wfn.org | Can a ceasefire be achieved in the Holy Land?

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For Further information contact:

Fr. Raed Awad Abusahlia
P.O.Box 14152  Jerusalem  91141
Tel.  (972 2) 628.2323 / 627.2280
Fax  (972 2) 627.1652
Personal E-mail: nonviolence@writeme.com
Latin Patriarchate E-mail: Latinpat@actcom.co.il
Latin Patriarchate's Homepage: http://www.Lpj.org
"Nonviolence Homepage": http://go.to/nonviolence

or

Ghassan Andoni
The Palestinian Centre for Rapprochement between People
64 Star Street, P.O.Box 24
Beit Sahour - Palestine
www.rapprochement.org

JERUSALEM, March 25, 2002.  The world watches as the United States special 
envoy, General Zinni, seeks to broker a cease fire.  A leading Palestinian 
peace advocate, Ghassan Andoni of The Palestinian Center for the Rapprochment 
between People, offers his analysis of the current situation.  The full text 
follows:

By Ghassan Andoni

Beyond the complexity of the situation and the negotiated documents (Tenet 
and Mitchell) there are simple and clear issues for both sides to look at.
 
Both documents were agreed upon before the Israeli government moved harshly 
and destroyed the Palestinian Authority (PA) infrastructure. Evidently what 
was possible then might not be possible now. 
 
The most important absent participants in those talks are the ones who run 
the fight from the Palestinian side and the ones who are pushing for an open 
war on the Israeli side. Their influence is far bigger than many expect.
 
A realistic approach can be "to establish a ceasefire through an internal 
agreement between the PA and the different militant groups on the Palestinian 
side" and provide more time for pre-emptive steps to insure that the crisis 
will not erupt again.  I believe that within this context a ceasefire is in 
reach. 
 
An immediate lifting of the closure is not only necessary but as well a 
crucial factor for success.  I think all are convinced that besides being an 
act of collective punishment that fuels the conflict, even more the closure 
serve no security purpose.  Even the most tightened, non-breathing ones could 
not prevent attacks inside Israel and will not be able to in the future.  
 
While it is almost impossible to find a common ground between Arafat and 
Sharon to start a meaningful negotiations process, a third party suggested 
political solution or at least a clear framework would be extremely helpful.  
It is important for both parties to realize that behind such an initiative 
there is a great and persisting interest and efforts from the side of the USA 
and the international community. Prince Abdullah initiative can be a good 
start if supported and advanced by the United States. 
 
Without a political horizon either it will be impossible to reach a ceasefire 
agreement or will be impossible to sustain it. 
 
A crucial factor for success is in the level of proper communication. Israel 
and partially the United States have to change the language used with and the 
attitudes towards the Palestinian leadership. Imprisoning, issuing 
ultimatums, blackmailing, and humiliating are only leading towards more 
mistrust and frustration.  When the PA is needed as a partner no one should 
work rigorously to discredit it both locally and internationally. 
 
It is almost evident that the next step if those attempts fail will be the 
total re-occupation of the Palestinian areas.  If this to happen then not 
only the area but as well the whole region will be set in flames.    
According to the Israeli defense Minster: re-occupying the PA areas will 
result in a much higher scale of violence than encountered so far.  
 
It is evident that desire for revenge, whither presented as a deterrence 
factor or as a battlefield requirement, is one of the important motives 
behind the existing escalation of violence.  It is important to realize that 
while Israel has the ability to impose a high level of discipline on the way 
it acts or reacts, Palestinians with the many groups engaged are less 
capable.  So a necessary step to bring about a ceasefire is for Israel to 
exercise a high level of self-restraint. 
 
-end-