Freezing for now, but dismantelling later on
A persian expression says: " You may agree to have a feaver if they tell you: OK we are not going to kill you then". I hope this weak translation makes sense (any better translation is appreciated) but this is what is happenning to palestinians.
These days, US is "putting pressure" on Israel to dismantel Jewish settlements, Oops, not dismantelling but just a freez in their expansion into Palestinian lands; see here.
Washington has told Israel that developing Jewish settlements in the Palestinian territories goes against the peace plan known as the "RoadMap".
One might argue that this can be a good start for further development in achieving peace in Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But Road-Map doesn't even mention the future dismantelling of those settlements. Here is the general content of the "RoadMap":
ROADMAP MAIN POINTS
Phase 1 (to May 2003): End to Palestinian violence; Palestinian political reform; Israeli withdrawal and freeze on settlement expansion; Palestinian elections
Phase 2: (June-Dec 2003): Creation of an independent Palestinian state; international conference and international monitoring of compliance with roadmap
Phase 3 (2004-2005): Second international conference; permanent status agreement and end of conflict; agreement on final borders, Jerusalem, refugees and settlements; Arab states to agree to peace deals with Israel.
This "Road-Map" doesn't even clearly outline the issue of right of return for refugees. All it says is to discuss the issue of the refugees in the future. If the issues of "Jewish settlements" and "right of return for refugees" are not perfectly and clearly discussed now, chances are they never will be discussed to the benefit of Palestinians. The negotiations regarding dismantelling settlements and right of return for refugees should not be about whether, but it should only be about "when to happen".
These days, US is "putting pressure" on Israel to dismantel Jewish settlements, Oops, not dismantelling but just a freez in their expansion into Palestinian lands; see here.
Washington has told Israel that developing Jewish settlements in the Palestinian territories goes against the peace plan known as the "RoadMap".
One might argue that this can be a good start for further development in achieving peace in Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But Road-Map doesn't even mention the future dismantelling of those settlements. Here is the general content of the "RoadMap":
ROADMAP MAIN POINTS
Phase 1 (to May 2003): End to Palestinian violence; Palestinian political reform; Israeli withdrawal and freeze on settlement expansion; Palestinian elections
Phase 2: (June-Dec 2003): Creation of an independent Palestinian state; international conference and international monitoring of compliance with roadmap
Phase 3 (2004-2005): Second international conference; permanent status agreement and end of conflict; agreement on final borders, Jerusalem, refugees and settlements; Arab states to agree to peace deals with Israel.
This "Road-Map" doesn't even clearly outline the issue of right of return for refugees. All it says is to discuss the issue of the refugees in the future. If the issues of "Jewish settlements" and "right of return for refugees" are not perfectly and clearly discussed now, chances are they never will be discussed to the benefit of Palestinians. The negotiations regarding dismantelling settlements and right of return for refugees should not be about whether, but it should only be about "when to happen".
posted by Faramin | 9:53 p.m.
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