Vindicated?
Writing at al-Guardian, the head of the 'investigative team' that leaked the 'Palestinian' negotiation papers to the world media claims vindication. Having cleared our name of theft, Ofcom formally laid to rest Erekat's principal claim, stating: "Material facts in relation to the negotiation meetings looked at in the programme were not presented or omitted in a way that resulted in unfairness to Dr Erekat". The statement added: "To the extent there was an infringement of privacy in relation to obtaining and using documents, the infringement was warranted, given the significant public interest, both in the Middle East and globally."But the truth that was told was a half truth. Yes, the 'Palestinians' and their supporters were told that their negotiators had agreed to compromise with Israel on their demands. But instead of the 'Palestinian' leadership being pressured to come forward and finally tell their people that no deal can be reached without compromises on both sides, the 'leadership's denials were all the people heard about the documents. The 'leadership' then withdrew into its most intransigent position yet.
The Middle East desperately needs more truth-telling. To that end, the Ofcom ruling on the Palestine papers could be perhaps the UK's best contribution to the region in some time.
So yes, the documents were authentic and revealing them could have been justified, but only by media that would have forced the 'Palestinians' to acknowledge the necessity for compromise in order for a 'two-state solution' to be reached. That did not happen and it's not likely to happen in your lifetime or mine.
Clayton Swisher and his team at the Guardian have nothing of which they should be proud in this story.
Labels: al-Guardian, Negotiations Support Unit, Palileaks, Saeb Erekat
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:35 AM
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