DOCSLIB.ORG

As Media Seminar on Middle East Peace Opens in Budapest, UN Commu

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
As Media Seminar on Middle East Peace Opens in Budapest, UN Commu As Media Seminar on Middle East Peace Opens in Budapest, UN Commu... http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2011/pal2143.doc.htm 12 July 2011 Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York AS MEDIA SEMINAR ON MIDDLE EAST PEACE OPENS IN BUDAPEST, UN COMMUNICATIONS CHIEF CITES SMALL BUT VIBRANT PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE MOVEMENT BETWEEN ISRAELIS, PALESTINIANS He Calls on Media Makers to Help Combat Narratives Of ’Fear, Hostility and Violence’ that Hamper Progress (Received from a UN Information Officer.) BUDAPEST, 12 July — Welcoming journalists and creators of fiction, theatre and music this morning to a seminar in Budapest, Hungary, on the media’s vital role in resolving the Middle East conflict, the United Nations communications Chief called on them to further utilize their talents to help counter narratives of “fear, hostility and violence” that reified the standstill in the peace process. “While a virtual stalemate prevails on the diplomatic front, there is a small but vibrant people- to-people movement taking place between Israelis and Palestinians. One of the main forces of this people-to-people movement is cooperation on the ground in art and culture,” Kiyo Akasaka, Under- Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, told participants at the opening of the two-day International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East, organized by the United Nations Department of Public Information. “Writers, musicians and filmmakers are crafting a new narrative that reflects the shared experiences and common destiny of peoples on both sides. There is enormous potential for culture and media to further contribute to building peace on the ground through interpersonal contacts,” Mr. Akasaka said. The annual seminar was established by a 1991 General Assembly resolution to provide a forum for dialogue between Israeli and Palestinian journalists and others from the region, with the participation of the international community, aimed at enhancing understanding between peoples and achieving a just and lasting peace based on two States living side by side in peace and security. This year’s event, held in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, is themed “Prospects for Peace: Understanding Current Challenges and Overcoming Obstacles”, and takes account of the dramatic changes in the greater region’s political landscape, including the increased role of new media such as Twitter and Facebook in fostering political change. In that context, three panel discussions were held today. Entitled “The Middle East peace process: Overcoming the standstill”, “The changing landscape in North Africa and the Middle East: implications for Israeli-Palestinian peace” and “The role of media in transforming societies”, they included political principals, activists and journalists. The obstacles and opportunities of the current situation were surveyed in the first panel by the keynote speaker, Richard Miron, Spokesman, Office of the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, who delivered a statement by Special Coordinator Robert Serry. Reporting on last night’s meeting of the Quartet in Washington, he said the group remained united in its support of the vision laid out 1 of 7 12/07/2011 4:43 PM As Media Seminar on Middle East Peace Opens in Budapest, UN Commu... http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2011/pal2143.doc.htm by United States President Barack Obama on 19 May and urgently appealed to the parties to resume direct negotiations without delay or preconditions, beginning with preparatory talks. The urgency of resuming talks, he said, was increased by the coming to term of Palestinian State- building efforts, deadlines set for final status negotiations and the upheavals occurring in the region, he stressed, adding that new media was allowing ordinary people more power to push more for change than ever before. “The Internet, along with social networks, and the ability to display pictures, video footage and transmit information have given people a platform from which to voice their sentiments where none existed before,” he said. A fuller picture of the dynamics on both sides was filled in by other speakers in the first panel, along with options for overcoming obstacles, while the second panel focused on the implications of the so-called Arab Spring for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, and the third panel looked at the use of the media, new and traditional, in both fostering and suppressing change. At the opening, which also heard from Zsolt Nemeth, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, Mr. Akasaka delivered a message from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in which Mr. Ban stated that, at a time when “the region is coming alive and pressing to become part of the future, it is our duty to do all we can to help the parties realize peace and security.” “As members of the media and representatives of civil society, you play a vital role in raising public awareness and promoting mutual understanding between Palestinians and Israelis,” the Secretary-General stated. “I am greatly encouraged that you have come together to explore and deepen new avenues of dialogue and outreach,” he added. Mr. Nemeth, welcoming participants to Budapest, said that at this moment of turbulence in the region, it was crucial to make progress in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. He was aware of difficulties but also of unprecedented opportunity, including the position of the President of the United States and activity at the United Nations. His country, which had been chairing the European Union in the last year, had been active on the situation and from that experience knew that the transformational momentum was indeed an opportunity not to be missed. Together with the Union, Hungary was convinced that direct negotiations were the only way forward. “We simply don’t have any other alternative,” he said. Setting clear parameters was crucial, while unilateral measures should be avoided. International efforts, therefore, had been focused on setting a credible framework for the talks. The media seminar had the potential for moving dialogue forward through messages that had a positive impact on public opinion and created an environment conducive to peace. He hoped that the multicultural atmosphere of Budapest could contribute to that end. As part of his own welcome, Mr. Akasaka stressed to the media makers: “Ultimately, it is people — your readers, your listeners, and your viewers — who have the power to demand, to shape, and to deliver peace.” The international seminar will meet again tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. for two final panels and a concluding session, following a “Peace Concert” this evening, featuring renowned violinist and oud player Simon Shaheen alongside Hungarian musicians Bori Magyar and Daniel Kardos. Panel I: The Middle East Peace Process: Overcoming the Standstill Today’s first panel, moderated by Under-Secretary-General Akasaka, featured a keynote address by Mr. Miron, on behalf of Mr. Serry. Panellists included Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer for Palestine to the United Nations, Yossi Beilin, former Justice Minister of Israel, and Geoffrey Aronson, Director of Research and Publications of the Foundation for Middle East Peace of Washington, D.C. Mr. Serry’s address, as read out by Mr. MIRON, noted that only two months remained until the target date set last year by the parties for reaching agreement on permanent status issues, with only one month until the deadline set by the Palestinian Authority for completing its two-year State-building programme. Unfortunately, negotiations were not under way and there was increasing uncertainty about 2 of 7 12/07/2011 4:43 PM As Media Seminar on Middle East Peace Opens in Budapest, UN Commu... http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2011/pal2143.doc.htm what September would bring. He said that the Quartet, which had met last night, was united in its support of the vision laid out by United States President Obama on 19 May and urgently appealed to the parties to resume direct negotiations without delay or preconditions, beginning with preparatory talks. Much work remained to be done to close the gaps between the parties if the current impasse was to be broken, requiring a “spirit of statesmanship and vision” from the parties, he said, adding that, in this new era, leaders could not overlook the sentiments of ordinary people, partly due to the effects of new media. “We have seen the effect of people power in Tunisia, Egypt and elsewhere and the role of the media, particularly new media in motivating people to protest. The Internet, along with social networks, and the ability to display pictures, video footage and transmit information has given people a platform from which to voice their sentiments where none existed before.” For those reasons, it was even more important for the international community to provide added reassurance and credibility to the political process, given that “there is deeply popular discontent — on all sides — with the outcome of nearly 20 years of peace process”, he said. The return to talks, in that context, must be centred on clear ideas, including territorial lines based on those of 1967 with agreed swaps and credible security arrangements ensuring full Israeli withdrawal and a sovereign Palestinian State. Convergence on those issues could then provide a foundation for progress on other core issues. It was also critical to address issues on the ground, he said, stressing that Israel must respect international law in occupied territory in regard to settlement expansion, housing demolitions and displacement of Palestinian residents. He said that the Palestinian State-building programme had reached its limits under the status quo, which also constrained development in the West Bank. In Gaza, the uneasy calm was threatened by recent incidents. It was important that rockets were not fired and that Israel exercised maximum restraint and liberalized further movement of people and goods.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Palestinian Women: Mothers, Martyrs and Agents of Political Change
    University of Denver Digital Commons @ DU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 1-1-2011 Palestinian Women: Mothers, Martyrs and Agents of Political Change Rebecca Ann Otis University of Denver Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd Part of the Gender and Sexuality Commons, Near and Middle Eastern Studies Commons, and the Politics and Social Change Commons Recommended Citation Otis, Rebecca Ann, "Palestinian Women: Mothers, Martyrs and Agents of Political Change" (2011). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 491. https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/491 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at Digital Commons @ DU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ DU. For more information, please contact [email protected],[email protected]. Palestinian Women: Mothers, Martyrs and Agents of Political Change __________ A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the Josef Korbel School of International Studies University of Denver __________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy __________ by Rebecca A. Otis June 2011 Advisor: Dr. Martin Rhodes ©Copyright by Rebecca A. Otis 2011 All Rights Reserved Author: Rebecca A. Otis Title: PALESTINIAN WOMEN: MOTHERS, MARTYRS AND AGENTS OF POLITICAL CHANGE Advisor: Dr. Martin Rhodes Degree Date: June 2011 ABSTRACT This dissertation seeks to understand the role of women as political actors in the rise of Islamo-nationalist movement in Palestine. Using a historical and ethnographic approach, it examines the changing opportunity structures available to Palestinian women in the nationalist struggle between 1987 and 2007.
    [Show full text]
  • Signatories. Appeal from Palestine. 20.6
    19/06/2020 Signatories for “Appeal from Palestine to the Peoples and States of the World” Name Current/ Previous Occupation 1. Abbas Zaki Member of the Central Committee of Fatah—Ramallah 2. Abd El-Qader Husseini Chairman of Faisal Husseini Foundation— Jerusalem 3. Abdallah Abu Alhnoud Member of the Fatah Advisory Council— Gaza 4. Abdallah Abu Hamad President of Taraji Wadi Al-Nes Sports Club—Bethlehem 5. Abdallah Hijazi President of the Civil Retired Assembly, Former Ambassador—Ramallah 6. Abdallah Yousif Alsha’rawi President of the Palestinian Motors Sport & Motorcycle & Bicycles Federation— Ramallah 7. Abdel Halim Attiya President of Al-Thahirya Youth Club— Hebron 8. Abdel Jalil Zreiqat President of Tafouh Youth Sports Club— Hebron 9. Abdel Karim Abu Khashan University Lecturer, Birzeit University— Ramallah 10. Abdel Majid Hijeh Secretary-General of the Olympic Committee—Ramallah 11. Abdel Majid Sweilem University Lecturer and Journalist— Ramallah 12. Abdel Qader Hasan Abdallah Secretary General of the Palestine Workers Kabouli Union—Lebanon, Alkharoub Region 13. Abdel Rahim Mahamid Secretary of the Al-Taybeh Sports Club— Ramallah 14. Abdel Raof Asqoul Storyteller—Tyre 15. Abdel Salam Abu Nada Expert in Media Development—Brussels 16. Abdel-Rahman Tamimi Director General of the Palestinian Hydrology Group—Ramallah 17. Abdo Edrisi President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry—Hebron 18. Abdul Rahman Bseiso Retired Ambassador—Cyprus 19. Abdul Rahman Hamad Former Minister—Gaza 20. Abu Ali Masoud Vice-Chairman of the Fatah Advisory Council—Ramallah 21. Adalah Abu Sitta Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Right to Live Society—Gaza 22. Adel Al-Asta Writer—Gaza 23.
    [Show full text]
  • Oslo at 25: an Illusive Peace
    Oslo at 25: An illusive peace 22-23 October 2018 University of São Paulo Programme Booklet - English.indd 1 19/10/2018 15:43:56 Oslo at 25: An illusive peace The Oslo Accords signed in 1993 were supposed to end in a final settlement of the Palestine- Israel conflict after an interim period of five years. That objective never materialised with the seven ‘permanent status’ issues yet to be negotiated. The Declaration of Principles (DOP) lists them in the following order: (1) Jerusalem, (2) refugees, (3) settlements, (4) security arrangements, (5) borders, (6) relations and cooperation with other neighbours, and (7) other issues of common interest. From the onset, it was clear that the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and the State of Israel had two contradictory visions of the process. While the former envisaged an end to Israel’s settler colonialism, the latter saw it as an opportunity to create a system of indirect rule over the territories occupied in 1967. Whereas there were 260,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 1993; today they number more than 600,000. The obvious question, therefore, is that if Israel was really committed to peace, why did it invest so heavily in the construction and maintenance of new settlements in the occupied territories. In normal circumstances, where the rule of law is upheld and mediation was conducted in good faith, this situation could not have persisted. The Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 clearly prohibits countries from moving their population into territories occupied in war (Article 49). Hence, it was inevitable that the disregard of international law in the Oslo process would lead to a dead end.
    [Show full text]
  • Annapolis: Optimism Vs
    Annapolis: Optimism vs. Pessimism Sojourners Magazine, January 2008 “Do you know the definition of a pessimist?” asks Afif Safieh, head of the PLO Delegation to the USA. He answers with a bitter smile: “an optimist with information.” In an interview with Akiva Eldar published in Ha`aretz back in September 2007, Afif said, “My message to the American society as a Palestinian diplomat is not `give up a friend` but `add a friend.` I don`t have a problem with the commitment to Israel`s existence; I`m just asking my American friends if you are also committed to Israel`s territorial expansion? Do your interests include the Israeli occupation in the territories? For this is it worth it for you to fight with the entire Arab world? I`m saying to my American friends that the U.S. is a wonderful society, pluralistic, and a nation of nations. It absorbed eight million Muslims, of them four million who are Arabs and 400,000 Palestinians… Public opinion polls show that 60 percent of Americans would like to see a more balanced policy toward us… and 70 percent support a solution of two states.” There are grounds for both optimism and pessimism arising from the Annapolis Conference. What is in no doubt is the price of failure. In a letter written to George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice before the Annapolis conference, a group of foreign policy advisors headed by Zbigniew Brzezinski, Lee H. Hamilton, Henry Siegman, Brent Scowcroft, Paul Volcker and other former Washington officials, spell out how “Failure Risks Devastating Consequences”.
    [Show full text]
  • 21/06/2020 Signatories List for “Appeal from Palestine to the Peoples and States of the World”
    21/06/2020 Signatories List for “Appeal from Palestine to the Peoples and States of the World” Name Current/ Previous Occupation 1. ‘Ahd Bassem Tamimi Civil Society Activist –Ramallah 2. Abbas Zaki Member of the Central Committee of Fatah—Ramallah 3. Abd El-Qader Husseini Chairman of Faisal Husseini Foundation— Jerusalem 4. Abdallah Abu Alhnoud Member of the Fatah Advisory Council— Gaza 5. Abdallah Abu Hamad President of Taraji Wadi Al-Nes Sports Club—Bethlehem 6. Abdallah Hijazi President of the Civil Retired Assembly, Former Ambassador—Ramallah 7. Abdallah Yousif Alsha’rawi President of the Palestinian Motors Sport & Motorcycle & Bicycles Federation— Ramallah 8. Abdel Halim Attiya President of Al-Thahirya Youth Club— Hebron 9. Abdel Jalil Zreiqat President of Tafouh Youth Sports Club— Hebron 10. Abdel Karim Abu Khashan University Lecturer, Birzeit University— Ramallah 11. Abdel Majid Hijeh Secretary-General of the Olympic Committee—Ramallah 12. Abdel Majid Sweilem University Lecturer and Journalist— Ramallah 13. Abdel Qader Hasan Abdallah Secretary-General of the Palestine Workers Kabouli Union—Lebanon, Alkharoub Region 14. Abdel Rahim Mahamid Secretary of Al-Taybeh Sports Club— Ramallah 15. Abdel Raof Asqoul Storyteller—Tyre 16. Abdel Salam Abu Askar Journalist—Ramallah 17. Abdel Salam Abu Nada Expert in Media Development—Brussels 18. Abdel-Rahman Tamimi Director General of the Palestinian Hydrology Group—Ramallah 19. Abdo Edrisi President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry—Hebron 20. Abdul Rahman Bseiso Retired Ambassador—Cyprus 21. Abdul Rahman Hamad Former Minister—Gaza 22. Abu Ali Masoud Vice Chairman of the Fatah Advisory Council—Ramallah 23. Adalah Abu Sitta Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Right to Live Society—Gaza 1 24.
    [Show full text]
  • Sedos Symposium
    218/97 EDITORIAL BOOKS In the first article of our September issue, a native Baum, Gregory, and Harold Wells, eds., African missionary, Fr ROGATH KIMARYO, The Reconciliation of Peoples, CSSp, presents some critical reflections on how the Challenge to the Churches, mentality of dependency on outside help continues to WCC Publications 1997. have a paralysing effect on African communities. — In April, SEDOS organised an activity on the Duraisingh, Christopher, ed. situation in the Middle East. Mr AFIF SAFIEH, the Called to One Hope, Palestinian General Delegate to the UK and Director The Gospel in Diverse Cultures: of the Office of Representation of the PLO to the Report of the 1996 World Mission Conference, Holy See, showed us what a serious strain the once WCC Publications, 1997. hopeful peace process is under. — Fr EUGÈNE JUGUET, MEP, for many years a Jones, Marge, and E. Grant Jones, missionary in Japan, presents a really enlightening Psychology of Missionary Adjustment, article on the urgent need for liberation from that Marc Publications. new totalitarianism called ‘liberté du marché’. — Fr JAMES KROEGER, MM, offers a few pages Raiser, Konrad, which are of especial interest to Asian readers. He To be the Church, resumes the highlights of the first international gath- Challenges and Hopes for a New Millennium, ering of the Missionary Societies of Apostolic Life WCC Publications, 1997. (SALs) which are native to or working in Asia. — Fr JOHN MANSFORD PRIOR, SVD, based on Strahm, Doris, his long missionary and teaching experience in Die Christusbilder der Frauen, Indonesia formulates possibilities for a deeper Christologie aus der Sicht von Frauen in Asien, inculturation of Christian faith and liturgy.
    [Show full text]
  • Reception and Press Conference Held on the Return to Jerusalem of Mr
    December 22nd - Reception and Press conference held on the return to Jerusalem of Mr. Afif Safieh, PLO representative in London. PASSIA Annual Report 1993 security peace-keeping. ng justice and internal pol is a common political will to create regulations regarding immigration and asylum policy. is a to jointly fight the drugs trade and this should now become a common action which will overcome problem of ice from one member state unable to pursue minals across the of member states. also means the establishment of EUROPOL or joint European policing. Concerning and Monetary Union, the consequences of the Maastricht Treaty in this area raise the question of reality of being able to implement a common currency by 1999. It is generally thought in 1996 will on this very matter the international financial and economic crisis, which is a structural one as I will also affect this policy. The Convergence Criteria or economic conditions participation in the final stage of economic and monetary union comsist of four basic and points: 1. Price Stability - a member state must demonstrate price stability. The average rate of inflation, observed over the year prior to examination for the fi stage, must not exceed by more than one and a half percentage points that of the performing states in terms of stability. 2. Public Finances - at the time of examination the Council should not detect any deficit on the part of the member state. The deficit is to be if the budget is more than 3 % of gross domestic product or if government debt 60% gross domestic product.
    [Show full text]
  • The Other Israel
    The Other Israel Newsletter of the Israeli Council for Israeli-Palestinian Peace June 1993 No 57 P.O.B. 2542 Holon, Israel 58125 Editorial Board: Uri Avnery, Matti Peled, Yaakov Phone/ fax: (03) 5565804 Arnon, Haim Bar'am, Yael Lotan, Yossi Amitay Editor: Adam Keller – ISSN 0792-4615 – Assistant editor: Beate Zilversmidt COUNTDOWN Until the last moment it was far from certain if and opposed. But the concession was effectively annulled by when the ninth round of the Washington peace talks the stipulation that Israel would have veto power would open. For the Palestinians, resuming the talks over each and every piece of Palestinian legislation. while the four hundred deportees remain in their The fundamental negotiations impasse remained Lebanese tent camp was a difficult decision; the the same: the Palestinians wanted some assurance personal intervention of PLO leader Yasser Arafat about the definite solution which would follow after was needed to convince the reluctant Haidar Abd–el- five years of "authonomy"; the Israeli negotiators Shafi, chief Palestinian negotiator, to take the plane refused to make any reference to that definite to Washington. solution, not even to promise that it would be based The resumed talks opened in a mood of marked on the principle of "terrtory in return for peace" – optimism. The Israeli negotiators presented a set of even though that was the Israeli Labour Party's main new proposals which, at first glance, seemed promising. slogan for decades. Some good-will gestures were made in the Occupied No progress was achieved either at the parallel Territories, the most conspicious being the return of Israeli-Syrian talks.
    [Show full text]
  • 3. Dialogue Program
    3. DIALOGUE PROGRAM Introduction Through its Dialogue Program, PASSIA has ever since its foundation striven both to promote free expression within Palestinian society and to foster a better understanding of Palestinian affairs, be they in the domestic or international context. In doing so, PASSIA has earned a reputation for providing a unique forum for dialogue and exchange and for serving as a catalyst for civic debate. Central to these efforts has been the presentation and analysis of a plurality of Palestinian per- spectives and approaches. Topics addressed and discussed cover a wide range of subjects broadly and specifically related to the Palestine Question, from historical aspects to the current Middle East Peace Process and internal Palestinian affairs. The PASSIA Dialogue Program is divided into the following three sections: Roundtable Meetings: PASSIA invites a speaker (and sometimes a discussant as well) to lecture on a certain topic, followed by a discussion with the audi- ence present. Particularly topical issues are sometimes the subject of a series of lectures by as varied a range of speakers as possible. These meetings aim to promote thought and debate among Palestinians and between Palestinians and their foreign counterparts. Briefings: PASSIA frequently provides a venue for encounters, dialogue and discussions involving representatives and organizations from various back- grounds. These meetings focus on current Palestinian affairs and are designed to build bridges of communication and understanding between Palestinians from differing streams of society and to develop constructive and focused aca- demic contact between Palestinians and Israelis. PASSIA has also hosted nu- merous meetings in which resident diplomats and visiting foreign missions are invited to discuss Palestinian affairs and exchange thoughts and opinions con- cerning the situation in the Palestinian Territories.
    [Show full text]
  • In Search of a Palestinian Identity
    In Search of a Palestinian Identity AFIF SAFIEH PASSIA Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs, Jerusalem PASSIA, the Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs, is an independent Palestinian non-profit in- stitution, not affiliated with any government, political party or organization. PASSIA seeks to present the Question of Palestine in its national, regional and international contexts through aca- demic research, dialogue and publication. PASSIA endeavors that research undertaken under its auspices be specialized and scientific and that its symposia and workshops, whether interna- tional or intra-Palestinian, be open, self-critical and conducted in a spirit of cooperation. Afif Safieh was from 1990-2005 Palestinian General Delegate to the United Kingdom and to the Holy See. In October 2005 he was appointed Head of the PLO Mission in Washington, DC, USA. The views presented in this book are personal, i.e., the researcher’s, and do not necessarily represent the views of PASSIA. The publication of this book was kindly supported by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), Jerusalem. Copyright © PASSIA PASSIA Publication - December 2005 Tel: (02)626 4426 ▪ Fax: (02)628 2819 E-mail: [email protected] ▪ Website: www.passia.org PO Box 19545, Jerusalem Contents Anatomy of a Mission – London 1990-2005 …..…… 1 Which Way is Forward?........................................... 15 Rome and Its Belligerent Sparta ........................... 27 Diplomacy in the Middle East: The Art of Delaying the Inevitable? ....................... 35 Anatomy of a Mission 1 - London 1990-2005 I feel privileged to have been invited to address such a distin- guished audience at such a prestigious forum.
    [Show full text]
  • The Structure of the Palestinian Legislative Council and the Politics of Separation
    Fordham International Law Journal Volume 26, Issue 4 2002 Article 13 The Biggest Peace: The Structure of the Palestinian Legislative Council and the Politics of Separation Michel Paradis∗ ∗ Copyright c 2002 by the authors. Fordham International Law Journal is produced by The Berke- ley Electronic Press (bepress). http://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/ilj The Biggest Peace: The Structure of the Palestinian Legislative Council and the Politics of Separation Michel Paradis Abstract Part I of this Note summarizes the background leading up to the signing of the Oslo Accords. Part II details the overall structure and responsibilities laid out in Oslo II, with specific emphasis on the legal. Also, Part II presents for comparison the semi-autonomy arrangement devised and implemented in the Transkei of South Africa in the early 1960s. Part II concludes by examining the extent to which both of these arrangements were successful in satisfying the parties involved and makes some more general comparisons to similar reactions in Northern Ireland following the Good Friday Agreement. Part III attempts to draw conclusions on the effectiveness of limited autonomy to deal with the competing rhetoric of self-determination and the administration of viable political entities. COMMENT THE BIGGEST PEACE: THE STRUCTURE OF THE PALESTINIAN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THE POLITICS OF SEPARATION Michel Paradis* INTRODUCTION The Israeli-Palestinian flirtation through the 1990s with non-State autonomy for the Occupied Territories culminated in a second uprising, more bloody than the first.' The 1995 Israeli- Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and Gaza Strip ("Oslo II")2 set down the framework both for the Palestinian au- tonomous governing body, the Palestinian Council,3 and the scheme by which land would be redeployed in all agreements * The Author would like to thank Cara Hirsch, Inna Nazarova, Jason Otafio and Julie Wald for their comments and criticism that helped this piece take shape and, in particular, Briana Short without whom nothing would be possible.
    [Show full text]
  • Click Here for the Interactive Version of Mapping Palestinian Politics
    Michael Plutchok via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 2020 29 March29 1 Click here for the interactive version of Mapping Palestinian Politics Updated Updated 29 March 2020 Contents 1. Introduction........................................................................................................................ 5 2. Geography...........................................................................................................................6 Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) ...................................................................................6 Palestinian citizens of Israel................................................................................................... 7 Joint List .............................................................................................................................8 Balad ...................................................................................................................................8 Hadash ................................................................................................................................9 Ra’am ..................................................................................................................................9 Ta’al List............................................................................................................................ 10 Islamic Movement (Northern Branch) ............................................................................. 10 High Follow-Up Committee ............................................................................................
    [Show full text]