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Barak's Generous
Offers... This article is published on
http://www.gush-shalom.org/generous/generous.html
Data in this document are based on the
maps Barak showed Arafat in December 2000
and generally termed "Barak's Generous Offers".
The Israeli public, media and academics use this description unwittingly.
The "generous offer" is used as a fig leaf that conceals the intentions of
those
who wish to justify this war against the Palestinians.
The West Bank and the Gaza Strip, captured in 1967,
comprise 22% of pre-1948 Palestine.
When the Palestinians signed the Oslo Agreement in 1993
they agreed to accept only these 22% and recognise
Israel within the Green Line borders.
Conceding 78% of the land was a historical Palestinian compromise.
But this compromise was not enough for Barak.
In his offer to the Palestinians, Barak wanted more:
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69 settlements are included in this area,
where 85% of the settlers live.
It is clearly visible that The blocs create impossible borders,
which severely disrupt Palestinian life in the West Bank.
But this too was not enough for Barak.
more demands were on their way-
An invention called: "temporary Israeli Control"
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The "Temporary Control" concept is unique.
It refers to sovereign Palestinian land that will remain
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under Israeli military and civil control for an
indefinite time.
This area too contains settlements, some of them are the most
extreme zealots. It is very unlikely that Israel will evacuate them
in, say, 50 years time.
This left the Palestinians with what some people call:
"Barak's Generous Offers"...
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| This is Barak's Generous offer:
What appears to be territorial continuity is
actually split up by settlement blocs,
bypass roads and roadblocks.
The Palestinians have to relinquish land reserves essential
for their development and absorption of refugees.
They also have to accept Israeli supervision of borders
crossings together with many other restrictions.
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Barak's offer gives Israel control over all the border crossings of the
Palestinian State.
No country in the world would accept that.
The words "territorial continuity" are deceptive -
No Israeli would agree to travel 50 miles from one town to another,
if the real distance between them is only 5 miles.
This impossible offer, Barak's imperious attitude,
the ongoing massive construction in the settlements,
Years of Israel's Delaying tactics and Sharon's provocation -
all these contributed to the inevitable explosion.
In December, no maps of the Gaza Strip were shown,
so we cannot illustrate Barak's intentions there.
At Taba, January 2001, Barak presented a much-improved map.
The Palestinians consider it a basis for negotiation.
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