Between a freeze on settlements and a freeze on negotiations

Lest it be forgotten, let us remind ourselves that the Palestinians do not have a state or even a quasi-state; we live under military occupation. Israeli murders and attacks are a daily occurrence and remind us of our position; the world needs to take note.

Despite daily violations of Palestinian rights by the Israelis, Fatah’s leadership has not shown a hint of anger towards the occupation; there hasn’t even been a threat to freeze negotiations because there’s no freeze on settlements, which was supposed to be a condition for a return to talks. The Fatah leadership turns repeatedly to the “house of obedience” embodied by the negotiations, which do nothing but waste time and actually delay solutions to important issues.

Why do the Israeli occupation forces insist on embarrassing the Palestinian Authority negotiators? Aren’t they supposed to be their “partners for peace”? If only to show some goodwill, shouldn’t the occupation team have made sure that settlements were frozen, even for a short period? There is a growing perception that something is happening behind closed doors which necessitates those in favour of negotiations being silenced.

It is hard to believe that the Israelis have assured the Palestinians that they are doing everything possible to ensure that the conflict does not escalate. After all, Israel sidesteps all demands for a freeze on settlements while, with much amusement, no doubt, its armed forces continue to arrest and kill opponents in the occupied West Bank and carry on with their ethnic cleansing project.

The message to the Palestinian Authority is clear: it is an entity established to manage Palestinian affairs and ensure the security and continuation of the occupation. All the talk surrounding the negotiations will not pass this point no matter what happens; that is the red line of this whole issue and all the fine speeches about avenging martyrs’ blood and vowing never to give up resistance will not make an iota of difference.

The negotiations have very little meaning or prestige, not least because the Palestinian Authority has left little credibility to resistance against the occupation. The lack of dignity in this situation becomes more and more evident every day and although our opponents show that they lack dignity in their aggression towards Palestinians, it is offset by the media’s concentration on conflict and wars. In the wake of everything going on in the Middle East, Israel is presenting itself as a noble party that seeks the best alternative in light of a bad situation and it is shameless in selling this illusion time and time again. It is maintaining a grip on just one solution, which is rejected by the majority of the Palestinians. The talks will maintain the status quo and Palestinian misery will continue.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.