MIDDLE EAST: Is Israel sincere in seeking peace?

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Att.Editors: The following item is by the United Arab Emirates news agency (WAM)

ABU DHABI, May 28 2003 (IPS) - Accepting the Middle East roadmap in its current form is the first step to ensuring the possibility of attaining peace in the region, a United Arab Emirates (UAE) paper said today, but warned that Israel’s constant objections and insistence on changing the plan’s clauses is an indication of insincerity in its desire to live in peace with its Arab neighbors.

– The issue of refugees is the latest highlight of this fact. At a EU meeting of Mediterranean states on Monday, Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom stated that Palestinian refugees or their descendants had no rights whatsoever to return to their homeland and ‘urged’ Arab states to become the permanent home of those refugees who are living in exile," wrote the ‘Gulf News’ in its editorial.

It said: ôThe absolute rejection of the rights of almost 4 million Palestinians to return to their homes is not only a denial of rights that are protected by international laws and agreements but insurance that the route to peace will be a very long one".

It went on to say that Israel’s stance towards a crucial issue in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict such as that of the refugees’ right of return could only have one meaning: that Israel intends to continue maintaining its role and existence as an occupying force.

ôThe statement made by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ‘to keep 3.5 million people under occupation is bad for us and them’ should not raise hopes about an end to Israeli occupation," the paper said.

ôIn fact, Sharon’s statement is meaningless, yet calculated because of the news of a possible summit to be held between US President George Bush, Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas to discuss the roadmap".

In order for the roadmap to see the light, the paper stressed, none of its clauses or general framework should be altered or changed. ôIsrael’s current objections and reservations bring to mind a question that has been asked many times in the past: is Israel sincere in seeking peace?"