For A Free Palestine

by Ziad Asali

Washington DC - President Bush has made it clear that the future of humanity lies with freedom and democracy. By their free and clean election in January, the Palestinian people have created their democracy. Now they must have their freedom.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas courageously has staked his political future on achieving freedom and statehood for his people through peaceful negotiations. To succeed, he needs the support of all responsible parties. He has taken many bold and decisive steps to restructure the Palestinian Authority and rebuild a disciplined and accountable security system. Without security and the rule of law, there is no hope for peace.

Israel either can help or hinder the credibility of Mr. Abbas. His needs from the Israelis are clear: Fewer checkpoints, a release of prisoners, the end of humiliation, relief from the violence of Jewish settlers and the army, a military withdrawal, no new "realities on the ground" such as settlement growth, and no more home demolitions or land acquisition.

Above all, he needs reassurance about the viability of a contiguous free Palestine, with negotiations based on Israel's 1967 prewar borders and a capital in Arab Jerusalem. Both parties have responsibilities under the U.S.-engineered "road map" to peace, and the onus cannot be solely on the Palestinians. Helping Mr. Abbas to deliver results for his people must be as much a litmus test of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's credibility as Mr. Abbas' moves on security are properly a test of his.

Mr. Abbas' mandate may be tested in forthcoming municipal and legislative elections. It is imperative that the Palestinian government has the resources needed to deliver services to its people, or others will fill the void.

Mr. Bush has reiterated his commitment to the road map that he helped draft in 2003. The Palestinians' sustained support for Mr. Abbas will depend on their confidence in the political process heralded by a palpable improvement in their daily lives. It helps that Mr. Bush has expressed confidence in Mr. Abbas and in the integrity of Finance Minister Salam Fayyad, who posted the Palestinian budget on the Internet to ensure transparency and accountability.

Mr. Bush understands that Mr. Abbas needs substantial assistance. He sent Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to visit the region on her first trip abroad, dispatched Army Lt. Gen. William E. Ward to coordinate security, designated former World Bank President James D. Wolfensohn to oversee the economic implications of the Israeli disengagement plan from Gaza and four West Bank settlements and asked Congress for $200 million in supplemental aid this year for the Palestinians.

Given this personal commitment, and with U.S. participation, two major tasks must be accomplished this year:

The establishment of close security cooperation and activation of committees established at the Sharm el-Sheik summit in February, with scrupulous implementation of agreements by both parties.

The faithful implementation by both parties of their commitments under the road map as they coordinate the disengagement from Gaza and withdrawal from parts of the West Bank.

Thinking strategically, we can lay the foundations for realignment so that Palestine will be an ally of the United States and a partner to Israel in peace. Ultimately, security and peace will be achieved by establishing a viable, contiguous, independent and democratic Palestine, with a shared Jerusalem as the capital for the two states and a fair solution to the refugee problem according to international law. The "painful concession" Israel must make is to return the occupied Palestinian territories to their rightful owners.

There are those in Palestine, Israel, the Arab world and the United States who oppose the peaceful vision of two states. Our challenge is to make tangible steps that will tip the balance to promote a culture of reconciliation and make peace a reality.

The urgency of timely intervention cannot be overstated. What all parties do, and do not do, in the coming months will determine whether this faint glimmer of hope will usher in a new era of peace or fade into a long night of conflict and chaos. We must act decisively in the interests of the Israeli, Palestinian and Arab peoples and, above all, in U.S. national interest.

____________________________________

* Ziad Asali is president of the American Task Force on Palestine.

Source: Baltimore Sun, May 3, 2005.

Visit the Baltimore Sun Online: www.baltimoresun.com

Distributed by the Common Ground News Service.

Copyright permission has been obtained for publication.