JIM REED:
A Middle East line in the sand
CBC News Viewpoint | March 14, 2006 | More from Jim Reed
Jim Reed has worked as a researcher, writer, producer, director, reporter and news anchor for CTV, TVO and CBC. He has travelled widely and has freelanced for The Associated Press, The New York Times, The Globe and Mail and other news organizations.
The unfinished tale of two democracies
It might be called "disengagement by ballot box."
First the Palestinians elect a hard-line, militant party, Hamas, to run their government. Hamas is so hard-line that it has, in the past, carried out suicide bombings against Israelis and its leaders have vowed not to rest until Israel is gone. But does that mean all Palestinians should be punished? Many observers believe that Hamas was not elected because of its terrorist background, but rather because of its central election promise – to clean up government corruption.
Moreover, "circumstances alter cases" and the demands of government may mean that Hamas will be too busy – at least in the short term – trying to meet the payroll, to plan more acts of violence. That's the view of former U.S. president Jimmy Carter, who monitored the Palestinian elections. So, while there's little prospect of immediate peace talks between a Hamas-dominated Palestinian Authority and Israel, the chances of a resumption of Hamas-backed terror activity are equally slim.
Although Hamas won a majority of seats in the Palestinian election, it did not win a majority of the popular vote – another constraint on its exercise of power. Then there's the international pressure from nations willing to engage in constructive dialogue in an effort to persuade Hamas to moderate its attitude toward Israel.
On a recent trip to Moscow, Hamas officials were reminded by authorities there of the responsibilities of governance. After talks with the Russians, a Hamas spokesman indicated that while his government has no immediate plans to recognize Israel, eventually it will have to face the reality of a powerful, determined and united Israeli state.
Now Israel is set for its own exercise in democracy on March 28th.
Israelis must choose between a party that would continue confrontation with the Palestinians – the right-wing Likud, led by former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu – and Kadima, which talks as tough as Likud but primarily advocates complete separation. The centrist Kadima is lead by Ariel Sharon's successor, Ehud Olmert, the dour former mayor of Jerusalem.
In between, are the smaller religious parties and Labour, which, after March 28th, will most likely support whichever political group is chosen to form a government.
Most Israelis want a secure and well-defined separation from the Palestinian territories. They want a government that will establish real borders for the first time since their country was formed, with or without Palestinian agreement.
Kadima has become the "party of disengagement." It has become symbolic of Israel's security, the key to true statehood. And although he's not present for the campaign, the spirit of Ariel Sharon is everywhere. When Olmert or any of his ministers speak, the words of Sharon come out of their mouths. Kadima has convinced electors that it can accomplish separation successfully and that's what Israelis want, even though mere separation does not mean peace.
More than almost any election in Israel's history, this one will be decided on the basis of faith, not ideology. Faith in Sharon's ability to defend Israel has been transferred to Kadima, "the centre," and there is a strong belief by many Israelis that the party of Sharon represents the hopes of the broad centre of the Israeli body politic.
In a strange way, these two elections represent both the triumph of democracy and its tragedy. They each embody the fundamental aspirations of their respective peoples. For the Israelis, their election will mean security and consolidation. For the Palestinians, theirs represents reform, an end to corruption and an affirmation of their national identity.
Unfortunately, in the short term at least, this notable exercise in democracy will not bring true closure to either side or peace to the region.
A Kadima-led government will empty some isolated Jewish settlements in the West Bank. But Israeli soldiers will continue to occupy those areas for the foreseeable future; and so they will remain irritants and flashpoints for violence until a final agreement is reached.
Kadima will resist the Palestinian goal of establishing a national capital in the eastern part of Jerusalem, another flashpoint for more violence.
The third main irritant concerns the fate of Palestinian refugees and their descendents, the ones who lost their land when Israel was established in 1948. Hamas wants those refugees to have the right of return to their lands, an impractical demand, which Kadima will not entertain.
The successful exercise of democracy by the two sides in this long and agonizing conflict has revealed a strong public desire on both sides for an end to corruption and bloodshed. Now it's up to all the parties involved, including the international community, to help these two tiny democracies live together in peace. To do that the Palestinians, the Israelis and the world will need to resolve a problem, for which the broad international community bears responsibility. That is the failure to provide a homeland for the Palestinian Arabs, as the United Nations promised more than half a century ago.
^TOP
|
|
 |
 MENU |
|
|
| ABOUT VIEWPOINT: |
Viewpoint is CBC.ca's place for informed opinion and commentary. Our goal is to provide a range of informed perspectives from around the world and here at home on issues of interest to Canadians. All material published in the Viewpoint section is subject to CBC’s journalistic policy, standards and practices.
Writing for Viewpoint
We accept queries from people with significant expertise in their field and previous writing experience. We are interested in domestic and international contributions. We do not accept unsolicited finished pieces.
If you want to contribute to Viewpoint, please send your query to letters@cbc.ca with VIEWPOINT in the subject line and please include three samples of your published work. Columns are typically 800 words in length and focus on timely issues, events or personal stories with wide appeal. Please familiarize yourself with our content before submitting your ideas. Only those accepted will be contacted.
|
|
| FEEDBACK: |
|
|
| MORE: |
|
|
|
