U.S. Middle East plan: Another ploy to divide and rule?
Posted By Amina Anderson
Last week, the United States presented Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas with a new plan aimed at improving Israel’s security in exchange for easing Israeli restrictions on Palestinian movement.
The so-called "Benchmark Document", which sets out a strict timetable for both sides to implement all Washington’s demands, was written by the U.S. security coordinator Maj Gen Keith Dayton, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dick Jones and U.S. Consul-General in Jerusalem Jacob Walles. The U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to push it on her next visit to the region.
The plan has two essential elements. First it asks Israel to dismantle a series of checkpoints in the occupied West Bank, especially in Bethlehem, Hebron, Nablus and Jordan Valley areas. Israeli officials are also asked to ease the movement of people and goods between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
By July 1 2007, there should be five bus convoys a week linking Gaza and the West Bank. No later than May 15, the main cargo terminal between Israel and Gaza should contain special lanes for fresh produce with expedited procedures to allow quick flow of seasonal products out to Israel and international markets. And by June 1, the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza – a vital gateway to the outside world for the Palestinians’ economy – should be opened to “normalized” passenger operations and initial commercial exports.
The U.S. plan also asks Israel to immediately and routinely approve and support its requests to allow the transfer of weapons, ammunition and other equipment for security forces under the control of the Palestinian President.
The second major element concerns Israeli security. According to the U.S. timeline, President Abbas should bring all Palestinian security forces under his authority and bolster security at the Egyptian border to prevent arms smuggling before June 15. The Palestinians should also develop a plan to stop Qassam rocket fire from Gaza no later than 21 June 2007.
Initial reactions to the American proposal indicate that its fate might not be better than previous, never-implemented plans. It’s unclear how the Bush administration would make both parties meet the so-called benchmarks, given Israel’s and Hamas’ rejection of most of the demands.
Olmert’s office said it couldn’t commit to some of the demands. Israeli officials expressed concerns that they were being asked to ease restrictions on Palestinian movements without assurances that Abbas has completed his own commitments on security. They also have serious reservations about other demands, including the bus service that would allow the Palestinians to travel between Gaza and the West Bank.
A top Israeli defense official said the government doesn’t want to open a corridor between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. “There is a mess and chaos in Gaza. Why bring it to the West Bank?” he said.
The official said that Israel should also maintain its roadblocks in the West Bank. “Most of the people don’t understand their value… The Americans are quite naïve… Dayton 'thinks this is the Mexican border. It is something totally different,” he said.
On the other hand, President Abbas welcomed the U.S. plan, saying that it includes "important steps” that would end the suffering of the Palestinians.
But Abbas’ support for the plan have been weakened by opposition from Hamas and by some members of his Fatah party, who said that the proposal doesn’t address major concerns about Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the separation barrier that has been built.
Hamas leaders, including Prime Minister Ismael Haniya and Khaled Meshaal, have openly criticized the plan, saying it will legitimize Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory.
"I swear it's a farce ... the equation has now become: dismantling the checkpoints, in exchange for (giving up) resistance," Meshaal said earlier this week.
Debating the plan in the Palestinian government would be almost impossible due to Washington’s policy of distinguishing between the Palestinian President and Hamas ministers.
Cabinet Secretary Ghazi Hamad, of Hamas, said the government cannot comment on the document because it has not seen it. “All the time they (Americans) are talking about the Presidential Guard. They never mentioned the government,” Hamad said. “The government is responsible for internal security,” he stressed.
The Fatah-Hamas confrontation over the U.S. document risks inflaming factional tensions between the two rival parties, just two months after they formed a national unity government.
Hamas leaders, including Hamad and Information Minister Mustafa al-Barghouti, said that the U.S. plan is aimed at driving a wedge between forces loyal to Abbas and those belonging to the government, whose prime minister belongs to Hamas.
"The president should convene Palestinian factions and not decide anything without agreement,” said Hamas’ spokesman in Gaza, Fawzi Barhoum, adding that his group would do everything in its power to ensure the failure of the plan.
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