To return to the new Peace Now website click here.

Yariv Oppenheimer in Ma'ariv: Israel has a Strong Palestinian Partner

"Israel's Palestinian Opportunity" by Peace Now Secretary General Yariv Oppenheimer

Anyone who continues to question whether Israel has a responsible and strong Palestinian partner who has the capacity to sign a peace agreement with us received a clear answer on Sunday on Channel Two News: there is a government in Ramallah, there is a leader in the mukataa, and there is a palpable possibility of ending the peace process with a final status arrangement.


As opposed to Israeli leaders in the past, Abu Mazen gave an open and candid interview, and fearlessly laid bare his political worldview and did not dodge a single question. Popular resistance? Yes, provided it isn't violent; unilateral declaration of an independent Palestinian state? We object to unilateral action; Netanyahu? The elected leader of the Israeli public; Gilad Shalit? We are prepared to mediate and to act for his release; Israeli security on the day after the agreement is signed? We are prepared to accept the existence of an international force under NATO's purview that will ensure the security of both sides. Abu Mazen spoke in the language of his people, Arabic, and openly declared his desire for negotiations and a comprehensive peace agreement that ensured the security of the State of Israel.

   The chairman of the Palestinian Authority gave his central headline in the interview to the resolution of the right of return issue. Abu Mazen chose not to dodge the question and to flee to vapid, hollow slogans that might torpedo any chance of reaching an understanding in the future. In response to the question posed by Ehud Yaari, Abu Mazen explained, quietly and calmly, that a future agreement with Israel would ensure a solution to the issue of return in a way that would not force anything on the Israeli government. In other words, in practice, no right of return will be allowed to hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees into Israeli territory if Israel is opposed to that. Abu Mazen went on to say that on the day that the agreement is signed, he would turn to his people and explain the nature of the agreement and the concessions that the Palestinian people had to make.

   As opposed to many Israeli leaders, who deep in their hearts know that no peace agreement is possible without a compromise in Jerusalem but are afraid to say so, Abu Mazen displayed leadership and began to prepare his people for the possibility of a concession in practice of the right of return. Anyone looking for excuses as to why not advance in the political arena and  why stop the peace process, won't be able to do so any longer by means of accusations directed at the Palestinian leadership.

   After Arafat's demise and against the backdrop of Hamas's surge in power, the Palestinian leadership has evolved into a responsible, serious and rational partner that is capable of controlling its areas and of serving as a clear alternative to radical Islam and the rejectionist movements.

   Continued Israeli disavowal of the peace signals from Ramallah, in tandem with wasting time and foot-dragging, plays into Hamas's hands, weakens Abu Mazen and Fayyad and is liable to bring about another missed opportunity to end the conflict. The window of opportunity is closing, the radicals on both sides are rubbing their hands together gleefully, and we can only pray that at long last an Israeli partner will be found who will be prepared to leap at the opportunity to make history and to end the conflict between the two peoples.