 |
Al-Ahram Weekly 27 July - 2 August 2000 Issue No. 492 
|
||
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
| ||
|
Al-Ahram Weekly 27 July - 2 August 2000 Issue No. 492
|
||
| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
| ||
Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters No compromise
From the outset of the Camp David summit two weeks ago, the Palestinians, backed by the Arab governments, clearly stated that no deal was better than a bad deal leading to more tension in the region. Some observers saw significant progress in the fact that, for the first time, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak accepted the concept of sharing sovereignty over Jerusalem, giving Palestinians limited self-rule authority in Arab quarters. But that is a far cry from legitimate Palestinian demands, supported by UN resolutions and international conventions. Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 -- the main terms of reference of the peace process -- clearly state the inadmissibility of occupying land by force, and East Jerusalem was part of the Arab territories occupied by force following the 1967 War. Thus, the demand that Israel withdraw fully from all Arab territories occupied in 1967, and Jerusalem first and foremost, is legitimate -- this point is not open to discussion.Israel's claim that Jerusalem has a special status for Jews could only underline the racist nature of the Zionist project, as it would seem to obviate similar claims by Muslims and Christians, who also view the disputed city as especially holy. In all his statements regarding Jerusalem, Palestinian President Yasser Arafat has repeatedly emphasised this fact: Jerusalem is of the utmost concern not only to Palestinians, but to all Arabs, Muslims and Christians. Thus, there is no justification whatsoever for Israel's claim that Jerusalem must remain its eternal and united capital.
Israel's minister of justice, Yossi Beilin, did not shock many Israelis when he stated that Jerusalem was a united city only in the dreams of right-wing extremist Jewish groups. That is a fact supported by realities on the ground. In occupied East Jerusalem, nearly 250,000 Palestinians are controlled by a few thousand extremist settlers who do not see their neighbours, the legitimate owners of the land, as equal human beings. Despite all Israeli attempts to empty the city of its Palestinian residents, East Jerusalem remains a clearly Arab city. Israel's attempts to give a measure of sovereignty while refusing to give up land have proven absurd in the past. There is no reason for this to change now.
The Palestinians have waited for 52 years to see justice done. The demonstrations they held while the Camp David talks were taking place were just another way of saying that they remain steadfast in their refusal of a deal that violates their just rights.
