Agenda for Palestinian Conference: Giant Gorilla What?
Way back last year when Sharon signed off for the Palestinians to get together with their paternalistic, fawning international friends in London and trash Israel (without Israel being invited), Blair promised him that the conference would contain no political content. Turns out, promises to Jews don't matter:
Despite British Prime Minister Tony Blair's promise to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon last December that Tuesday's London Conference would focus on the narrow issues of democracy, reform and security, it has become apparent that the final declaration will contain a number of loaded political statements...
In addition to the 21 foreign ministers, an impressive supporting cast will assemble for the occasion - including US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, EU High Representative Javier Solana and, perhaps most significant, the heads of both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
Anxiety in Jerusalem prompted two visits to London by senior Sharon aide Dov Weisglass over the past two weeks for meetings - reported to have been "acrimonious" with Blair aide Sir Nigel Sheinwald in which he engaged in a bout of intensive damage control, not all successful, over attempts to politicize the gathering... the PA was able to win some changes - "to the frustration of Weisglass" - including a recognition that economic regeneration will be hampered unless Israel lifts its roadblocks and other controls in the West Bank.
It's good to see that we're on the familiar ground of international diplomacy. Israel agrees to a process or commits to obligations under a particular understanding of scope and boundary. That understanding is immediately violated, and Israel has to expend massive political capital just to get back to zero. One example is the "neutral fact-finding mission" into Jenin which quickly became an ad-hoc war crimes tribunal (where one of the members declared Israel guilty of crimes - a statement way, way beyond what his mandate should have been anyway - before the mission even began!) - Israel took a hit for then quashing an investigation that they never agreed to. Another example occurred when Israel got hauled in front of the Hague court for an act that was outside the Courts’ competence which happened in an area outside of the Courts’ jurisdiction - again, Israel had to fight bitterly and take an international drubbing just to stand on what should have been their rights under the international rule of law.
But no one really cares about Israel's sensibilities (there's no cost in crossing them: Israel is desperate for international support and approval and so can't afford to cut off relations with anyone, and it's not like third nations are going to risk their good relations with Britain over Israel). So all of the barriers that Israel ostensibly throws up to peace are fair game. But look what won't be included in the conference:
The final statement to be issued at Tuesday's London Meeting on Supporting the Palestinian Authority will not mention terrorism and refers only in vague terms to Palestinian security commitments... The Palestinians persuaded the British hosts to leave out any mention of a Palestinian commitment to act against the launching of Qassam rockets or armed attacks on Israelis from the territories.
It's probably not necessary to mention terrorism at a conference discussing things that have been holding back Palestinian statehood (although the Brits are quite busy trying to prevent Israel from opposing terrorism - that aspect of terrorism they are willing to talk about!) And after all, the Palestinians have turned over a new leaf:
The car bomb discovered by Israel Defense Forces troops in the West Bank on Monday contained half a ton of explosives, the army said Tuesday, making it the largest bomb used by Palestinian militants in more than four years of violence.
Despite British Prime Minister Tony Blair's promise to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon last December that Tuesday's London Conference would focus on the narrow issues of democracy, reform and security, it has become apparent that the final declaration will contain a number of loaded political statements...
In addition to the 21 foreign ministers, an impressive supporting cast will assemble for the occasion - including US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, EU High Representative Javier Solana and, perhaps most significant, the heads of both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
Anxiety in Jerusalem prompted two visits to London by senior Sharon aide Dov Weisglass over the past two weeks for meetings - reported to have been "acrimonious" with Blair aide Sir Nigel Sheinwald in which he engaged in a bout of intensive damage control, not all successful, over attempts to politicize the gathering... the PA was able to win some changes - "to the frustration of Weisglass" - including a recognition that economic regeneration will be hampered unless Israel lifts its roadblocks and other controls in the West Bank.
It's good to see that we're on the familiar ground of international diplomacy. Israel agrees to a process or commits to obligations under a particular understanding of scope and boundary. That understanding is immediately violated, and Israel has to expend massive political capital just to get back to zero. One example is the "neutral fact-finding mission" into Jenin which quickly became an ad-hoc war crimes tribunal (where one of the members declared Israel guilty of crimes - a statement way, way beyond what his mandate should have been anyway - before the mission even began!) - Israel took a hit for then quashing an investigation that they never agreed to. Another example occurred when Israel got hauled in front of the Hague court for an act that was outside the Courts’ competence which happened in an area outside of the Courts’ jurisdiction - again, Israel had to fight bitterly and take an international drubbing just to stand on what should have been their rights under the international rule of law.
But no one really cares about Israel's sensibilities (there's no cost in crossing them: Israel is desperate for international support and approval and so can't afford to cut off relations with anyone, and it's not like third nations are going to risk their good relations with Britain over Israel). So all of the barriers that Israel ostensibly throws up to peace are fair game. But look what won't be included in the conference:
The final statement to be issued at Tuesday's London Meeting on Supporting the Palestinian Authority will not mention terrorism and refers only in vague terms to Palestinian security commitments... The Palestinians persuaded the British hosts to leave out any mention of a Palestinian commitment to act against the launching of Qassam rockets or armed attacks on Israelis from the territories.
It's probably not necessary to mention terrorism at a conference discussing things that have been holding back Palestinian statehood (although the Brits are quite busy trying to prevent Israel from opposing terrorism - that aspect of terrorism they are willing to talk about!) And after all, the Palestinians have turned over a new leaf:
The car bomb discovered by Israel Defense Forces troops in the West Bank on Monday contained half a ton of explosives, the army said Tuesday, making it the largest bomb used by Palestinian militants in more than four years of violence.
