THE Palestinian newspaper Al-Quds in an editorial called ‘Settlements and Water Anew’, which appeared on October 1, exposes Israeli efforts to prevent the formation of a viable, independent Palestinian state.
It states: ‘The document revealed by the PLO Negotiation Affairs Department the day before yesterday about Israel’s intense efforts to expand settlement construction and enlarge the areas swallowed by the wall as a prelude to the annexation of 12.5 per cent of the West Bank in any future solution – this document raises a number of questions about its content and timing and about the steps that the Palestinian side must take to face up this challenge a few weeks ahead of the peace conference called by US President George Bush.
‘If we add to this document the report published by the Palestinian Economic Council for Development and Reconstruction (PECDAR) two days ago on the scarcity of water in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Israel’s control of the water sources, and Israel’s insistence on its settlement plans and retention of the Palestinian areas where these water sources exist, then we realise the size of the problem that faces the peace talks and the size of the challenges that face the Palestinian negotiator in the coming phase. This is in addition to the problem posed by the Israeli position on the issues of Jerusalem and the refugees.
‘As a reminder, we say that the late Dr Haydar Abd-al-Shafi, who headed the Palestinian delegation to the Madrid Conference, withdrew from the conference when he realised that Israel refused to pledge to stop settlement construction. The long years since the 1993 Oslo accords have proved the big defect as a consequence of Israel’s refusal to pledge to stop settlement construction – something that we see now in big settlement blocs in strategic areas of the West Bank. Israel is demanding the annexation of these settlement blocs as part of any solution to the Palestinian issue.
Therefore, we say that while preparations are under way for the peace conference, which will likely be held in November, it is unreasonable that there is talk about peace and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state as part of a vision for a two-state solution at a time when settlement activity continues, the wall snakes its way into the West Bank, and Israel controls all the Palestinian water sources.
‘In light of previous negotiation experiences, it is unreasonable to expect that the Palestinians should feel that Israel is serious in its peace endeavours at a time when it continues its settlement activity. Therefore, the preparations for the peace conference and the efforts exerted by the Palestinian and Arab sides must focus on seeking to get a clear answer primarily to the issues of settlements and water, in addition to the issues of Jerusalem and the refugees.
‘If these issues are subjected again to negotiations from square one, this will provide Israel with more time to complete its settlement plans – something that will block the way to the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state.
‘It is high time that the Palestinian and Arab efforts are focused towards holding the peace conference, not on the basis of negotiations from square one, nor on the basis of the illegal facts created by Israel in the occupied territories, but on the basis of the international legality resolutions, the unity of Palestinian territories, and the illegality of all the settlements.
‘If the Arab and Palestinian sides and the international community have for decades been saying that the settlements are a big obstacle to peace, it is high time that the international conference adopts this position as a prelude to the establishment of real peace in the region.’
Meanwhile, PNA leader Abbas and Israeli PM Olmert are due to meet today.
This will mark the start of the practical negotiations between the two sides. Officials from both sides affirmed that the Palestinian and Israeli negotiating delegations will participate for the first time in the meeting and will begin recording whatever agreements they reach.
Nimr Hammad, the Palestinian president’s political adviser, commented: ‘The meeting will mark the beginning of efforts to reach an agreement before the anticipated fall conference in November.’
He added: ‘The Palestinian side is seeking in these negotiations to reach a framework agreement to serve as a document to be submitted to the fall conference.’
Hammad added that President Mahmud Abbas would demand that these negotiations be accompanied by Israeli measures on the ground to prove to the Palestinians the existence of a new atmosphere and intentions, such as the release of prisoners, the removal of roadblocks, and the removal of daily restrictions on movement within the Palestinian territories and travel abroad.
In press statements before the meeting, leader of the Israeli Negotiating Delegation, Hayim Ramon, said that the negotiations would deal with the division of Jerusalem, based on the principle of ‘the Arab neighbourhoods for the Arabs and the Jewish neighbourhoods for the Jews.’
He said that the Palestinian side’s agreement to annex Jewish neighbourhoods in Jerusalem to Israel means agreement to annex land in the West Bank to Israel. He noted that several such neighbourhoods were built on lands occupied in 1967.
However, Hammad, a close associate of Abbas, said that anything the Israeli side says at this time is no more than test balloons.
He added: ‘So far, the practical negotiations have not begun, and we are trying at this time to reach a framework agreement to present to the conference. Negotiations about the details will take place after the conference.’
Regarding the proposal of some Israeli leaders, like Ramon and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, to exchange up to 10 per cent of land between the two states, Hammad said: ‘As we know, the settlements occupy only 2 per cent of the West Bank.
‘When some officials propose exchanging 10 per cent of land, this means that they want to annex five times the area of these settlements.’
He added: ‘The principle of exchanging land is acceptable to us if it were in the same percentage and quality. However, what some Israeli officials are proposing as a test balloon at this time is totally unacceptable.’
The Palestinians view such proposals as an expression of Israeli intentions to annex land behind the separation wall, which is equal to 10 per cent of the area of the West Bank.
However, the framework agreement the two sides are seeking to achieve is not expected to detail the percentage of land they plan to exchange.
Officials on both sides believe that the agreement most likely would only refer to the exchange principle without mentioning the area of land they intend to exchange and would leave this issue for negotiations after the conference.
Meanwhile, the UN has warned of severe hardships in Gaza if Israel carries out threatened sanctions.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Sunday 30 September that if Israel carries out its threatened sanctions after declaring Gaza ‘hostile territory,’ it would likely create a humanitarian crisis.
‘In the past three months, 106 cargo trucks were allowed into the Gaza Strip per workday,’ the organisation wrote in a paper issued in response to Israel’s September 19 announcement of a change in policy towards Gaza in response to the continued shelling of western Negev communities.
‘This assured the prevention of a humanitarian crisis among the Gaza population. The continuation of this situation cannot be guaranteed if there is an additional deterioration regarding the restrictions at the Gaza border crossings,’ the paper said.
The OCHA pointed out that until Hamas took over full control of the Gaza Strip in June, some 238-cargo trucks had crossed into Gaza each day.
OCHA also examined the impact of threatened cuts of energy and fuel on the Gaza population. Gaza is dependent on Israel, in one form or another, for 91 per cent of its energy.
The Israel Electric Corporation directly supplies 62.5 per cent of Gaza energy. Another 28.6 per cent comes in the form of fuel, paid for by the European Community but provided by the Dor Alon oil company, delivered to the local Gaza electricity company. According to OCHA, Gaza has almost no oil reserves of its own. ‘The scarcity will be felt in 48 hours,’ the report said.
Should Israel cut the power, Gaza will have to use generators to work the water pumps. But this is only a short-term solution, since the generators are only meant to be used in emergencies and cannot cope with long hours of operation.
Prolonged use will cause deterioration of parts which, because of the almost total closure of the Karni Crossing, will not be able to be replaced. It will also double the consumption of oil consumed to pump the water.
There are 12 public hospitals in Gaza, all of which have emergency generators in case of a power failure. The hospitals will face the same problems. During the three days that the EU refused to supply Gaza with fuel, the hospitals had to use their generators 12 hours a day and consume 8,000 litres of oil to run them.
In order to save costs, the hospitals stopped using air conditioners in most units. Many first-line clinics had to shut down because they did not have generators.
OCHA warned that if Israel implements the measures, it could be guilty of ‘collective punishment.’ The suggested measures could constitute ‘a violation of international humanitarian and human rights law,’ the organisation warned.
