At a ceremony attended by many former officials in
governments around the world -- but no current leaders -- the
agreement reached after more than two years of private
negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians was feted in
Geneva. Although many critical parts were not yet formulated,
its initiators -- mainly former Labor party MK Dr. Yossi
Beilin -- felt that it can already serve as a basis of public
pressure to force changes in Israeli-Palestinian
relations.
There is a lot that can be said of Dr. Beilin, but he can
surely set up a ceremony that gathers attention. In recent
weeks, he has attracted a lot of supporters who admit that
there are aspects of the plan that they do not agree with,
but think that the overall idea is worthwhile. Even Beilin
said that he thinks that changes may still be made.
Most of the speakers at the ceremony did not speak in a
spirit of reconciliation but just criticized Israel.
International, Palestinian, and Israeli speakers took turns
criticizing Israeli settlements and the security fence,
calling them the main obstacles to Middle East peace. There
was no criticism of the Palestinian Authority.
"The road map's first basic phase has been substantially
rejected as the Israeli government has ignored mild American
objection and continued to colonize Gaza and the far reaches
of the West Bank and to build an enormous barrier wall on
Palestinian land," Former American President Jimmy Carter
said. One Palestinian speaker called Sharon a "fascist."
Dr. Beilin read prepared remarks defending Sharon but he also
criticized him at the same time for not meeting with
Arafat.
The harsh criticism of Israel marred an event that was
intended to be a celebration of peace.
Former US president Jimmy Carter (a Democrat) attacked both
Israeli and American governments in his speech. He blamed US
President George W. Bush for anti-American sentiment and
worldwide terrorism. "Without a resurrection of strong and
unbiased American influence, Israeli and Palestinian
extremists will prevail," he said.
"There is no doubt that the lack of real effort to resolve
the Palestinian issue is a primary source of anti-American
sentiment throughout the Middle East and a major incentive
for terrorist activity," according to Carter.
Carter said settlements in Judea, Samaria, and the Gaza Strip
and the security fence are the main obstacles to peace. He
also called repeatedly for the return of Palestinian refugees
to the territories, beyond what is called for in the Geneva
Accord.
Responding to Carter's remarks an Israeli official said,
"Carter apparently doesn't realize that Palestinian terrorism
has killed 900 Israelis over the last three years. He should
take a visit to our cemeteries and see what Arafat brought
upon us after being offered everything [former prime minister
Ehud] Barak offered him at Camp David and Taba."
Carter said it is of equal importance that Palestinians
renounce violence against Israelis, but he said this must
happen in exchange for commitment to the Geneva Accord.
Other speakers in the ceremony included Nobel laureates Lech
Walesa of Poland and John Hume of Northern Ireland.
Lord Michael Levy read a letter from British Prime Minister
Tony Blair endorsing the initiative and calling for a return
to the negotiating table. "A better understanding of the
nature of a possible settlement can remind people why the
difficult steps in the road map are worth taking," Blair
wrote.
Blair, French President Jacques Chirac, former Czech
president Vaclav Havel, and former US president Bill Clinton
sent warm messages. Former South African president Nelson
Mandela addressed the gathering by video. Representatives of
Egypt and Morocco also spoke in support of the agreement.
There was no formal signing, but following their speeches
former MK Yossi Beilin and former PA information minister
Yasser Abed Rabbo clasped hands, bringing the audience to its
feet amid thunderous applause.
The chief negotiators of the accord will head to the US for a
visit that could include a meeting with Secretary of State
Colin Powell. Next month, the planners will hold a conference
in Egypt with representatives of Arab countries.
Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak called the Geneva
Accord "a delusion" and said he is dead set against it.
"After three years of one of the bloodiest suicide-bombing
campaigns in the history of terror led by Arafat and Hamas
spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed] Yassin, this accord is
rewarding terror. It will not save lives, it will lead to
more deaths," Barak said Monday night.
"The issue of right of return into Israel is not solved; it
gives Israel a measure of control over the rate of that
return, but it doesn't solve the problem -- it complicates
it," he said. "Contrary to what Jimmy Carter said tonight,
there is no recognition of Israel as a Jewish state. Not even
this simplest demand is met."
Barak contrasted the two sides' approaches, saying that
Israelis are "predisposed to making peace, even at a heavy
price," adding that this is "not the case on the Palestinian
side."
At a Monday breakfast in Manhattan hosted by Rep. Jerrold
Nadler (D-NY), Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupoliansky told several
members of Congress that Israelis are wary of the accord.
"The feeling is that it is negotiating under fire, and it is
something that should not be done," he said, adding that he
was commenting as a private citizen. "There is a
democratically elected government in Israel that should
address those issues."
