Hillary Clinton is the star here. She in her capacity as Secretary of State, USA, after tireless efforts has succeeded of course with the encouragement and authorization of US President Barack Obama in bringing about a historic meeting of two ‘enemies’. Palestine and Israel assisted by other US friendly leaders of West Asian nations, Hosni Mubarak, Egyptian President and King of Jordan, Abdullah II have also arrived in Washington to join the talks. The 22 member Arab league have already extended support to the initiative and that is a welcome sign, anyhow. Hillary Clinton is quite conversant with the problems in the Middle-East (West Asia) right from the days of Bill Clinton, former US President and her husband who in his capacity as President tried his level best to bring about a rapproachment between the two warring countries in his tenure. Unsuccessful though it was, it was somewhat a step in the right direction. Hillary naturally was the first lady of US and now she as Secretary of State has picked up the threads left by her husband obviously with the blessings of Barack Obama. George Mitchell envoy to the West Asia is very much there to assist her in her capacity as facilitator of the mediation talks.
The West Asian issue snowballed into a bitter war in 1967 with Israel on the one side and the entire West Asian Muslim nations on the other side. Israel certainly had the unqualified support of it well-wisher for ever the US and the latter provided Israel with funds and logistical support in the bitter war. Israel single-handedly fought against the Muslim nations, annexed territories in their possession and inflicted heavy casualties on the other side and at last emerged victorious. The other side not only conceded defeat but also lost a big chunk of land in their possession which was annexed by Israel.
Ever since Israel came into existence in 1948 the problems between Palestine and Israel aggravated followed by frequent clashes and bombings without lull. And it still continues unabated between Israel and the hard-core faction of Palestinian forces, Hamas, unlike the Fatah party now being headed by Mahmoud Abbas who is the successor of the legendary leader, Yasser Arafat. Israel’s policy, then and now is an ‘eye for an eye’ approach. Even a stone pelting mob is being countered by firings, bombings and grenade attacks. No surprise since Israel faces an existential crisis as it is surrounded by Muslim nations.
After the 1967 war, a few West Asian Muslim nations like Egypt and Jordan got friendly with Israel to the chagrin of other West Asian countries like Iran, Syria, and Lebanon which are bitterly against US-Israel nexus. Equations never remain static and they continue to ‘waver’ this way and that way.
Now that the entire Arab League is frantically seeking a permanent solution to the perennial issue an independent Palestinian State maintaining a peaceful-coexistence like the entire peace-loving nations across the world.
A historic meeting of this much significance is after a lapse of 20 years still a few core issue remain to be settled requiring some time at least one year, according to observers, spokespersons of each nations besides others. A step by step solution to be precise. Not at all an easy task given the enormity and intensity of the issues awaiting to be settled.
Israel has not yet agreed for a moratorium on building illegal settlements at disputed territories defying even the US, its all weather friend. Worth recalling here is the visit of Joe Biden, the US Vice President to Israel and in protest against the illegal construction of settlements cutting short his visit and returning to US in a huff. Territorial problems still remain thorny issues. Jerusalem, the bone of contention between Palestine and Israel remains a big stumbling block. Besides all these important issues here comes security concerns.
Hamas, the militant faction, up in arms against Israel and Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian Prime Minister in the run-up to the talks gave vent to its anger and disagreement by gunning down four Israeli citizens including a pregnant Israeli woman followed by another attack the next day. Hamas faction whom Israel call terrorists is in no mood to recognize Israel as an Independent State. Its animosity towards Fatah movement and Mahmoud Abbas is known all around after it split away from Fatah movement call the trilateral talks for peace now going on in Washington under the mediation of US as treason. It is bent upon fighting it out and I am at a loss to know with Hamas treading a dangerous defiant path whether a permanent solution is possible even within two years.
Perforce Hosni Mubarak, Egyptian President who is on friendly terms with Hamas faction too would be able to soothe their nerves.
Similarly Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who is regarded as a ‘hawk’ like former US President George W Bush who was a hawk ‘par excellence’ should have to climb down from his rigid approach and the captured territories be given back to the Palestinians, demolish the illegal settlements and adopt a flexible approach on the issue of Jerusalem. A policy of ‘give and take’ by the involved parties need to be taken, then only a viable settlement could be arrived.
Besides the representatives of West Asian Muslim nations, UN and other nations of concern are hopefully looking towards the meeting like all peace-loving people around the world.
NB : Of late media reports point towards the next meeting of Benjamin Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas are scheduled to be conducted in Egypt most probably at the luxurious resort of Sharm-Al-Sheikh from September 14-15.
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