What Would a Palestinian State Look Like?
http://blogs.cbn.com/
The current peace negotiations are consuming the headlines & U.S. Envoy George Mitchell is beaming that the parties are getting down to the "core issues" far sooner than he dreamed. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is pinning her reputation on the success of the talks. President Obama seems convinced that solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will lead to a peaceful and stable Middle East.
But far less attention is being paid to what a future Palestinian state might look like: the state that's meant to live "side by side with Israel in peace and security."
Today, three items provided clues to the answer.
First, Jerusalem Post Palestinian affairs correspondent Khaled Abu Toameh reported in Monday's paper that the Palestinian Authority affirmed the death penalty for land sales to Israelis.
In case you didn't know, if a Palestinian Arab is caught selling land to an Israeli Jew, he can be executed. Selling land to Jews is considered an act of "national treason." In fact, when an Arab sells land to a Jew in Israel, the contract often includes additional money so the Arab seller can safely leave the area and establish residency in another country. He knows if he stays, his life is in danger. In fact, if you look on the Mount of Olives today, a large Israeli flag flies over one house. It's not far from where thousands of tourists come to overlook the city of Jerusalem. The Arab who sold the building to its Jewish residents was killed for his "crime."
According to Toameh's article - the PA - the future governing body for this proposed Palestinian state, "... on Sunday reaffirmed the death penalty for any Palestinian found guilty of selling land to Israelis. The decision came in response to a ruling by a Palestinian court according to which such acts were only a 'minor offense.' PA Prosecutor-General Ahmed al-Mughni appealed against the ruling to a higher court, arguing that the sale of land to Israelis was a 'major offense' punishable by death. The appeal was accepted."
Century Twenty One real estate agents beware.
Second, one wonders if at least some Palestinians see the current negotiations as simply one more step in the destruction of Israel. The Palestinian Media Watchreported the following comments by the PLO ambassador in Lebanon. He was quoted in the PA's official newspaper, al-Hayat al-Jadida, earlier this month.
"The PLO's representative in Lebanon, Ambassador Abdullah Abdullah, emphasized yesterday that the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, which have started in Washington, are not a goal, but rather another stage in the Palestinian struggle ... He believes that Israel will not be dealt a knock-out defeat, but rather an accumulation of Palestinian achievements and struggles, as happened in South Africa, to isolate Israel, to tighten the noose on it, to threaten its legitimacy, and to present it as a rebellious, racist state. He noted that Israel faces international isolation with doubt cast on its legitimacy, because of its actions and the war crimes which it has carried out. He added, 'Many Israelis in senior positions are afraid to travel to European countries lest they be put on trial for their crimes.'"
[al-Hayat al-Jadida, Sept. 9, 2010]
If this reflects the PA's negotiating strategy in any way, it puts a whole new light on "living side by side in peace and security."
Finally, would a future Palestinian state eventually look like Gaza does today?
Three weeks ago, Hamas, the Palestinian faction that wrested control of the Gaza Strip from the PA's Fatah faction in a brutal June 2007 coup, closed down a resort called "The Crazy Water Park" in Gaza City.
According to the Israeli daily Haaretz, Hamas closed the park "for three weeks because it allowed men and women to mingle ... Since taking power in 2007, the Hamas administration in the Strip has been closing down restaurants, coffee shops and hotels, claiming these places violate Islamic tradition. Gaza rights groups accuse Hamas of trying to Islamize the Gaza Strip by imposing new rules and laws that restrict many freedoms."
Then, three weeks after the closing by Hamas, 40 unidentified masked gunmen vandalized and burned part of the "Crazy Water Park:" "About 40 unidentified militants stormed the Crazy Water Park, breaking and destroying items and setting fire to its restaurant and administration buildings. The attraction houses three swimming pools, water slides and various cafes and other facilities."
So would a future Palestinian state eventually become a place in which the population would be Islamized? Would men and women be able to sit together in public? Would resorts like the Crazy Water Park be safe from armed militants?
As the PLO ambassador claims, would it try to increasingly isolate Israel, cast doubt on its legitimacy and "tighten the noose on it?" And as the PA prosecutor-general appealed, could Arab citizens be executed for selling land to Jews?
What about freedom of speech and religion and the right to assemble? Would these freedoms the West takes for granted be guaranteed?
Since many are advocating a future Palestinian state "living side by side with Israel in peace and security," it might be good to consider what that state might look like.