There is a chance for a historical deal to bring peace to the Middle East. With the backing of the United States, a two-state resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict may indeed be possible. Such a resolution, which is consistent with the stated positions of both Canada's government and official opposition, is possible. We must accept that, in the Middle East, reality sometimes diverges from the theoretical formality, and now is the time to acknowledge the facts on the ground.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he's willing to open peace talks with the Palestinians immediately, contingent on their acceptance of Israel's right to exist. U.S. President Barack Obama agrees the time is right to move ahead.
"We have seen progress stalled on this front, and I suggested to the prime minister that he has a historic opportunity to get a serious movement on this issue during his tenure," Obama said. "That means that all the parties involved have to take seriously obligations that they have previously agreed to."
Netanyahu's visit in Washington last week and the visit to Canada and the United States by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas seem to indicate that both sides are willing to try again for peace.
Can Canada help? Yes.
How? By taking steps that recognize reality and acknowledge the legitimate aspirations of all parties.
Israel's seat of Government is clearly Jerusalem. As a matter of geography, Jerusalem is the seat for the President of the State, the Knesset, the Government and the Supreme Court. and all major Israeli government functions take place in Jerusalem. Many nations maintain consular offices in Jerusalem that are significantly larger than their so-called embassies in Tel Aviv. In the Jerusalem Law of 1980, Israel declared, "Jerusalem, complete and united, is the capital of Israel."
In a similar way, people living in, say, Nablus have a government, and that government is the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinian Authority has a parliament, courts, police, embassies to foreign states and a flag — it is a State.
A declaration of a "State of Palestine" was made in Algiers on November 15, 1988, by the Palestinian National Council. Currently, the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), along with the United States, the European Union, and the Arab League, envision the establishment of a State of Palestine to include all or part of the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, living in peace with Israel under a democratically elected and transparent government.
The actual government of the Palestinian Authority is currently split. Hamas is in control in the west; in the east Fatah is master. While such division makes negotiating difficult, it hardly changes the reality that a government exists.
The facts on the ground are obvious. What needs to be done and what may push forward the solution in the Middle East is to make the facts on the ground the facts as recognized.
Canada's main political parties do not differ on the need for a two-state solution. Canada stands for a durable, fair and just peace for all peoples of the Middle East. The question is, what can Canada do to move this process ahead?
Canada should move its Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Simultaneously, Canada should recognize the Palestinian Authority as a sovereign national government over the territory it controls, in effect recognizing the 1988 declaration.
Taking these steps would show Canada's support for a democratic Israel within secure borders and, at the same time, recognize that Palestine, as a nation, also exists within defined borders.
11 comments:
Realy James? Well, hang onto that arguement. There may come a day when it will be useful to justify the settlements, too. After all,silence is a sign of stupidity, isn't it?
Foottothefire,
I gather you disagree? My point is we need to do what we can for a two state solution where both Israel and the new Palestine can live in peace. Perhaps emotions are too strong for a compromise solution to work but I'd like to think not.
Morton you're nuts. You'd give Hamas a country? And then give Zionist extremists Jerusalem? Same damn thing as where those two guys were locked up in a cube forever on the original Startrek.
"Peace will come when the Arabs start to love their children more than they hate us."
-Golda Mier
"We have always said that in our war with the Arabs we had a secret weapon - no alternative."
-Golda Mier
I am a Palestinian and Christian from 9 generations. We have land over seas that is occupied by settlements. Is that legal? Anyways, I will continue to pray for peace and justice for both sides because that is the only answer in today's world, but ignorance is so hard to penetrate on both sides. But one thing is for certain. This is not fair, I have relatives who are Christian and always have been Christian struggling to feed their family because of this garbage. They are innocent. Remember that whenever you feel otherwise. I will be even surprised if this post is even approved. God bless+
Can Canada help? For sure! Perhaps in this department.
Other than that I must say that I don't care very much about Canada dictating to the parties involved the terms for a peaceful settlement. After all, we don't live over there ... or do we?
Gene, fair point, it is for the parties to decide
Phil,
why wouldn't you post be approved?
Jews orginally from Iraq not PALESTINE!!
King James is evidence that Palestine always belonged to Arabs. Jews just fell in it assbackward and wanted to stay.
Please note: Land of Chalde''ans = Iraq
The Holy Bible: King James Version. 2000.
The Acts of the Apostles
1
Then said the high priest, Are these things so?
2
And he said,
¶ Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham,
when he was in Mesopota''mi-a, before he dwelt in Haran,
3
and said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land
which I shall show thee. Gen. 12.1
4
Then came he out of the land of the Chalde''ans, and dwelt in Haran: Gen. 11.31 and from thence,
when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell. Gen. 12.4
James
Your veiled attempt at objectivity is much too flimsy to hide your clear bias! Your advice to the Canadian Government to move its embassy to Jerusalem and recognize the city as the unified capital of Israel is indeed a manifestation of your unbalanced approach to the issue. May I remind you that your generous offer that Canada recognizes the two state solution, has already been done, accepted by the great majority of nations including Canada. So James, are you really asking for anything here except for Israel’s right to Jerusalem? What about the illegal settlements James?! What about the continued documented human rights abuses against innocent Palestinians?! What about the moral obligation of every decent human being to prevent atrocities committed in the name of religion and ethnic superiorities!
Yes James, Canada has a great role to play by following the great Liberal tradition of social justice for all and speaking out forcefully and effectively against BOTH sides when this principle is violated. We need to provide the moral compass for that region not rearrange the map
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