The story has been the same since 1948. Jews and Palestinians cannot seem to resolve their longstanding disputes over land, resources and history. Despite the recently failed mission by US Vice-President Joseph Biden to renew dialogue between the two sides last week, a lasting peace is within reach..
In deciding to announce the construction of a new Jewish settlement in an area of East Jerusalem (annexed by Israel in the 1967 war) on the heels of the Vice-President's visit, the Israeli government did noting but to demonstrate its capacity to be monumentally obtuse. Despite their provocative and needlessly antagonistic maneuver - of which the US has rightly condemned - the path to peace is more wide open now than at any time since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.
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There are several reasons to be cautiously optimistic. First, a great majority of both Jews and Palestinians have become weary after decades of propaganda campaigns, military operations, popular uprisings, protests and cries for revenge. As heavy-handed tactics have only proved to be counterproductive, most people endorse direct negotiations and would be willing to trade 'land for peace' in a fair and equitable deal. Secondly, the Mideast Quartet, comprised of the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and Russia, has made substantive progress in bringing both sides closer to agreement on several key issues - including Jewish repatriation and the establishment of viable borders. Finally, economic globalization is wholly dependent on maintaining global security. Israel can neither prosper nor be secure without a stable Palestine and vice versa.
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The latest call by the Mideast Quartet to establish a fully independent Palestinian state (nation) within a two-year period ought to be the starting point of the next round of negotiations. Peace between the Jews and the Palestinians is already largely at hand among the people. It is only a matter of time before their leaders follow suit.
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(Map: West and East Jerusalem - Click to enlarge)
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J Roquen