New Delhi, India -- The problem before our - brave? foolish? foolhardy? - mediator is the impasse: one man's terrorist is another man's Prime Minister.
One elected leader is enraged because "terrorists" have kidnapped his soldier. The other elected leader is outraged because that soldier is the weapon of "state terrorism" that has inflicted death and devastation upon a militarily-weak but morally-strong people. The hostages, a soldier on one side, 60 MPs and a clutch of ministers on the other, are in fact only part of the problem. The Palestinians and Israelis have finally blocked themselves in parallel cul de sacs. They are raging against their own walls.
Task Number One: To open a side street that can connect the parallels.
Task Number Two: Find credible alter egos (for both sides) who can negotiate on behalf of the principals, with our foolhardly mediator turning into an honest facilitor.
Task Number Three: To patch an initial deniable deal, which can be rejected by the principals.
Task Number Four: To effect compromises on both sides, so that both can claim victory: this is now a battle of face, rather than people or territory.
Task Number Five: To ensure that a tactical exchange of prisoners is the beginning of a strategic 5-way conversation between Palestinians, Israelis, their surrogates and the mediator (who should, by now, have evolved from foolhardy to hardy: if he has travelled in the other direction, stop the game and return to first base of snakes-and-ladders).
Task Number Six: The most difficult part - ensure that this engagement becomes an institutionalised means of communication. It is the side street that is missing.
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Comments (7)
Forget about prisoner exchanges: you'd be better off building ornamental landings for golden ferries. All the Palestinians need to win is to follow Ghandi's path - but they apparently lack the moral strength to do so. In their weakness they incite violence (to get a few satisfying kills in) only to complain that they are out-gunned. Dude, their outgunned! Ghandi is the only way for the Palestinians to win. But they won't do it. Why? Because to win does not mean live in peace; to win means to remove the Zionist entity: it is not peace they seek but domination. Poor poor frustrated dominators - they are outgunned!
July 6, 2006 5:57 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on July 6, 2006 17:57
The Palestinians have already agreeded to give up half of their homeland. They tried the peace route; it was called Oslo. What did they get? More land theft, more illegal colonies (aka settlements), more humiliation, more subjugation and assasination. Israel needs to end (or be forced to end) its illegal brutal occupation and terminate its settler-colonialist project.
July 7, 2006 2:05 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on July 7, 2006 14:05
I agree with David. It seems clear to me Israel does not want peace, and its politico-military establishment seems to thrive when there is conflict. Why does noone rail against the innumerable Palestinian nationalists who have been kidnapped by Israel over the years? Non-violence will not work because a militarized society like Israel seems to respond only to violence. Just watch -- now they are talking about releasing Palestinian prisoners. Would they have done that if there had been civil disobedience? Not likely.
July 7, 2006 8:52 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on July 7, 2006 20:52
Israel has become a monster, a spoiled brat of the USA. The monster wants to destroy everything in its path. remember israeli tanks mowed a Woman US citizen few years ago because she was exposing the plight of the palestinians.
The 3 soldiers are just a pretext. I am sorry for the palestinians. Now israel bombs lebanon. 15 years of development into rubble.
So if there is war only the rich and developed countries benifit. I feel sorry for the palestinians because they are at the mercy of israel for everything.
The Israelis and all the western powers want to keep the asians in perpetual slavery. This they are doing by dividing and conqering them.
July 18, 2006 10:11 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on July 18, 2006 22:11
First M.J Akbar must write on how to solve the problem in his own backyard. On how to stop the terrorist attacks that are launched against India and Indians from outside and Inside India. Then he can go and solve problems of the world.
July 22, 2006 4:40 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on July 22, 2006 04:40
First M.J Akbar must write on how to solve the problem in his own backyard. On how to stop the terrorist attacks that are launched against India and Indians from outside and Inside India. Then he can go and solve problems of the world.
July 22, 2006 4:41 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on July 22, 2006 04:41
Bharat,
If only you bother to do some research, MJ does write about his own back yard,IT is time India/Indian's take more active role in world affairs, Maybe the good old us can bring some sanity to this world(Hee Hee) .
July 22, 2006 8:16 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on July 22, 2006 08:16