Geneva accord -- an alternative peace plan

Geneva Accord was signed in Geneva last week between Former Justice Minister Beilin and Palestinian Legislator Abed Rabbo. The Accord is based on agreements, among others, on the following major thorny issues:

(a) Two states -- Israel and Palestine -- shall live side by side in peace and security.

(b) Jerusalem to be the capital of both Israel and Palestine.

(c) Settlements to be dismantled to have contiguous and viable Palestinian State with major areas of West Bank and Gaza.

(d) Right of return of the Palestinian refugees to be waived. However, Israel may consider the requests on case-by-case basis.

Sharon government reacted angrily on this. Indeed, when Secretary Powell agreed to meet the architects of the Accord in Washington, Sharon government said it would be a "mistake" on the part of Bush Administration. Secretary Powell remained firm and said, "As Secretary of State, I have an obligation to the people of America, to the President and to the colleagues in the Administration to listen to any individual or individuals having interesting ideas on the peace process. This does not undercut our commitment to Israel and does not undercut our commitment to the Road Map."

Later Secretary Powell met the architects and reportedly expressed favourable reaction on the ideas reflected in the accord but said the US remained committed to the Road Map. EU also gave support to the accord.

In Israel also people's reactions were positive as 54 percent of Israelis gave support to the Geneva Accord as they are also fed up with Sharon government's handling of the Road Map and the peace process. There is no let up in the suicide bombings and Israeli killing of the Palestinians.

In Palestinian territories, however, there were angry reactions from the radical groups which remain committed to their right of return to Israel. But it is understandable that the Palestinians in general will give good support to the Geneva Accord as this gives them the maximum benefit under the present difficult situation.

The US should come out with the full support as this accord not only compliments the Road Map but indeed is a major step forward as the Accord pledges to solve all other most difficult issues which were left out by the Road Map authors. The most important is the division of Jerusalem along the acceptable lines -- East Jerusalem with adjoining areas to become the capital of the Palestinian State. This is the best solution as East Jerusalem belongs to the Palestinian people. East Jerusalem with the Temple Mount (Noble Sanctuary) including Al-Aqsa has to be under Palestinian sovereignty and Western Wall (Wailing Wall) where Jews pray, under Israeli sovereignty. East Jerusalem's inhabitants are all Palestinians. My visit to Israel some years back led me to believe that there is no chance ever for Israelis to rule East Jerusalem as Palestinians there will never accept the sovereignty of Israel.

The history of Jerusalem and particularly of East Jerusalem with Al-Aqsa and Dome of the Rock in the Noble Sanctuary is interwoven and inter-twined with the lives of the Palestinians for thousands of years though the Jews also make similar claims. However, Former Labour Justice Minister Beilin and his illustrious chief Yitshaq Rabin recognised this truth and felt that it was no use fighting on these historical claims. The best course would be to divide this great city between these two rival claimants on the basis of historical, religious and cultural facts and the present situations. This would allow both Palestinians and the Israelis to have their capitals in the respective parts of Jerusalem. It is too sensitive an issue to gloss over and to be left for future negotiation. There is nothing to negotiate about it; both Palestinians and Israelis have been fighting over it for hundreds of years and the same deadly fight will continue unless a practical solution as unofficially agreed to in the Geneva Accord is officially and finally accepted by all concerned with a view to burying the issue for all time to come.

In one of my comments on this issue some two years ago I ventured to suggest that let Jerusalem be appropriately divided so that both Palestinians and Israelis could have their capitals in this great city and the Prime Ministers of each state could drive down to the other side and meet even casually over a cup of coffee. Nobody knows whether these distant cousins could ever enjoy such a great day. Unfortunately history so far said something quiet different.

Here the role of the United States is extremely crucial. It should go by what the people of Israel want and not what Sharon government wants. At present majority of Israelis are totally fed up with Sharon government's handling of the peace process. Hundreds of innocent people on both sides have died because of ill-conceived visit of Ariel Sharon to the Temple Mount about three years ago. Should the US Administration support Sharon government which is bent upon going for more land grab and security barriers or go by what the people of Israel want? Majority of Israelis, as the recent reports show want peace and not occupation and death. Let the US Administration decide on the future course of actions -- occupation or peace! Once peace descends on Palestinian and Israeli territories, major part of the fight against terrorism by the US and the international community will be over.

Muslehuddin Ahmad is a former Secretary and Ambassador and presently the Vice Chancellor of Presidency University.