Israel Matzav

Fatah official: 'Two-state solution is over'

A 'senior Fatah official' said on Tuesday that the 'two-state solution' is over.

Mahmoud Aloul, a member of the Fatah Central Committee, said that Israel’s “racist policies” were meant to undermine the peace process.

“The Palestinian Authority made every effort to avoid reaching this conclusion, but Israeli racist policies led to the failure of the peace process,” he added.

Aloul accused the US administration of failing to exert pressure on Israel to alter its policies and halt settlement construction.

“The Americans left us no choice but to stop the peace negotiations,” he said. “The Palestinian leadership has briefed the Arab leaders on the difficult situation, and we have asked them to start taking real measures on the ground.”

PLO negotiators Saeb Erekat and Nabil Sha’ath also reiterated their refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish state. Another PLO official, Yasser Abed Rabbo, accused Netanyahu of seeking to destroy the image of US President Barack Obama in the Middle East by raising such a demand.

On Tuesday, State Department spokesman PJ Crowley acknowledged the reality that Israel will not agree to any final settlement deal that does not include its recognition as a Jewish state. But there are apparently others in Washington who see Israel in a less favorable light.

One Washington source suggested that Netanyahu’s move had not worked well with American officials, as it hadn’t come across as a sincere bid to resolve the issue, given that the Palestinians were sure to reject it.

“It just looks like he doesn’t want to [extend the freeze], and he just wants to put it on the other side,” he said of Netanyahu apparently trying to shift responsibility – and blame – to the Palestinians.

“I don’t think it plays well here,” he said, “but I don’t think anybody wants to criticize it."

In other words, Israel should watch out after the elections.

But I'm happy to see the 'Palestinians' abandon the charade (yes, that's all it ever was) that they will ever really accept a 'two-state solution.' Facing reality rather than fooling ourselves can only be to our benefit.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:13 PM