From Oslo to Annapolis, a path without peace

Big news on Haaretz, ironically speaking of course. One marvels at the fact that the following daily feature deserved first page: “The municipality of Jerusalem on Monday approved the construction of 600 new homes in Pisgat Zeev, east of the Green Line.” […] “Prime Minister Ehud Olmert promised the spiritual leader of the Shas Party, Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef, that he would authorize construction on “Jerusalem envelope” lands which have been thus far frozen, sources from the ultra-Orthodox Party said.” […] “Meanwhile, the Yesha Council of Settlements said Monday it would continue to build in West Bank settlements, even without the necessary government authorizations.” […] “Peace Now accused the government of stepping up Jewish construction in East Jerusalem at an unprecedented rate, in a report released Monday.”

Just a step back to fifteen years ago, to the so called Declaration of Principles of 1993, then to the Interim Agreement(s) of 1995, with its seven “annexes”, plus maps, plus atomized deals (Gaza and Jericho, Hebron), etc. Nothing could really lead the world to optimism in the light of Yitzhak Rabin’s speech at the ceremony for the signing of the Declaration of principles, first act of the Oslo accords on September 13, 1993. “We have come from Jerusalem, the ancient and eternal capital of the Jewish people.” [Editor’s Note: period.]

According to Shlomo Ben-Ami’s confession (debating Norman Finkelstein on Democracy Now!) Israel got moving without delay against the spirit of Oslo – I’d say also the letter (e.g. art. I of the Declaration: “It is understood that the interim arrangements are an integral part of the whole peace process and that the negotiations on the permanent status will lead to the implementation of Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338.” Art. IV: “The two sides view the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as a single territorial unit, whose integrity will be preserved during the interim period.” Art. XXXI n. 7 of the Interim Agreement: “Neither side shall initiate or take any step that will change the status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip pending the outcome of the permanent status negotiations.”)

What make us feel that the Annapolis show & Road Map enclosed (denied since its birth in 14 points by Israel), fifteen years after the Oslo Accords that were officially repudiated by Ariel Sharon and, practically, by everybody, should have a better chance?