By Sean Malloy
The ninth round of Middle East peace negotiations opened on April 27. Israel's opening presentation by Yossi Gal signalled some changes in Israel's position. "We come to these talks with the feeling that we should move beyond 'negotiating the negotiations'. We believe that we should all sit down to discuss the issues", said Gal. Green Left Weekly spoke to the Palestine Liberation Organisation representative in Australia, Ali Kazak, about these statements and the negotiations.
"There has been some change", said Kazak of Israel's latest position, "but I would not say significant change. They have accepted that Faisal Husseini can take his seat at the negotiating table, thus accepting Jerusalem to be part of the occupied territories. They have also accepted Palestinians from the diaspora to take part in the multilateral peace talks and have also accepted the unity of the Palestinian people — those who are under direct Israeli military occupation and those in the diaspora."
Israel had also accepted the right of return for Palestinian people. "They have accepted the return of 30 of over 2500 whom they have deported since 1967", he said.
These changes are "positive", but still "far short of a significant move forward".
In Kazak's assessment, Israel will have to withdraw from the occupied territories sooner or later.
"There is a very clear and solid international position against Israel's occupation. United Nations Security Council resolutions 242 and 338 call on Israel to withdraw from the territories occupied during the 1967 war.
"It is only a matter of time, and the sooner they recognise this the better."
The current negotiations, said Kazak, are "for the implementation of the UN resolutions 242 and 338. Those two resolutions are the terms of reference, and the basis, of the peace talks and the peace process."
The fate of the 400 Palestinian deportees in south Lebanon is also an obstacle, says Kazak. "Israel is still refusing to comply with UN Security Council resolution 799, which demands the safe and immediate return of those deportees." The Palestinians expected Israel to comply with 799 at the resumption of peace talks. "It show that Israel is still not dealing seriously with the peace talks", added Kazak.
The current negotiations deal with two stages. The first stage is the implementation of Palestinian self-government for five years, after which Palestinians will move into self-determination and independence.
The content of "self-government" and "self-determination" have been major points of contention. Israel's definition of these terms is in effect occupation by different means.
If the negotiations fail, it won't mean an end to Palestinians struggling for self-determination.
"The intifada will continue", says Kazak. "The resistance against Israel's military occupation will continue. We have the support of the international community behind us; the whole world recognises our right to self-determination and independence.
"If the current peace talks are not going to lead to peace, stability and coexistence, then what we can expect is the alternative, and that is war, bloodshed and destabilisation in the whole area, until the Palestinian people achieve their freedom and independence.
"As long as Israel maintains its challenge to the international community and refuses to comply with the UN resolutions, there can never be peace in the Middle East."
However, establishing a Palestinian state in the occupied territories doesn't mean an end to Palestinians' problems.
"When we are liberated we are going to face a lot of problems which need solving. There is the almost collapsed Palestinian economy which we have to rebuild; we are going to face an enormous housing problem. There are a lot of issues which will need to be addressed immediately. Of course we are going to need international support and help."
Referring to the Israeli closure of the occupied territories, Kazak said, "Their statements don't match their actions. We have seen the deputy foreign minister, Yossi Beilin, recently visiting Australia. He was sounding very positive and said that Israel wanted peace and wanted to move forward and that they have learnt from experience etc etc. But unfortunately, on the ground they are still practising the same oppressive and criminal policies against our people.
"The harsh and barbaric policies of occupation are still taking place, the killings are still taking place. Only two days ago (May 5) they killed eight Palestinians, yesterday they killed two more.
"The entire occupied territories are under a military siege, for the second month. Over one third of the Palestinian population under occupation are without any form of income for a second month.
"Blowing up houses, collective punishments are still taking place, curfews are still taking place. There is a big contradiction between what they say and what they are doing and surely these actions are not designed for peace? And they are not going to lead to peace."
US President Bill Clinton said that the US is prepared to assume the role of "full partner" at the negotiations and there was "historic opportunity" for real progress. However, the Clinton administration's actions lean heavily on the side of Israel.
"The US so far has not done much to help the peace talks ... Up until now they have not acted as full partners. We are still calling on the US to shoulder its responsibility. After all, without US political, economic and military support, Israel would not dare challenge the international community by refusing to comply with UN resolutions."
The Australian government has also been operating hypocritically: it has been revealed that Australian diplomats have been pressuring Asian countries to recognise Israel, but not Palestine.
"One would expect that before Australia would ask others to take an 'even-handed policy' by recognising Israel, they would recognise the state of Palestine themselves and implement an 'even-handed policy'.
"It doesn't do Australia's credibility any good whatsoever. For Australia to go around and promote a country — which is occupying Palestine and oppressing its people, which is practising racist policies amongst the non-Jewish population, which is collectively punishing entire populations, which is killing people on a daily basis, which is grossly violating human rights — and on the other hand to play the champion of human rights is a double standard and hypocrisy."