Middle East Peace Negotiations at Critical Place
Ron Ross
Bridges for Peace News
Email: ronrossbfp@hotmail.com
April 28, 2008
While Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority Chairman received encouraging rhetoric from President George W. Bush in Washington his advisor Yasser Abd Rabbo, a PLO Executive Committee Member and Policy Adviser was making current negotiations very clear.
On Friday Rabbo spoke to a conference hosted by The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) He said, ‘We have all missed opportunities in the past, but if this opportunity is missed, it will not be our mistake. Our choice is quite clear; a state for us along the lines of 1967, that’s it.”
Rabbo made it clear negotiations so far have been confusing and unproductive. He said it is “Difficult to judge whether we are heading towards compromise or disaster, at least political disaster.”
He indicated violence would resume from the West Bank if a Palestinian state is not achieved during the Bush Administration. “We are warning everybody that if this opportunity is missed, other forces will benefit, not only Israeli and Palestinian extremists, but extremists in the whole region.”
He spoke of his frustration over the Israeli settlement activity. “Settlement are accelerating in and around Jerusalem, and in the whole of the West Bank.”
This is where the peace negotiations hit a very large bump in the road. A letter has surfaced from President Bush to former Israel Prime Minister Ariel Sharon which grants Israel permission to allow natural growth in their settlement program. The letter was signed by the President and delivered to Sharon four years ago.
The peace negotiations appear to still face giant obstacles. The settlement issue, the dividing of Jerusalem to provide a capital for the proposed new state and the right of return for Arabs who previously fled the region – these three seem to be highly inflammatory issues.
Palestinians have objected to the visit to the Middle East in May by President Bush. He has accepted an invitation to be a special guest at the Israel 60th
Birthday celebrations. That same week is a time when Arabs in the Palestinian Authority mark a time of mourning for the birth of the state of Israel which they mark as a tragedy.
With this kind of conflicting passion, peace in the Middle East still remains a project which might well remain in ‘the too hard basket.’
Palestinian Chairman Mahmoud Abbas warns that if the negotiations are not successful the situation will deteriorate dramatically.
This situation requires a commitment to prayer and intercession. It may be the lull before the storm. If we arrive at the end of the Bush term without achieving the ambitions of the Islamic terrorist groups the violence will be devastating.
As Mordecai said to Esther, “You have been called to the kingdom for such a time as this.” We who pray may be the only chance for peace in the Middle East. Seek the Lord and expect Him to act.
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Three years ago he joined Bridges for Peace in Jerusalem to establish international radio news and an audio service webcast at www.bridgesforpeace.com Ron was Sports Editor of WINTV for 20 years before joining the full-time missions. You can contact Ron at : ronrossbfp@hotmail.com |
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