(This was published in September 7th, 2010)

By Daoud Kuttab

A Palestinian state is coming — it’s just not clear whether it will result from the current peace talks.

It is easy to be pessimistic, or even apathetic, about the latest round of Palestinian-Israeli peace talks. History is a witness to the lack of Palestinian accomplishments in incremental negotiations. All successful efforts to date have stemmed from secret talks made public only once a package agreement was reached. Continue Reading »

(This was published in September 1st, 2010)

By Daoud Kuttab

There is a chance that the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 will soon end and an independent Palestinian state will emerge. The direct peace talks taking place in Washington is a necessary step towards that goal, but it is not the only option that Palestinians have.

Despite all the Palestinian opposition to the direct Palestinian-Israeli meet (with the settlement freeze about to expire) there is hope in many quarters. Before leaving to Washington Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said publicly that he would have gone to the peace talks even if the chances of success were no more than one percent. Continue Reading »

Under much international and Arab pressure, Palestinian leaders finally buckled and accepted to hold direct talks with Israel. Many Palestinians believe that the intended talks are nothing but a photo opportunity that aims to create the impression of a peace process while avoiding making any substantive commitments.

In a season when images represent the narrative, a political cartoon in the Jordanian newspaper a Al Ghad daily newspaper captured the Palestinian and Arab skepticism in the peace process. Emad Hajjaj captured the moment by repeating the Facebook image of the female Israeli soldier posing in front of a blindfolded and handcuffed Palestinians by making the old man none other than the Palestinian leader Abbas sitting across the negotiating table across from a smiling Israeli female soldier that represents Israel. Continue Reading »

In a season when images represent the narrative, a political cartoon in a Jordanian newspaper captured the Palestinian and Arab mood as the US and its allies pile on the Palestinian leader Mahmood Abbas, pressing him to hold direct talks with Israel simply for the purpose of a photo opportunity. Emad Hajjaj captured the moment by repeating the Facebook image of the female Israeli soldier posing in front of a blindfolded and handcuffed Palestinians by making the old man none other than the Palestinian leader Abbas sitting across the negotiating table across from a smiling Israeli representative.

Americans and Israelis might believe that direct talks between Palestinian and Israeli leaders is the most obvious way to achieve peace in the Middle East conflict. But history has shown time and again that a high-profile peace process alone is no recipe for success. Continue Reading »

Direct talks between Palestinian and Israeli leaders are the most obvious way to achieve peace in the Middle East conflict. But history has shown time and again that a high-profile peace process alone is no recipe for success.

The Arab League is set to meet later this month to advise the Palestinian leadership whether or not to engage in direct talks with Israel. Palestinian officials say that there is no use in holding direct talks that are nothing more than a photo opportunity intended to create the impression of a peace process while avoiding any substantive commitments.

For Palestinians, the first step in real peace talks must include some accord on the basic issues of borders and security. The Palestinians have presented to their Israeli counterparts (through the Americans) a written offer that includes giving up lands occupied by Israel in 1967 and now populated by Israeli settlers. These lands would be swapped for other lands equal in size and importance. Israel has yet to produce a single written document outlining its position on the territory that will become a Palestinian state alongside Israel. Continue Reading »

The aim of this blog is not to pile it on the ADL, but to show that this organization that is expected to fight hate, discrimination and defamation, has little tolerance for the suffering of any group other than the Jewish population. Continue Reading »

(This was published in July 26th, 2010)

By Daoud Kuttab

Over dinner in Bethlehem, a few weeks ago, I mentioned to my brother-in-law how Israel has strategically succeeded in cutting off the Gaza Strip from the West Bank. While agreeing with me, he wanted to talk about another problem: that of east Jerusalem being also cut off. He told me of what a senior Israeli officer once told him shortly after the beginning of the Oslo process. The Israeli official said that Palestinians shouldn’t celebrate too much the withdrawal of Israel from Bethlehem. Before too long, Palestinians in Bethlehem will need to have a visa to enter Jerusalem. Continue Reading »

(This was published in June 9th, 2010)

By Daoud Kuttab

One of the most repeated questions that was asked by many following the attack on the Gaza bound humanitarian flotilla was why did Israel do that? Why did a very powerful army and navy who can easily have controlled the situation in the high seas need to carry out a commando raid that ended up with the death of nine internationals one of whom was an American citizen? Continue Reading »

(This was published in June 7th, 2010)

By Daoud Kuttab

The Israeli attack on the Gaza-bound “Freedom Flotilla” has put the United States in a difficult position. But it has also given Washington an opening for a game-changing action. When ships on a humanitarian mission to the besieged Gaza Strip were violently confronted in international waters, the Obama administration was faced with a choice between one strategic ally, Israel, and a larger international community centered on a key NATO ally, Turkey. The United States also has to be careful to protect fragile Palestinian-Israeli proximity talks that took U.S. envoy George Mitchell over a year to get started. Both Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas were due to visit Washington within a week of the confrontation, which left nine peace activists dead, including an American. Continue Reading »

(This was published in May 31st, 2010)

By Daoud Kuttab

The Israeli violent attacks against the “Freedom Flotilla,” an international humanitarian mission to Gaza, reveals Israel’s attempts to solve their problems militarily irrespective of world opinion.

Even without a comprehensive solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, any effort in this direction can’t be done with only the military option in mind. By attempting to solve all its problems using military might, the Israelis are sending a number of highly troublesome signals. Continue Reading »