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Al-Ahram Weekly 6 - 12 May 1999 Issue No. 428 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 6 - 12 May 1999 Issue No. 428
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Profile Features Special Focus Travel Living Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters The price of postponement
Even Yasser Arafat's opponents can understand why he took the difficult decision to postpone the declaration of an independent state, although the text of the 1993 Oslo Accord clearly stated that the final-status phase of Palestinian-Israeli talks was to be concluded by 4 May 1999.Ever since he came to power in June 1996, Binyamin Netanyahu has used every weapon in the book, cashing in on the hatred and racism that come naturally to him in order to increase his popularity. Shortly after announcing that early elections would be held on 17 May, Netanyahu began threatening to close Orient House, issuing more orders to destroy Palestinian houses, confiscating Arab land and building more Jewish settlements on occupied territory. He ordered the reoccupation of Arnoun in south Lebanon and escalated attacks on civilians.
Netanyahu was looking for some action to flex his muscles in preparation for the upcoming elections. Declaring a Palestinian state on 4 May would have given him a golden opportunity to reverse even the miserable gains the Palestinians have made. For the Palestinians, postponing the declaration is not a catastrophe, particularly if, in return, they receive wide international recognition and support.
The international community, however, especially the US, and all the Arab countries who "advised" Arafat to wait before exercising his legitimate right to declare a state, had better be prepared to stand by him if Netanyahu is reelected. Those who wish they could vote themselves, thereby assuring victory for Labour Party candidate Ehud Barak, really cannot rest assured. The results of the 1996 Israeli elections and reports of a sharp rise in the popularity of extremist movements among young Jewish voters are factors which must be taken into consideration.
One important question, of which Arab governments and Washington have hopefully thought, is: what if Netanyahu wins again? Neither the Palestinians nor the other peoples of the region are ready to take five more years of instability and frustration -- and if violence breaks out, everyone knows who will pay the greatest price.
