The evidence points to Arafat's crimes against peace

By Amnon Rubinstein
Ha'aretz - April 19, 2001

Jacob's note: The author is an MK from the
left wing Meretz party.

In weekend interviews last week in Israeli dailies,
Maariv and Yedioth Ahronoth, Dennis Ross and former
State Department spokesman James Rubin laid full
blame for the failed Camp David talks on Yasser Arafat, 
and praised Ehud Barak's courage. But was more interesting 
was that Mohammed Dahlan, head of the Palestinian Preventive 
Security forces in Gaza stated, during an interview with 
Ha'aretz's Gideon Levy, that he planned to curse Barak 
but came to the same conclusion as Ross and Rubin. What did 
Dahlan criticize in Barak? First of all, he wasted time. 
On what? "Barak wasted six months on the Syrian track," 
meaning an attempt to reach an agreement with an Arab state 
as important as Syria was a "waste of time." What about the 
talks themselves, at Camp David and Taba? Dahlan has two 
complaints: Barak did not go far enough and only gave 
"part of Jerusalem"; he demanded complete control over the 
air space above the Palestinian state. But he also confirms 
that at Taba, "Barak wanted to give us something better," 
but, he adds, "it was too late." Why is it too late to make 
peace instead of war? Dahlan also blames Barak for zig-zagging 
- not with respect to the peace talks, but regarding the 
former prime minister's "civic revolution."

As for Israeli control over air space (other than civilian 
air craft) above a future Palestinian state, it should be 
stated openly and frankly: no Israeli government could put up 
with Palestinian air control which would limit the Israeli 
air force to a narrow corridor between Haifa and Tel Aviv. 
The vast majority of the peace camp believes, and wrote as 
much in its various plans, that the Palestinian state has to 
be demilitarized, and without an air force. Why does a 
Palestinian state need to be armed to the teeth and have 
military air control? Austria accepted full neutrality in 
a peace agreement after World War II. The German Federal 
Republic accepted, in addition to severe military restrictions, 
foreign military bases on its soil. Japan was demilitarized 
and made expansion of its army unconstitutional, yet it 
managed to build a strong, independent state.

Palestine cannot develop without full military control over 
its air space? That's what it needs to develop? It's clear 
that the Palestinian insistence on control in the air will 
raise suspicions even among the most moderate Israelis who 
would justifiably fear that their goal is to harm Israel's 
security. Dahlan also forgot to remind us that, after Camp 
David's failure, Barak was ready to continue the talks, and 
suddenly, without any excuse, the Intifada broke out. Dahlan 
also completely ignores the subject of the right of return, 
over which even the Israeli left is not ready to compromise, 
because it is the equivalent of denying the right of the 
State of Israel to exist.

Despite all these strange accusations, Dahlan does have a 
positive opinion of Barak. "He meant to make peace, but didn't 
know how." Very nice. And for that the Palestinian Authority 
had to declare war on Israel through the "Al Aqsa Intifada" 
(the name itself is a lie) against a prime minister who meant 
to reach peace with the Palestinians, making proposals that 
nobody before him ever considered?

Arafat and his associates make no counter offer, don't even 
ask for clarifications, as happened during the negotiations 
with Egypt at Camp David, but simply start fighting, bringing 
bloodshed and collective punishments for both Arabs and Jews. 
And all that while feigning friendship in Nava Barak's kitchen 
and without any excuse except the lie about sacrilege and 
plans to destroy the mosque on the Temple Mount.

Has there ever been a time in history when one side in peace 
talks declares the other side is ready for peace but since 
the offer doesn't go far enough, opens war? Of all the evidence 
thus collected, including Dahlan's own testimony, it's clear 
that Arafat and his associates are guilty of crimes against 
peace.