A letter to D^r. Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of state from the Palestinian Civil Society

A letter to D^r. Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of state from the Palestinian Civil Society

Dear D^r. Rice

We appreciate your determination to revive the Israeli Palestinian peace process and your sincere efforts to translate the vision of President Bush to end the Israeli occupation of our land and create a contiguous and viable Palestinian state comprising Gaza and the West Bank including East Jerusalem.

We would like to reiterate the principles that have guided Palestinian drive towards achieving a comprehensive and permanent peace that engulfs the principles of legality and justice, and sets the foundations for security, stability and prosperity for all peoples of the region.

1. Both people are destined to live together in this land. Both sides need to recognize the legitimate rights of each side to exercise full sovereignty in the areas under their internationally recognized jurisdiction

2. Peace requires respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of both nations and their right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force.

3. A sustainable peace should be based on justice and equality

4. A just peace provides the best security .

5. Our goal should be a comprehensive peace rather than a non belligerency treaty.

6. Peace making between leaders is challenging enough, but peace building between people is more challenging.

7. Economic development is an essential ingredient for peace building. Economic development needs an enabling environment. Walls are falling worldwide and fences are detrimental for economic development.

8. A sovereign Palestinian state right next to the state of Israel is inevitable.

9. The Palestinian state must be viable and have enough resources .

10. Both sides should recognize the security concerns of each side and will do their utmost to assure them.

We are convinced that applying these principles will be the only way that can bring about a sustainable peace in the region. We are determined to enter the twenty first century as a free people. There is now a window of opportunity that the historic reconciliation between the Israeli and Palestinian people is achievable. The Palestinian leadership has gone all the way to accommodate Israeli fears and concerns and we look for reciprocity from the Israeli leadership which should genuinely put sustainable peace as a priority over short lived gains of internal constituency matters.

While we appreciate your continuous efforts to bring about a breakthrough, your visits are bring memories of those conducted by former Secretary of State James Baker who was received every time he visited the Holy Land with an Israeli decision to build a new settlement or confiscate more Palestinian land. In 2007, the Israeli government approved tenders for 32,000 additional units to be constructed in Jewish settlements in the West Bank. In September 2007, the Israeli army released a new revised map for the Segertaion Wall in which an additional 157,920 dunums of land and 71,000 dunums of territorial water became inaccessible. The 150 outposts established since March 2001 remain and are being legitimized. Palestinians have been denied access to the Dead Sea. These Israeli unilateral actions raise serious questions about Israel’s genuine aspiration for peace. Israel continues to be insincere in its intentions to seek peace with the Palestinians as long as they keep thinking that they hold all the cards and they maintain the US blind support to its uncompromising position. Then again ; why should they ; but surly you know that this was detrimental to the US position not only throughout the Arab World but also throughout the World. If you are receiving indictors, that there are positive feedback within the Palestinian populace of the current meetings between the Palestinians and the Israelis, then know that they are misinterpreted indicators. The fact of the matter is that the Palestinians (referring to the common people here) are not enthusiastic about any of this. They are well aware that no good will come out of any of this, and why should they think otherwise when they know and from all of what they see happening on the grounds. The Israeli government continues with its policy to grab Palestinians’ lands illegally, force facts on the ground with the settlements, outposts, their apartheid bypass road system and the fact that not a beep came out to condemn any of it by the United States really reflects a subjective stand. Today, the Palestinians stand with convection that the opinion or ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of July 9, 2004 (3+ years now), was in fact nothing but a mere show. In fact Palestinians are convinced that the United Sates will not support their legitimate claims or at least abide to implement the U.N. Security Council Resolutions related to Israel’s occupation of territories during the 1967 war and that the United States and the puppet UN will only force their well against the Arabs, the Palestinians in our case and the less fortunate countries.

D^r. Rice,

you are well aware that Israel has not even dignified any of the signed agreements with the Palestinians, that they refuse to relinquish its intolerant policy that resulted in the mass murder of thousands of Palestinian civilians, entire families at times, the imprisonment of more than 11000 Palestinians (including 330 minors and 118 women some of which were arrested while pregnant and their infants are with them in prisons) for demanding freedom, their basic rights to live freely with dignity to practice their religious freedom, freedom of movement, their right to live anywhere, all of which granted and sanctioned under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Palestinian people are done with peace charades, it is been dragged long enough, exactly as these current meeting are taking place to give enough time for the Israelis to continue and complete the construction of the Segregation Wall. Even the increased tension in the region with the Syrians and Iranians relates to the Palestinian - Israeli conflict somehow.

Finally, Dr, Rice, you should be aware, that Jerusalem is a core issue for Palestinians and that they will never concede their traditional, religious, and national privileged rights to the Holy City and that no peace agreement will ever be genuine without it.