Time to Close the Candy Store
Most Americans dreamt, hoped and believed that given enough time and patience that the Oslo process would result in peace. The Palestinian leadership were experts on manipulating these hopes and dreams. A promise here, a promise there ensured that the Americans and Israelis would increase the benefits (or should we say bribes) for the continuation of the process. Where it went was less important than the fact that it existed. In essence, if you don’t know where you are going any road will get you there. But it didn’t even do that.
Most Americans dreamt, hoped and believed that given enough time and patience that the Oslo process would result in peace. The Palestinian leadership were experts on manipulating these hopes and dreams. A promise here, a promise there ensured that the Americans and Israelis would increase the benefits (or should we say bribes) for the continuation of the process. Where it went was less important than the fact that it existed. In essence, if you don’t know where you are going any road will get you there. But it didn’t even do that.
After Friday’s bombing in Tel Aviv along came another promise – a ceasefire of sorts – given begrudgingly under pressure. Can our hopes, expectations and dreams be stirred once again? Some believe that the enormity of the act of terror makes this Palestinian promise different. Not likely. Point missed. The Palestinian perception is the greater the enormity of the terror the greater the impact. There is no sorrow here just pressure.
We wait, the world forgets. How do we know? We’ve been here before, but should we be here again? In any case, the events of the week put to rest the argument that Arafat has no control over the violence.
Without accountability there will be no reason for Arafat to move. Congressman Gary Ackerman together with Congressmen Ben Gilman and Tom Lantos introduced the Middle East Peace Commitments Act of 2001, H.R.1795 (MEPCA). It says that unless Palestinians live up to their commitments, PA and PLO officials should be barred from admissions to the United States, downgrade the status of the PLO office in Washington, “designate as foreign terrorist organizations the PLO or entities associated with PLO and PA which have engaged in attacks on the State of Israel and cut off all non humanitarian aid to the West Bank and Gaza”. There is also flexibility for the President to waive the bill for national security reasons.
After eight years of having no expectations of compliance from the Palestinians it is time we closed down the candy store. This legislation makes a lot of sense.