Peace process a disgrace 

Op-ed: Why is Israel offering concessions in return for what 
was agreed to in past deals? 

by Moshe Dann
October 17, 2010
Ynet
http://bit.ly/peace-process

Wait a minute. Wasn't Palestinian recognition of Israel  as a 
Jewish state part of the Oslo Accords?

"The Government of the State of Israel and the PLO team… 
representing the Palestinian people, agree that it is time to 
put an end to decades of confrontation and conflict, recognize 
their mutual legitimate and political rights, and strive to 
live in peaceful coexistence and mutual dignity and security 
and achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement 
and historic reconciliation through the agreed political process."

If this isn't what Prime Minister Netanyahu is asking for now, 
what does this document mean?

And why is PM Netanyahu willing to make more concessions 
in return for something which was already agreed upon?

True, none of the major issues were dealt with, including "refugees," 
"settlements," "Jerusalem," etc. According to those behind the 
negotiations, that would have meant no agreement!

 Thank you Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres for an agreement in 
which one side got most of what they wanted, and the other side 
got nothing. Thank you Alan Baker, for your legal "expertise," 
and Yossi Beilin for the PR cloud cover. Nice show.

Excuse me for asking, but, if the Oslo Accords, and Wye, and 
Hebron Agreements did not mean an end to incitement and 
terrorism, what do they mean? And, if these agreements do not 
mean what they say, why did Israel give up territory, help create 
a Palestinian army, and transfer billions of dollars to the PA?

 If all of these agreements and Israeli concessions did not bring 
Israel closer to "peace," an "end to the conflict," and greater 
security and world acceptance, why were they made, and 
why is PM Netanyahu now back at square one?

De-legitimization must stop  

If the PA has not lived up to its agreements, why doesn't 
President Peres object that he was misled? Why isn't he 
demanding that the Palestinians live up to their side of the 
bargain? Or, is he part of the campaign of disinformation?

The fact that PM Netanyahu needs to call for recognition, 
and is rejected by the PA, means that the agreements were 
a fake, and the Israeli people have been brainwashed.

That the Israeli government offers further concessions in return 
for what was agreed to during the past 17 years, is a disgrace.

It is a disgrace because it means that the "peace process" was 
a lie, and those who perpetrated it - deliberately, or, naively - 
have some explaining to do to the Israeli people. They include 
not only current and past government officials, but academics 
who supported this fraud, and especially the media which 
managed the brainwashing.

Those who oppose "the occupation" owe the Israeli people an 
explanation for why Palestinians reject any form of recognition 
of Israel's legitimacy - and why they remain silent in the face of 
that insult. Why do they call for boycotts of Israel, and refuse to 
demand PA compliance?

There is no need for further Israeli concessions. The Israeli 
government can announce that until and unless the PA accepts 
Israel's legitimacy, there is no basis for ongoing economic 
assistance, and no further cooperation on infrastructure.

For example, it is totally absurd that the Israeli government assists 
the PA in building the new city of Rawabi, near Ramallah, without 
such basic agreements. That this project, and others that are being 
planned, are supported by the Peres Center for Peace, without 
PA acceptance of Israel is mind-boggling.

PM Netanyahu's policy of unilaterally "freezing" Jewish construction 
led to this impasse. It's time to freeze the system that rewards 
PA non-compliance and contributes to undermining Israel, at home 
and the international community. PA de-legitimization of Israel 
must stop now.

An obstacle for Palestinians and those who support their demands, 
the question of recognition shows that the primary dispute 
- obviously - is not over territory, but over Israel's existence.

PM Netanyahu's demand that Palestinian leaders recognize Israel 
as a Jewish state is not a semantic tease; Israel's Jewish character 
is its raison d'etre, the "Jewish national home," and the essence of 
its sovereignty.