As Arabs, let's try!

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The Palestinians and Israelis are getting nowhere in their peace talks, basically because they are talking past each other. Israel wants a partial solution while the Palestinians want a complete and lasting one. The difference of opinion was evident during the recent meeting between Mahmoud Abbas and Ehud Olmert. The Palestinian president emerged rejecting the partial solution formula, which calls for a Palestinian state with temporary borders, along with a 15-year truce during or after which Jerusalem, the refugees, and other so-called "final status" issues would be discussed.

Washington supports a partial solution, as you can see from its suggestion that NATO forces be deployed in the West Bank following Israel's withdrawal. Olmert wants a partial or temporary solution because his government is too divided to withstand discussion of Jerusalem and other vital matters. Were these issues to appear on the table, extreme religious parties such as Shas would likely withdraw from the ruling coalition. The Israeli prime minister has other options but he lacks either the power or courage to explore them. He could, for example, call for early elections. And he could restructure his coalition, replacing the far right with the left, let's say Meretz-Yachad for example. But Olmert doesn't want to rock the boat.

On the Palestinian side, Abbas seems to have limited options. He cannot accept a temporary solution because such a solution may stick forever. Israel may never again want to talk about Jerusalem or the refugees.

Israel is stalling, hoping to exhaust the Palestinians until they accept anything rather than nothing. It wants to increase the number of settlers in the West Bank to one million. Already, there are 500,000 Israelis living in the West Bank, half of them in Jerusalem. The Israeli government is accepting tenders for the expansion of current settlements, such as Maale Adumim and Illit Betar. The expansion of current settlements is more than just a threat to Palestinian land. Israel would be tempted to engage in ethnic cleansing, often referred to as "transfer", to get the Palestinians out and open the way to new settlers.

Israel has made it clear that it wants to be a country for Jews and Jews alone. Further expulsions of Palestinians are to be expected. The Arabs are doing nothing about it, waiting as usual for disaster to occur. One would hope that the Arabs, for once, would take action before it's too late. What's wrong with trying? At least if we fail we can say we've done our best.