10 - 16 May 2001
Issue No.533
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 10 - 16 May 2001 Issue No.533 |
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More important than a sequel
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat has already called for a reconvening of last October's Sharm Al-Sheikh summit to discuss the recently released Mitchell report. The report was a direct result of the first Sharm Al-Sheikh meeting, which was held just a month into the Al-Aqsa Intifada.It is now seven months into the current crisis, and although the Israelis are happy the report did not blame Ariel Sharon for starting the violence by visiting Al-Haram Al-Sharif, they are less excited by it's condemnation of settlements.
Israel has already rejected Arafat's request out of hand. Indeed, just one day after the Mitchell report was made public, Sharon announced that he would be requesting even more money for settlements.
Given the contradictory results of two recent polls in the Israeli press, it is hard to gauge for how long Sharon will be able to pursue such provocative, aggressive policies. One poll indicates that 62 per cent of Israelis support a settlement freeze in exchange for a cease-fire; the second reveals that 68 per cent think the Mitchell report's comments on settlements are unfair.
One way of convincing Sharon and other Israeli hard-liners to open their eyes to the reality of the situation might be for Europe to follow through on suggestions that trade sanctions be imposed. Although Dutch Foreign Minister Jozias van Aartsen, in a press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa in Cairo earlier this week, ducked questions on this issue, Moussa made clear that "there is always space for Europe to do more." And a consensus has emerged among diplomats that EU trade sanctions against Israeli goods produced in the settlements would be a concrete step, given the way in which Sharon's obtuse reaction to the Mitchell report has made it clear that statements alone have no impact.
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