A Pathway to Peace?
New revelations about the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks show both sides were closer to agreement than previously thought.
February 11, 2011
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and President of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud Abbas were close to a peace agreement as recently as 2008, according to New York Times Magazine contributor and professor at Hebrew University Bernard Avishai.
Addressing a group of Harris School students, staff, and faculty on Jan 31, Avishai discussed the negotiations in anticipation of an article that was later published by the New York Times Magazine, for which he interviewed both leaders. His impromptu lecture discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Middle Eastern politics in the context of the political upheaval occurring in Egypt.
A prominent writer on the subject, Avishai said he was told by both Olmert and Abbas that after two years of talks, during which they met 36 times, the two conflicting political figures had reached consensus on a number of different conflicting arguments, including the disputes over refugees. The extent of the dialogue was never fully reported until now.
Among the disputes that were almost settled were matters over a Palestinian security force, which would act more like a border patrol or police force rather than an army. Both parties also desired an American-led NATO force to patrol the Jordan Valley border.
“Unlike the other previous talks, there was no bad faith – no rejection,” Avishai said. “Olmert himself said ‘[Abbas] never said no.’”
No such agreement emerged, due to the all-or-nothing nature of such talks. The only remaining contention was that of land, Avishai contested. Differences arose over who would control areas of Jerusalem and Jewish settlement cities in the West Bank, leading to the primary disagreements that unraveled the negotiations.
After explaining the nuances of the 2008 proposals—with optimism far outweighing despondency—Avishai criticized the Obama Administration for not taking advantage of the unprecedented opportunity to bring peace to the region. “The Obama Administration knew everything; they knew all of this,” stated Avishai, referring to the talks between Olmert and Abbas.
He said the Israeli-Palestinian talks were one that required, and still requires, American adjudication, with both leaders looking to the U.S. to help them over the final hurdle. “Abbas said, ‘We wanted America to make a proposal,’” Avishai explained grimly. ‘We’re waiting for America to do something.’”
Avishai’s article reports that Abbas said he will step down from leadership if nothing is accomplished by September of this year. “[T]he question that Obama must ask himself is: does he want to have the chance to be the President who established peace in the Middle East, or does he want to be the one who ignored the situation?”, Avishai said to close his Harris School discussion. “This can’t wait until after the 2012 election. If he waits, all hell will break loose in the Middle East.”
- David Wang
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