side by side!

Path to peace

Could today be the day?
Isaac and Ishmael choose to talk,
To face each other at the table,
To trust each other.

Could now be the time?
So many false starts, so many hopes dashed,
Could the 60 years of bloodshed be put behind them,
60 years of mistrust, sorrow, tears shed?

Is this it?
The breaking of the ice,
Will they pound their swords into ploughshares,
Will they walk hand in hand down the path to peace?

Can peace break out???

Jerusalem - holy city at the heart of the dispute

 

One of the most bitter and longest conflicts with a span of 62 years, the dispute between Israel and the Palestinians has been seen by many people as unending, with the 2 sides won’t even sit in the same room, instead having ”proximity talks” with US envoy, George Mitchell as an intermediary.  

What seems to stall talks is the continuing building of Israeli settlements on what is occupied land in the West Bank, and the demolition of Palestinian homes by Israeli authorities deemed illegal. Don’t get me wrong, I respect Israel’s right to exist as a nation and I condemn those who call for it to cease to exist. However, its actions, such as the blockade of Gaza which was brutally enforced in the case of the MV Mavi Marmara,  and the continuing occupation of the West Bank and the continuing building of settlements is unecessary and immoral. Also, it seems Israel is shooting themselves in the foot in terms of peace talks,  as Amos Elon once wrote that “by effectively consuming the one thing Israel had to offer the Palestinians for peace- land- the extended settlement project, I fear, may yet prove to be Israel’s undoing.”  

I believe that this ongoing problem must be sorted out and I’m of the conviction it can only be done peacefully. I would urge Palestinians to adopt peaceful protests. During the raj, Gandhi realised that non violent struggle would gain international sympathy for the Indian cause and thus, I urge the Palestinians to think in the same way! We need talks to continue for a two state solution to this long dispute. 

Ishmael and Isaac 

 Patience Ishmael, your time will come. 

Patience Ishmael, give up the sword, give up the bloodshed. 

Let your words be your weapons, 

Let the olive branch lead the way. 

Mercy Isaac, you have suffered too. 

Don’t let the pain poison your heart. 

Don’t let anger blind your reason Isaac, 

Let your brother back into your heart. 

Patience Ishmael, speak out, 

March for justice, not to war. 

See clearly Isaac, fulfil your destiny, 

Live with your brother side by side in peace forever more.