Hot discussion on Israeli-Palestinian conflict at QF
DOHA: The fourth chapter of Qatar Foundation's Doha Debates held last Wednesday was marked with the participation of high-profile speakers, including two senior leaders from the Palestinian and Israeli governments, both supporting the Middle East Road map.
The motion for the day was "I believe the Middle East Road map is dead." Rabbi Michael Melchior, an Israeli Labour party member and deputy minister of Education, Culture and Sports, and Ghassan Khatib, Minister of Labour at the Palestinian Authority, spoke against the motion. Speaking in favour of the motion were Dr Flynt Leverett, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution's Saban Center for Middle East Policy in Washington, and Alastair Crooke, former security advisor to Javier Solana, the European Union High Representative and head of Foreign and Security policy.
Flynt Leverett had served at the White House for more than a year as Senior Director for Middle East Affairs at the National Security Council. During the first year of the Bush administration, he was on the Secretary of State's policy planning staff, handling Middle East and counterterrorism issues. He left the Bush administration because of policy differences.
Alastair Crooke is co-founder of the Conflicts Forum, an independent, non-profit organisation and was a staff member of President Bill Clinton's Fact-Finding committee led by Senator George Mitchell, which enquired into the causes of the Intifada. As special advisor, the European Union special envoy to the Middle East Peace Process, he coordinated negotiations between all parties in the Arab-Israeli and Palestinian-Israeli conflicts.
The debate began with the chair Tim Sebastian's comments that it was most interesting to have Michael and Ghassan together "in this place and in this time" forming a team to support each other.
Flint Laverett, the first speaker, said: "I spent ten years in White House and I believe the Roam map could help establish peace in the Middle East but the Bush administration didn't exert enough diplomatic efforts to force the parties concerned to stop blood shed and reach a settlement. Both the Palestinians and Israelis have suffered enough and there should be a diplomatic initiative to end violence."
"During the meetings in the White House attended by senior officials including Dick Cheney, Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice, we had reached an agreement on the current text dealing with the complicated issues but the Bush administration has failed to support the parties involved for further improvement in the process. The credibility of this administration has been affected because of carelessness," he added.
The second speaker, Ghassan, however, expressed hope and confidence in the possibility of reviving the Road map.
"I don't believe the Road map is dead. It is alive and it has all potential to achieve its objectives. It is a legitimate document respected by the international community," he said.
He said although the Road map was initiated by the US, it later failed to support it through diplomatic efforts .The European Union is also to be blamed for the standstill, he added.
Israel should withdraw its forces and dismantle the settlements in the Palestinian territories to coincide with negotiations on the road map. The new Palestinian government of Abu Mazin has provided a good opportunity for negotiations, he noted.
Crooke, who was the next speaker, said the government of Abu Mazin should be supported since it has shown the intention to stop violence. But unfortunately the Israeli government was not interested in implementing the road map. It should dismantle the settlements and stop military action to create a positive atmosphere for further negotiations, he added.
Michael, the last speaker, said he was very happy to see Muslims, Christians and Jews sitting together and discussing a vital issue. Doha has gathered three religions to launch a round of discussions, he noted.
Road map has the potential to secure peace in the region provided the Israelis and Palestinians work together to reach a fruitful agreement.
"But so far the Palestinian and Israeli people have not ratified the agreement. The Israeli government should withdraw its troops from Ghaza as a sign of goodwill and we should support Abu Mazin who is the right person to take significant steps towards peace," he added.
After a lively question-answer session, the motion was put to voting. 54.1 per cent said the road map was dead while 45.9 opposed the motion. The BBC will telecast the debate today at 5.10pm and tomorrow at 12 midnight, it was announced at the meeting.
© The Peninsula 2005
