Zionists Speak Language of Violence, Palestinians Language of Martyrdom

Commenting on the Middle East"road map”, he told the Mehr News Agency that Israel was furthering its strategic interests by undertaking to implement the "road map" at this juncture.

The plan provides Israel with a much-needed opportunity to sort out its domestic problems, create tension and discord among various Palestinian resistance groups, deflect the world public opinion from focusing on its criminal activities in occupied Palestine, and last, but by no means least, portray Zionists as the "oppressed", rather than the "oppressors" in the outside world.

Commenting on the nature of the peace plan, he said the road map had been drawn up by the United States, Russia, the European Union, and the United Nations (Quartet) in an effort to end violence in the 33-month-old Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation.

It was formally approved by U.S. President George W. Bush at a June 4 summit meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen). The "road map" calls for a cessation of hostilities and the dismantling of Jewish settlements in the West Bank, so as to make way for a Palestinian state by 2005.

The plan has three phases. The first phase aims to stop all martyrdom-seeking operations, and establish key Palestinian institutions by 2003. The success of the first phase of the plan depends on two crucial ingredients: Persuading Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian Authority Chief, to step down in favor of his PM, Abu Mazen, and taming Syria and Lebanon's opposition to Israel.

The second phase, called the transition phase, should last until December 2003. And then, the third phase refers to a final settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and "final status talks" which should end by 2005.

He went on to say that in comparison with other major world powers, such as Japan, China, and Europe, United States' national political and economic interests have brought about some "weak points", and that's why the U.S. prefers to project its military power abroad, resorting to intimidation tactics, and often trying to coerce other countries to toe the U.S. line.

However, in order to portray itself as even-handed and fair, United States often tries to play the role of an "honest broker" or mediator in international crises. Presenting the road map initiative is a step in this direction, and must be seen from this perspective. 

Bakhshayeshi mentioned ambiguities in the "road map", particularly with regards to the question of borders between Israel and the fledgling Palestinian State, the status of "Bait ul-Moqaddas", the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homeland, and occupation as the main stumbling blocks which may well scupper the whole scheme.

He pointedly added, "The Palestinian resistance groups, such as Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and various other groups are fundamentally opposed to the plan, deeply mistrusting it.

Israel's double standards are yet another obstacle in the way of the road map.

If the plan was implemented Israel would dominate the Middle East and the Zionist slogan about expanding their territory “from the Nile to Euphrates” would be realized in another way.

The orthodox Jewish religious groups do not agree with the plan, and Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, has made his opposition clear to the establishment of an 'independent' Palestinian state. In fact Sharon believes the word independent must be deleted from the name of the proposed Palestinian state.

Meanwhile, some groups have declared that they are "fed up" with war and have called for the establishment of peace.

Referring to the recent agreement between the main Palestinian resistance groups to halt the Intifada temporarily, Bakhshayeshi stressed that "Israel is only interested in depicting the Palestinians as terrorist," and the Islamic resistance groups accepted to stop anti-Israeli operations so as to expose the insincerity of the Zionists.

In conclusion, Bakhshayeshi reiterated that although the prospects for establishing security and a "just and lasting peace" in Palestine are grim at best, a "diplomatic peace" is probably the best one can hope for under the circumstances, and this may provide a respite from the current unrest in the region.

SN\SM

END MNA