Repeated expressions reach us of public interest in the Ayalon-Nusseibeh project, known as “the Peoples’ Voice ” , as well as considerable efforts to lobby for it. This calls for a criticalreading of its Statement of Principles and of what it says explicitly or between the lines. The aim of the project is most laudable, … Read more
First thoughts after the Aqaba meeting: First thoughts after the Aqaba meeting: Solo performance . If there had been a printed program, it would have looked something like this: “Peace in the Holy Land” by George W. Bush. Director: George Bush. Principal actor: W. B. George. Music: G. W. Bush. Mis en scene : Bush … Read more
Good advice to Abu-Mazen: Keep clear of Altalena! He is going to get tired of the sound of this name in the near future. Every Israeli he meets on theway to Aqaba and back will demand that he do to Hamas what Ben-Gurion did to this ship. But thiswill be a treacherous request. A short … Read more
I find myself almost pitying George Bush, something I would not have held to be possible. Butthere you are… He has had a lot of luck, George Bush. All the big opportunities fall into his lap. But somehow,it all goes wrong. Somehow, “at the end of the day”, as the Americans like to say, everything … Read more
One of the most progressive Jewish principles of old is now being put to the test: “In those daysthey shall say no more, ‘The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set onedge’. But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, histeeth shall … Read more
“Have you gone mad? Now? He is irrelevant! He’s finished!” These were the reactions of somepeople when Israeli TV showed my meeting with Arafat in Ramallah this week. Is Arafat “finished”? If so, he has not heard about it. I found him in splendid shape. At some ofmy meetings with him over the last few … Read more
A Performance-Based Roadmap to a Permanent Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict The following is a performance-based and goal-driven roadmap, with clear phases,timelines, target dates, and benchmarks aiming at progress through reciprocal steps by thetwo parties in the political, security, economic, humanitarian, and institution-buildingfields, under the auspices of the Quartet [the United States, European Union, … Read more
A Performance-Based Roadmap to a Permanent Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict The following is a performance-based and goal-driven roadmap, with clear phases,timelines, target dates, and benchmarks aiming at progress through reciprocal steps by thetwo parties in the political, security, economic, humanitarian, and institution-buildingfields, under the auspices of the Quartet [the United States, European Union, … Read more
My first impression of Abu-Mazen was of a serious, methodical, somewhat aloof introvert. Hereminded me of a high-school principal, very different from Arafat, the impulsiveextrovert, prone to personal gestures, exuding warmth to all around him. I met Abu-Mazen for the first time some 28 years ago. We were secretly in Tunis to meet YasserArafat. There … Read more
The clash between Abu-1 and Abu-2 – Abu-Amar v. Abu-Mazen – is not a personal matter, as it ispresented by journalists in Israel and all over the world. Of course, the egos of the twopersonalities do play a role, as in all political fights. But the controversy itself goes muchdeeper. It reflects the unique situation … Read more