World community can't be blinkered on Middle East peace

Dubai: "What comes next" is the most logical question after Washington announced the failure of its efforts to get Israel to approve a freeze on new colony construction in the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem.

As officials from all concerned sides scramble to save the faltering peace process, now in its 19th year, both central parties seem as distant as ever.

However, the international scene, Palestinian officials and analysts believe, could make a difference to their status from, say, two decades earlier. The world, they say, can't leave the 63-year-old conflict open without a solution.

"The international circumstances that we live in make us believe that the weight of the international position shouldn't be underestimated," Palestinian National Authority spokesperson Gassan Khatib said.

While solving the Palestinian question became the interest of the international community, including the US, he explained, many realities on the ground have also changed.

Prior to the launching of the peace process in 1991, there was no "attractive model" for a Palestinian government and authority, Khatib said.

That time, "the international community was not repulsed by the Israeli attitude", as it is at present, and the security problems in both Afghanistan and Iraq were not on the world's agenda, he added.

These changes coincide with "a rise in the respect of the international community to the Palestinian attitude in managing their internal affairs and building their own institutions," according to Khatib.

At the official level, the Palestinians stand firm on their demand for a peaceful solution based on internationally-recognised bases.

Intransigent position

The Israelis refuse any pre-conditions, blaming the Palestinians for putting obstacles in the way to peace. But the Israelis at the same time are creating new realities on the ground and imposing their own agenda on the premise of aiding a peaceful solution by expanding colonies on occupied lands.

The US, which is the main sponsor of the talks, has repeatedly announced its objection to the Israeli colonist activities in occupied lands. Next week, Washington is hosting a conference during which US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to give a keynote outline of a new strategy to advance the peace process.

"We're shifting our approach, but are still focused on the goal of a framework agreement within a year ... We believe that's still achievable," State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley was quoted as telling reporters in Washington.

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeeb Erakat has said Washington should recognise an independent Palestinian state in response to Israel's refusal to freeze colony building.

Several Latin American countries have already announced their recognition of a "Palestinian" state in the past few days.

"The day will come when the whole world will be heading towards recognising the Palestinian state, and it will be difficult for the US to use its veto against such a move on the Security Council…. It will be a difficult and costly move to the US," Khatib said.

The other view

Palestinians opposing the peace talks, including the resistance group Hamas, meanwhile, believe that that these recognitions are coming "late", and "of a limited value" at present.

"What is required", Osama Hamdan, Hamas official in charge of the group's international relations, told Gulf News, "is a serious effort to establish the Palestinian state and this can't be achieved without pressuring Israel and imposing new reality on it". And "this has not materliased until now".