Hamas has, not for the first time, offered Israel a ten year truce. These are the terms: 1. Withdrawal of Israeli tanks from the Gaza border. 2. Freeing all the prisoners that were arrested after the killing of the three youths. 3. Lifting the siege and opening the border crossings to commerce and people. 4. Establishing an international seaport and airport which would be under U.N. supervision. 5. Increasing the permitted fishing zone to 10 kilometers. 6. Internationalizing the Rafah Crossing and placing it under the supervision of the U.N. and some Arab nations. 7. International forces on the borders. 8. Easing conditions for permits to pray at the Al Aqsa Mosque. 9. Prohibition on Israeli interference in the reconciliation agreement. 10. Reestablishing an industrial zone and improvements in further economic development in the Gaza Strip. To me, they seem like intelligent, sensible, reasonable terms, which would allow the people of Gaza to have some of the things available to the people of the outside world - a seaport and airport, a decent fishing zone, freedom from Israeli interference in their political affairs, freedom of movement - which would allow Gaza to rebuild and function with some sort of normality. The terms would also provide security for the Palestinians in Gaza, with international forces on its borders. These international forces would also provide security for southern Israel from rocket attacks from Gaza. If security really is what Israel craves, as it claims, then Israelis would get it by accepting these terms. They are not the kind of terms offered by terrorists. They are the kind of terms offered by people who want to live in peace, with the opportunity peace offers to negotiate freedom from their occupation. Will they be accepted by Israel? Only if Israels genuine goal is peace, as opposed to the complete destruction of the Palestinian people and the take-over of the rest of their land to create the Greater Israel of Zionist dreams. These are the kind of terms rejected by terrorists, who want to maintain a campaign of terror until their goals are achieved. As such, they are likely to be rejected by Israel and the Palestinians will continue to live under siege, occupation and in constant fear for their lives.
Posted on: Sun, 27 Jul 2014 20:24:59 +0000
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