[Dialogue] World Community Must Play Positive Role

[Harry Wainwright]

Published on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 by the Miami <http://www.miami.com>
Herald 

World Community Must Play Positive Role 

by Jimmy Carter 

 

As the results of the recent Palestinian elections are implemented, it's
important to understand how the transition process works and also how
important to it are actions by Israel and the United States.

Although Hamas won 74 of the 132 parliamentary seats, Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas retains the right to propose and veto legislation, with 88
votes required to override his veto. With nine of its elected members
remaining in prison, Hamas has only 65 votes, plus whatever third-party
support it can attract. Abbas also has the power to select and remove the
prime minister, to issue decrees with the force of law when parliament is
not in session and to declare a state of emergency. As commander in chief,
he also retains ultimate influence over the National Security Force and
Palestinian intelligence.

Influence in the parliament

After the first session of the new legislature, which was Saturday, the
members will elect a speaker, two deputies and a secretary. These
legislative officials are not permitted to hold any position in the
executive branch. So top Hamas leaders may choose to concentrate their
influence in the parliament and propose moderates or technocrats for prime
minister and cabinet posts. Three weeks are allotted for the prime minister
to form the cabinet, and a majority vote of the parliament is required for
final approval.

The role of the prime minister was greatly strengthened while Abbas and
Ahmed Qureia served in that position under Yasser Arafat, and Abbas has
announced that he will not choose a prime minister who does not recognize
Israel or adhere to the basic principles of the ''road map.'' This could
result in a stalemated process, but my conversations with representatives of
both sides indicate that they wish to avoid such an imbroglio. The spokesman
for Hamas claimed, ''We want a peaceful unity government.'' If this is a
truthful statement, it needs to be given a chance.

During this time of fluidity in the formation of the new government, it is
important that Israel and the United States play positive roles. Any tacit
or formal collusion between the two powers to disrupt the process by
punishing the Palestinian people could be counterproductive and have
devastating consequences.

Unfortunately, these steps are already underway and are well known
throughout the Palestinian territories and the world. Israel moved Sunday to
withhold funds (about $50 million per month) that the Palestinians earn from
customs and tax revenue. Perhaps a greater aggravation by the Israelis is
their decision to hinder movement of elected Hamas Palestinian Legislative
Council members through any of more than a hundred Israeli checkpoints
around and throughout the Palestinian territories.

$900 million in debt

This will present significant obstacles to a government's functioning
effectively. Abbas informed me after the election that the Palestinian
Authority was $900 million in debt and that he would be unable to meet
payrolls during February. Knowing that Hamas would inherit a bankrupt
government, U.S. officials have announced that all funding for the new
government will be withheld, including what is needed to pay salaries for
schoolteachers, nurses, social workers, police and maintenance personnel. So
far they have not agreed to bypass the Hamas-led government and let
humanitarian funds be channeled to Palestinians through U.N. agencies
responsible for refugees, health and other human services.

This common commitment to eviscerate the government of elected Hamas
officials by punishing private citizens may accomplish this narrow purpose.
But the likely results will be to alienate the already oppressed and
innocent Palestinians, to incite violence and to increase the domestic
influence and international esteem of Hamas. It will certainly not be an
inducement to Hamas or other militants to moderate their policies.

The election of Hamas candidates cannot adversely affect genuine peace
talks, because such talks have been nonexistent for more than five years. A
negotiated agreement is the only path to a permanent two-state solution,
providing peace for Israel and justice for the Palestinians. In fact, if
Israel is willing to include the Palestinians in the process, Abbas can
still play this unique negotiating role as the unchallenged leader of the
PLO (not the government that includes Hamas).

Renounce violence, recognize Israel

Under this umbrella, and not the Palestinian Authority, Arafat negotiated
with Israeli leaders to conclude the Oslo peace agreement. Abbas has sought
peace talks with Israel since his election a year ago. There is nothing to
prevent direct talks with him, even if Hamas does not soon take the
ultimately inevitable steps of renouncing violence and recognizing Israel's
right to exist.

It would not violate any political principles to at least give the
Palestinians their own money; let humanitarian assistance continue through
U.N. and private agencies; encourage Russia, Egypt and other nations to
exert maximum influence on Hamas to moderate its negative policies; and
support Abbas in his efforts to ease tension, avoid violence and explore
steps toward a lasting peace.

Former President Jimmy Carter led a team from the Carter Center and the
National Democratic Institute that observed last month's Palestinian
elections.

C 2006 MiamiHerald.com

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