Trembling At
Moderation
By Luis Lainer
July 19, 2002
Internal Security Minister Uzi Landau's recent closure of the al-Quds
University offices of Dr. Sari Nusseibeh has more to do with the Sharon
government's palatable fear of Palestinian moderates than any commitment to
enforcing the law or preserving the unity of Jerusalem.
Dr. Nusseibeh is widely regarded as one of the most moderate leaders among
Palestinians today. He serves as President of al-Quds University, as well as
the PLO's main representative in Jerusalem. Since getting the Jerusalem
portfolio, Dr. Nusseibeh has sparked considerable debate in Palestinian circles
with his bold statements calling on Palestinians to drop their demand for the
right of return of Palestinian refugees as part of a future peace accord with
Israel. He has taken the lead in speaking out against Palestinian suicide
terrorist attacks—in Arabic and in Palestinian newspapers. And Dr. Nusseibeh
has been in the forefront of a drive to revitalize the Palestinian peace camp
and search for joint activities that can be undertaken with Israelis who also
want peace.
Dr. Nusseibeh is the kind of partner that Landau's boss, Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon, claims to be seeking among Palestinians. Yet Sharon has stood by
and watched as Landau's police have picked up Dr. Nusseibeh twice for
detention, closed his al-Quds offices, and confiscated his files from those
offices. In short, Landau and Sharon have sent clear signals that a moderate
like Dr. Nusseibeh is the last kind of Palestinian leader that should be
encouraged.
The message behind these signals is that Landau and Sharon are petrified of
Palestinian moderates. Why? Because if Israelis see that there are reasonable
Palestinians with whom Israel can talk and negotiate, they will soon demand
that their leaders return to the bargaining table. At that point, it will
become abundantly clear to everyone that Landau and Sharon have nothing to say
that could remotely come close to helping reach a negotiated settlement to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Landau and Sharon have never supported the peace process, and they aren't
about to change their minds. Peace would mean relinquishing their ideological
goal of holding onto the occupied territories and the 3.5 million Palestinians
who live in them. Unfortunately, Israel continues to suffer because of their
hardline positions. The terrorist attacks and suffering grind on. And within
just a few years, given current demographic trends, the millions of
Palestinians now living under curfew will eventually help make Jews a minority
in the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. When that day
arrives, Landau and Sharon will have guaranteed that Israel will no longer be
able to survive as both a Jewish and a democratic state.
Meanwhile, it's hard to swallow Landau's protestations that he is motivated
in any way by the preservation of peace treaties that he and his cabinet
colleagues have worked so hard to shred. Yes, the Palestinians are engaged in
violations of their treaty obligations (first, foremost, and most tragically,
their commitment to abstain from violence). But it is equally true that the
government in which Landau serves has no qualms about violating Israel's own
treaty obligations, such as honoring Palestinian control over Areas A in the
occupied territories.
Similarly, his argument that the closure of Dr. Nusseibeh's offices helps
preserve the unity of Jerusalem and the application of one law throughout its
borders is a farce. Despite all of the government's bluster about keeping
Jerusalem the eternal, united capital of Israel, Landau and Sharon actually
have presided over its physical redivision: roadblocks have been established
inside Jerusalem's borders that cut off city residents from most of the
municipality, while government services have been greatly reduced for those
Jerusalemites who live in the eastern part of the city.
No, the real reason that Landau & Company continue to hound Dr.
Nusseibeh is that they tremble at the thought of moderation breaking out in
Palestinian society.
Americans for Peace Now and the Israeli Peace Now movement are standing firm
with Palestinian moderates like Dr. Nusseibeh, who recognize that ending the
current terror and violence is as much a Palestinian interest as an Israeli
one. It would be refreshing if the Israeli government would also embrace
moderation.
Luis Lainer is Co-Chair of Americans for Peace Now, a Zionist
organization working to enhance Israel's security through peace.