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SPOTLIGHT ON MIDDLE EAST

Madeline Albright's Visit: New Hope for ME Peace

Muslehuddin Ahmad
***Thu is the first time the US clearly stated its position against Israeli settlements... it went to the extent of saying publicly that settlement is an "obstacle to peace".. .***
THE possible genetic instinct arising out of her birth in a Jewish family, over which she had no control though she was later brought up as a Catholic probably induced Secretary of State Madeline Albright to initially echo Benjamin Netanyahu's politically motivated "security" phrases which antagonized the other party of the peace process — the Palestinians. Beniamin Netanyahu said "an all out commitment by Arafat to put an end to terrorism must precede further steps by Israel to implement the Oslo Peace Accords" Madeline Albright said she agreed with Benjamin Netanyahu that terrorism must stop and that Arafat had not done enough. But later she came up firmly with words that Real security depends ultimately on real peace". This is exactly where the truth lies There could be no real security without real peace and the real peace cannot be established until Israelis vacate the land that belongs to the Palestinians.
There is. however, no denying the fact that security is a must and terrorfem must stop but unfortunately Benjamin Netanyahu himself created the security problem by deciding to start the Jewish settlement in Palestinian land at Har Homa in East Jerusalem. As various reports show there had been very little terrorist attacks for about a year prior to the decision on Har Homa settlement. Indeed, Har Homa settlement project on Palestinian land ig nlted the anger of the Palestinians and obviously the radicals took advantage of the situation and went ahead with suicide bombings killing 20 Israelis since July 30. Therefore, the decision makers of Jewish settlement in Palestinian land and particularly in Har Homa are to blame
mainly for the onset of suicide bombing that killed so many innocent Israelis Indeed, some Israelis themselves blamed Benjamin Netanyahu government for the bombings
Moreover, the bombings took place in Jerusalem — an area under the complete control of Israeli security. Therefore, it was the Israeli authorities' responsibility to ensure security to Israeli people and Arafat's self-rule authority had very little to do with providing security within Israel. It is also not known whether the suicide bombers were Palestinians or Israelis. If an Israeli like Yeger A/nlr could kill Israeli Prime Minister Rabin, it cannot be ruled out that some Israelis of Yeger Amir type went for suicide bombings to destroy the peace process. Even if it is conceded that Palestinians were re sponsible, one cannot say with certainty that they came from the areas under the control of Palestinian authority. Because even now a very large areas of Palestinian land are under the occupation of Israelis Therefore, it seems a one-sided view to blame solely the Palestinian authority However. Palestinian authority does have the responsibility to do everything within their control to stop violence that kills innocent civilians.
In any case, the fact remains that peace and security go together and this is what Secretary of State Madeline Albright ultimately tried to bring home to both the tending parties. Unfortunately. It did not go down well with the Israeli authority. Despite Albright's initial set back In her approach she looked very fair and even-handed as the
Saudi leaders put it. when she said during her address to the Israeli high school students that "Israel should refrain from unilateral acts. Including what Palestinians perceive as provocative expansion of settlements. land confiscation, home demolition and confiscation of IDs" She called upon the Israeli government to freeze set tlement activity and indeed said that "a time out" from these unilateral actions could help save the peace process.
This changed the atmosphere In the Palestinian Area considerably but soured her re latlon with Israeli authority. On freezing of settlement Israeli Prime Minister’s spokesman
David Bar-Illan clearly vented Israeli government s view when he said. "We cannot freeze settlement Just as one cannot freeze life". This apparently discouraged the Secretary of State Albright She said. "1 am obviously not satisfied" "Very small steps" have been taken though big steps were needed" — she added As a part of the "small steps" both parties have agreed to send their advisors at the end of the month to Washington to talk about the Talks. A week after, Secretary Albright would meet the Foreign Ministers, of both par ties. In Washington with a view to finding the way to resume the peace negotiations
If Secretary Albright really
means business she must come down reasonably heavily on Benjamin Netanyahu to take him out of politically motivated obsession on security as security without peace is not achievable Benjamin Netanyahu must return to the agreed principle of land for peace" and stop building settlements in Har Homa and other areas belonging to Palestinians. Once an official declaration comes from Israeli government on halting settlements. suicide bombings are likely to stop; at least this will induce Palestinian authorities and Palestinian people and particularly the moderates to work more closelv with Israelis to
stop bombings and other forms of terrorism. This will, however. need intervention of President Clinton in some form or the other as was done by President Bush when he decided against the loan guarantees which Israel needed to raise funds from the USA. Only such Bressure can bring Benjamin etanyahu back In the peace negotiation with some seriousness as he hardly believes In peace with Palestinians.
Indeed SecreUry Albright's visit to the Middle East has created some favourable environment In the Arab world This has been reflected In the statements of practically all Arab leaders except Syrian leader Hafiz-Al-Assad who saw
nothing new in the visit as Israeli-Syrian track remains blocked Albright said in the meeting with Hafez Al-Assad that gap between Israel and Syria is as wide as ever. Saudi leaders described Secretary Albright as "fair and even-handed". Prince Abdullah described Albright as "brave and frank at the same time". Saudi Leaders also indicated to her that Saudis might reconsider its earlier opposition to M-E Economic Summit at Doha which Israel would attend provided the peace negotiation resumes. Egyptian President Hosne Mubarak termed Albright's statement as encouraging and similar was the reaction of King Hussein of Jordan. Though Secretary Albright moderately described that small steps' have been taken.
the reaction in the Arab world has been very positive and some leaders said that she accomplished more than small steps'.
Secretary Albright s visit has put Israeli government into real embarrassment as this is the first time the US clearly stated its position against Israeli settlements. Earlier position of the US was less clear; it went to the extent of saying publicly that settlement Is an obstacle to peace" though the US probably advised Israeli government privately to refrain from building more settlements In the Palestinian land.
Albright's forthright statements encouraged Israel's opposition Labour Party to come out openly against Benjamin Netanyahu's position. Thousands of Israelis demon-si rated in Tel Aviv with open placards saying "STATE OF
PALESTINE NOW", Jerusalem CAPITAL OF TWO STATES" — something unheard of in Israel before. Secretary Albright's visit and her open opposition to Jewish settlements, her firm restatements of "land-for-peace" principle have encouraged peace supporters and Labour Party leaders to come up openly with a position that would bring peace In Middle-East Indeed. Ehad Barak. Opposition Leader and former Army Chief of Staff said. "Netanyahu s policies are leading us on the path of Bosnia and Belfast. Just beyond the door a dangerous war awaits us". War is already on in South Lebanon. A couple of days back Israel lost 12 Commandos in South Lebanon in their engagement with Hezbullah. This was a sin-Sle serious set back for etanyahu's government.
Secretary Albright's visit coincided with the fourth anniversary of the signing of the peace accords and on this day Leap Rabin, wife of Late Prime Minister Rabin and Arafat signed a document at Ramallah reaffirming Israeli and Palestinian commitment to the peace process. As it seems Albright's visit to the Meddle-East apparently with stronger commitments to pursue the peace process has given fresh and new impetus to the Israeli peace supporters. May be those Israelis who are still sitting on the fence In terms of peace with Palestinians on the principle of land for peace' would now move positively to the peace side. As the opposition to Benjamin Netanyahu's policies is growing. a time may come when he shall either have to yield to growing demand for peace in exchange of land or go for early poll which may bring Labour to power again. With Labour in power. M-E peace is almost a certainty.