Peace is a two-way street

The outcome of peace negotiations and conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has been irrational and incongruous.
Israel has quadrupled the population of the “Jewish only” settlements. The conflict, however, contributed to its slowest growth during periods of unrest throughout the first and the second intifada.
The peace process must be profoundly flawed if it results in practices that perpetuates conflict and undermines peace.
Israel has used peace negotiations to distract the international community from its overt and covert policies under which it has extended control over 62 percent of the West Bank. Of that percentage approximately 75 percent was exclusively dedicated to benefit 500,000 Jewish settlers or 5,428 square meters for each. Meanwhile, native Palestinian land per capita shrank to less than 1,270 square meters each.
In further violation to article 4 of the Geneva Conventions, 73 percent of the West Bank’s water aquifer benefited Israelis outside the West Bank and additional 10 percent was guzzled by the “Jewish only” colonies in the occupied territories.
Agriculture is a major industry and a main source of income for many small family farms. Still, Palestinians received less than 1/10 of the water allocated to irrigate lush landscapes and lavish swimming pools in the “Jewish only” settlements (83 m3 vs. 1,450 m3). As a result, 90 percent of Palestinian farms are forced to rely on outdated rain-fed agricultural methods to survive.
According to a European Union Report in 2011, “If current trends are not stopped and reversed … the establishment of a viable Palestinian state within the pre-1967 borders seems more remote than ever. The window for a two-state solution is rapidly closing…”
Considering that the Palestinian Authority (PA) must seriously consider its options putting an end to international indifference, or risk being seen as unwilling accessory to a hideous occupation.
Hitherto, the peace process created an ensconced new class of VIP and privileged Palestinians who seem to be more interested in maintaining their gains rather than jeopardizing it by exploring other alternatives.
Collective Palestinian destiny should not be determined by individual gain, nor by the electoral politics of who occupies the White House, or waiting for an Israeli government to be elected by a public preferring status quo over rigorous peace process.
In September 2011, the Peace Quartet requested both parties to submit within 90 days detailed position paper on borders and security issues. Palestinian did, Israel has yet to respond.
The PA must stop vacillating and consider freezing official and unofficial contacts with Israel until it complies with the international Peace Quartet’s (PQ) and the Road Map. If the PQ can’t force Israel to comply, it should up for the PA to start taking calculated progressive measures to end current impasse.
First, a united Palestinian government must seek UN recognition irrespective of US threat to cut aid. No self-respected government trades its national sovereignty for aid.
Second, and following UN recognition, dismantle the authority making Israel the occupier of an internationally recognized state instead of the undefined status under the PA.
Third, general civil disobedience to nudge the international community and make apathetic Israeli public understands that peace is a two-way street.
Each of the above options comes with potential risks; but there can be no risk greater than the irreversible “demographic Jewish revolution” undermining the basis for an independent Palestine.

— Jamal Kanj is the author “Children of Catastrophe, Journey from a Palestinian Refugee Camp to America” (Garnet Publishing, UK). He can be reached at [email protected]