Soccer Dad

Building confidence

Wizbang's Jay Tea asks a simple question

Can anyone -- ANYONE -- ever cite a single example where the Palestinians were called upon to make any sort of concession or "good faith gesture" and actually kept it? Just once?

It's a good question. Unfortunately, the answer isn't very encouraging. With the Palestinians, there were obligations that, by now, have been defined down to "good faith gestures." For example see In Mideast, Rice Pushes Annapolis Talks

The first phase of the road map called for confidence-building security measures, including Palestinian action against armed groups, Israeli dismantlement of settlement outposts and the easing of restrictions on Palestinian movements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The Annapolis document, in its new format, would state that negotiations were proceeding toward the "final status" core issues.

For the Palestinians taking arms against a sea of terrorist groups is a "confidence building measure." That's how it goes in this parallel peace making universe. A step that most would consider a fundamental obligation of the Palestinians is now a "confidence building measure."

On the Israeli side, the Palestinians no doubt consider dismantling settlements to be necessary, but nothing that Israel has signed has so obligated them. And it's absurd to characterize "easing of restrictions" as a "security measure." It is a measure that puts Israel's security at risk and is done in the absence of Palestinian measures against terrorists.

Still calling a primary Palestinian obligation a "confidence building measure" is beyond absurd.

Crossposted on Yourish.

israel, peace process.