Middle East Peace
(Signs of the Time - October 1999)
It seems every time a newspaper is opened, the Middle East peace process is either back on track, or far from ever being resolved. In the past 60 days, the news has heralded Israel as finally achieving peace. Of particular note has been the September, 1999, peace accord between Israel and the Palestinians. This accord allows Israel to forge ahead with the implementation of the previously negotiated Wye River accord and sets some fairly lofty goals for peace in the land.
The agreement
The peace accord signed in early September, 1999, is divided into short-term and
long-term goals. For the most part, the short-term goals are easily achieved as they deal
with how to carry out a land-for-security deal signed by the Israelis and Palestinians at
Wye River, Maryland, in the autumn of 1998. The new agreement only slightly modifies the
text of the Wye memorandum negotiated by the previous Israeli government. Both Israelis
and Palestinians feel the new accord offers them a more concrete plan -- with dates,
numbers and intentions spelled out. Both sides describe it as a "win, win"
approach.
Short-term steps
Starting on September 13, 1999, the Israelis will transfer 7% of the West Bank from
Israel’s total control to joint control with the Palestinians. On October 1, Israel
will open a southern safe-passage route between Gaza and the West Bank thus connecting the
Palestinian territories in a very important development to Palestinian businessmen,
students and separated families. Also on October 1, construction will begin on a
commercial seaport in Gaza. On November 15, 5% more of the West Bank will be transferred
to the Palestinians. And on January 20, a third transfer should be completed, meaning that
40% of the West Bank will then be under partial or full control of the Palestinians.
Long-term goals
The long-term objectives of the accord will be much more difficult to achieve. This
portion of the agreement deals with hotly disputed topics of national boundaries and the
inevitable question of the city of Jerusalem. As reported in the September 5, 1999, New
York Times: "The agreement envisions the end of conflict between the
Palestinians and Israelis a year from now, with the emotional issues of the boundaries of
Israel and the Palestinian lands and the disputed status of Jerusalem solved by then.
Other longstanding differences over the return of Palestinian refugees now scattered
through the Middle East and the use of water would also be resolved under this bold
strategy...The longer-term goal of a final-status agreement between the Palestinians and
the Israelis -- which Mr. Barak would like to see concluded alongside talks with the
Syrians -- is now the toughest business at hand."
However remote these goals may seem, both the Israelis and the Palestinians have agreed to tackle these issues. The final-status talks will be divided into two six-month stages. The first half, in which a broad-brush framework agreement would be established, is supposed to conclude on February 15, 2000. That is also the date for the third and, from the Israeli perspective, most sensitive transfer of land.
In addition to the accord, the European Union has pledged to help Palestinian economic development. The Union has pledged $1.6 billion to the Palestinians over the next three years and Italy has committed itself to developing the port at Gaza.
Syria and Lebanon
In order to achieve a full and lasting peace in the Middle East, Israel must establish
and maintain peace with more than just the Palestinians. Peace must be achieved with all
her neighbors, which include Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. For the most part, peace
with Egypt and Jordan has been achieved by Israel. The other two, however, remain a great
challenge to the peace process.
Syria will only agree to peace if Israel withdraws from the Golan Heights and Israel will only agree to peace if Syria removes this condition from the discussion table. The New York Times reports: "The Syrian leader has insisted on what Damascus has called an agreement by Yitzhak Rabin, when he was the Israeli Prime Minister, to a full withdrawal from the Golan Heights, which Israel captured during the 1967 war. Mr. Assad has specifically said that he will agree to restart negotiations only if the Israelis take as a baseline the return of the Golan Heights to the boundary of June 4, 1967, meaning that Syria’s border with Israel would go to the shore of the Sea of Galilee." But the Israelis have said that Rabin never made such a definitive pledge and that, as a new boundary, they want a border agreed to internationally in 1923, which does not reach to the shore of Galilee.
Syria wants the Golan Heights and, as a condition for talks with Israel, wants Israel to begin negotiations with Lebanon.
Barak’s influence
The last few months have seen quite a remarkable turn of events. In the short time
since his election, Israeli Prime Ministr Ehud Barak has won over the admiration of the
Palestinians and maintained a peaceful existence with Jordan and Egypt.
The next step in achieving peace will be to commence negotiations with the Syrians and the Lebanese and to begin the process of negotiating difficult issues with the Palestinians. Key items that are imperative to Israel’s survival will have to be negotiated away in order to achieve and maintain a peaceful existence.
Of course, as Bible students, we realize a lasting peace can only be facilitated by God’s intervention in the area. We pray that wonderful time may come quickly.
George Rayner