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1993
"GAZA-JERICHO FIRST"
Implications and Ramifications. (Seminar)
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SUMMARY:
| The seminar attended by
Valerie Grove of PASSIA, began with an introduction from
International Director of I.P.C.R.I., Mr. Gershon Baskin
and Chairman Mr. Hanna Siniora. Both commented on the
importance of the historic juncture at which the region
finds itself today but also warned of opposition to the
agreement from both Palestinians and Israelis. Hanna
Siniora said that the problem of Jerusalem remained a
stumbling block to the future of the agreement. The first
two speakers were Dr. Samir Abdallah and Professor Shlomo
Ben Ami who both waxed lyrical about the glowing
prospects for economic co-operation between Palestinians
and Israelis. Professor Ben Ami said that Israel would
take pains not to take advantage of the weaker position
of a growing Palestinian economy. Dr. Abdallah stressed
the need for extensive co-operation especially in areas
such as tourism, water and transport. The nature of
economic co-operation as the only true path towards peace
was stressed but any optimism fostered by this was
nullified by the following speakers who talked on the
issue of security. Dr. Mark Heller began by addressing
the major problem of knowing very little about the
contents of the agreement although it was evident that
the bulk of the content concerned economy with very
little mention of security. He said that he firmly
believed that Palestinian motivation for security
violation would drop dramatically after this agreement
but a major problem in his mind was that the economy
would become a security issue. In other words, lack of
success on the economic front and subsequent
disillusionment/frustration with the economic process
could lead to security problems. Dr. Shikaki talked
specifically about Gaza and Gazan settlements which he
said should be dismantled to protect the settlers
themselves and to avoid unnecessary provocation. The main
security threat to the Palestinians is re-occupation and
if they fail the "test" of policing themselves
then re-occupation is a possibility. He said that Gaza is
the main problem as the social and economic devastation
brought about by the occupation and subsequent political
sensibilities are almost impossible to overcome.
Furthermore, even if there is some form of recovery in
Gaza, issues like water (all sources of which will be
saline within five years) will cause continual problems.
Both speakers also mentioned the loss of capability and
control by Israelis as withdrawal is effected which could
be another area of volatility. It was concluded that it
is basically security issues which can overturn the whole
agreement. The final speaker was Radwan Abu Ayyash who
talked about the necessity for three years of intensive
re-education as the only starting point for peace and
co-operation. He said that there was not any tension
about the agreement and that most people were optimistic
which was a good starting point for the tasks that lay
ahead.
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