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Al-Ahram Weekly 11 - 17 November 1999 Issue No. 455 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 11 - 17 November 1999 Issue No. 455
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Profile Travel Books Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Just a passage
By Abdel-Alim Mohamed *
Israel has an extraordinary capacity to distort any idea, however noble. This has been the case with many ideas associated with the peace process, but the protocol on safe passage is a particularly illustrative case in point.
The 44km-long route is supposed to secure geographic continuity between Palestinian territories and demographic unity between Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. Absolute control of the land and the movement of Palestinians remains in Israel's hands, however. Israel unilaterally determines the procedures of passage and the duration of the trip. Palestinians without entry permits to Israel but who may now travel between Gaza and the West Bank are transferred in buses escorted by the Israeli Border Police, two days a week from 7.00am to 2.00pm.
Israel can shut down the passage anywhere, at any time. It can also arrest any of the passengers.
The Oslo Accord confirms the geographical unity of the West Bank and Gaza. The safe passage protocol, however, puts that unity in Israel's hands. Oslo's architects have failed to establish a passage between the two areas free of Israeli sovereignty and obsessions. Such a passage would have provided for the independence and continuity of the geographical connection between Palestinian territories, rather than making that independence and continuity subject to Israeli will.
Perhaps the safe passage agreement is a transitory and temporary arrangement. Such arrangements, however, are necessarily consistent with the general orientation of the final-status settlement.
*This week's Soapbox speaker is a senior researcher at the Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies and editor of its publication, Israeli Affairs.
