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 »