 |
Al-Ahram Weekly 9 - 15 September 1999 Issue No. 446 
|
||
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
| ||
|
Al-Ahram Weekly 9 - 15 September 1999 Issue No. 446
|
||
| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
| ||
Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Focus Culture Features Books Special Profile Travel Living Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters US as expediter
By Salama Ahmed Salama
Only after receiving every assurance that the amendments required by Israel had been fully accepted by the Palestinians did Barak arrive in Sharm Al-Sheikh to sign the amended Wye River accord. A cautious man who hides his true face, Barak would not be budged from his hard-line position by Egypt's mediation, nor by Albright's imminent arrival. Albright, after all, was hardly expected to persuade him of a different course, because the two of them had cooked it all up together beforehand.
The amended agreement is not important solely in terms of its contents. It is if anything more important for what it does not contain, for its failure to deal with the issue of Jewish settlements and to honour previous commitments regarding the release of prisoners. Moreover, the agreement firmly prohibits unilateral action by the Palestinian Authority, which implicitly means a prohibition on the declaration of the Palestinian state. Further, the agreement has postponed the third phase of withdrawal by combining it with the final phase. It has stiffened the security measures to be taken by the PA introduced an unprecedented condition, demanding the Palestinians surrender the names of members of their police force.
Reneging on agreements already signed, or their renegotiation, has too many precedents. Negotiations stemming from the Oslo Accord have lasted six years and been subject to one amendment after another: how then will substantial issues -- the status of Jerusalem, the repatriation of refugees, the declaration of statehood -- be settled within one year as the amended agreement stipulates?
It is clear that Israel is fully endorsed by the United States. Washington has shunned its make-believe even-handed approach and is today openly serving Israel's interests, gearing its efforts to supplying Israel with short cuts to expedite the process at the expense of the Palestinians, with the aim of settling matters as soon as possible. Presidential elections are expected to be tough for the Democrats, disadvantaged by Clinton's behaviour. In light of this we can expect America's role to diminish progressively and to disappear completely when the thorniest issues are brought to the table.
In the event that the US relinquishes its basic role, and leaves the Palestinians to the mercy of Barak in his new guise, what will be Egypt's role? And who will guarantee the implementation of the latest agreement?
