Commentary - Palestinians must be treated fairly

Palestinians must be treated fairly

As a Palestinian American, I've watched the violent events in the Middle East of the last two weeks with horror and disbelief. Jewish friends and I, only days ago waiting anxiously for what seemed an inevitable final peace accord, instead witnessed Palestinian frustration - over what should have been viewed by all as an insignificant visit by an insignificant man to the Noble Sanctuary/Temple Mount - explode into violent clashes that have seemingly erased any hope of a peaceful resolution. Why are my fellow Palestinians, as legitimate as our cause is, yet again playing into the hands of our critics?

The answer is fairly clear for those who really care to know. After a seven-year "peace process," Palestinians are actually worse off now than they were before Oslo.

We have recognized Israel's right to exist (and received no such recognition from Israel in return), we have obliterated the offensive provisions from our national charter, we remained quiet and docile to help get Ehud Barak elected prime minister, we jumped through every American and Israeli hoop put before us like trained animals - and received what in return? Fifty thousand more settlers in the West Bank and Gaza, continued land expropriation, the strangulation of Arab East Jerusalem by Jewish settlements, Jewish expansion into Jerusalem's Muslim quarter (with no mutual right for Muslims to live in the Jewish quarter), increased travel restrictions, unyielding "security" detentions and torture and complete economic dependence on Israel.

Oslo has been exposed for the charade it is: a mechanism by which Israel can retain control of the territories it illegally occupied in 1967. Admittedly, a Palestinian resort to confrontation with Israel's formidable military is ultimately self-defeating, but it's all too easy to understand why the Palestinians feel they have no choice.

But if there is another choice, which certainly there must be, now is the time to say it loudly and clearly to Barak:

You must approach the Palestinians as human beings worhty of the same peace and security that you seek for Israeli citizens - not as a subjugated people to be bombed into submission. Give the Palestinians something other than tanks, attack helicopters and silly ultimatums designed to show right-wing critics that you can be "tough with the Arabs." Like Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator who so courageously admitted Palestinian mistakes with regard to the shameful desecration of Joseph's Tomb, Israel too much be brave enough to admit its mistakes. Go to the grieving parents of 12-year-old Mohammed Aldura and express your regret and sorrow at his tragic slaying.

We are desperate for an indication that you are the peacemaker we hoped you would be. Give us a reason to believe we will be granted independence, the settlements will be evacuated and the refugees will be able to return. Blaming Arafat, as if he has a magic wand that can make Palestinians protest or stop at his whim, is too easy and only reinforces Palestinian suspicions that you, like your predecessor, simply are looking for an excuse to back away from the peace negotiations. Forget Arafat and his corrupt and incompetent leadership and address the Palestinian people directly.

If you are, as others assert on your behalf, offering us an independent state with full sovereignty over East Jerusalem, including the Christian and Muslim quarters of the Old City, then say so loudly and unequivocally. Go to Ramallah, to Bethlehem, to Gaza and tell the people that you recognize Palestine's right to exist - you then will discover how peaceful we can be. But absent such bold and morally courageous moves, we, the Palestinians, have every reason to distrust you and the peace process. -Michael Tarazi, a lawyer, is a former intern with the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Distributed by the Washington Post / Chicago Sun-Times Oct 14, 2000