http://www.israpundit.com/archives/42222/
PA: “It Is Forbidden to Normalize Relations with Israel”
by Khaled Abu Toameh, HUDSON NY
Israeli and Palestinian peace activists who planned to hold a
conference in Jerusalem and Bethlehem this week were forced to cancel
the event after receiving threats from Palestinians.
The conference was organized by the Israeli Palestinian Confederation,
a group that seeks to promote peace and coexistence between the two
peoples.
The organizers of the conference were hoping to hold elections for a
new “parliament” that would consist of Israelis and Palestinians and
that would offer itself as a third government to the Israeli
government and the Palestinian Authority.
The first conference, which was supposed to take place at the
Ambassador Hotel in Jerusalem, was cancelled at the last minute after
angry Palestinian protesters demonstrated in front of the hotel. The
protesters shouted slogans denouncing the event “because it promotes
the culture of peace” and is designed to “normalize” relations between
Israelis and Palestinians.
The demonstrators also shouted slogans strongly condemning Al Quds
University President Sari Nusseibeh, who was supposed to be one of the
main speakers at the conference. Because of the protest and out of
fear for his safety, Nusseibeh decided not to come to the hotel.
The Palestinian protesters later stormed the conference hall, forcing
the frightened Israeli representatives to leave the hotel.
The following day, a similar “anti-normalization” demonstration forced
the Israeli and Palestinian peace activists to cancel an event that
was scheduled to take place in the town of Bet Jalla near Bethlehem.
The protesters later explained that their move was in line with the
Palestinian Authority’s policy of banning any form of normalization
with Israel. This is the same authority that signed the Oslo Accords
with Israel and whose senior leaders carry Israeli-issued VIP cards
that enable them to move around freely – a privilege denied to most
ordinary Palestinians.
Some Palestinians said that the demonstrations were in fact initiated
by top Palestinian officials in Ramallah who do not want to see
Israeli and Palestinian representatives working together to promote
peace and coexistence.
By banning such public gatherings, the Palestinian Authority
leadership is further radicalizing Palestinians.
This was not the first time that the Palestinian Authority or some
NGOs had come out against activities that supposedly promote
normalization between Israelis and Palestinians. Over the past few
years, they have cancelled many events of this type under the charge
that it is forbidden to normalize relations with Israel.
The Palestinian Authority and these NGOs are also coordinating their
activities with other “anti-normalization” groups in the Arab world,
specifically Jordan and Egypt.
At the end of the day, it is such activities that drive Arabs into the
open arms of Muslim fundamentalists. The “anti-normalization” campaign
also serves to undermine the minority of moderate Arabs who still
believe in coexistence and peace.
The Palestinian leadership in the West Bank is shooting itself in the
foot. In the future, its representatives will be afraid to return to
the negotiating table or conduct dialogue with any Israel out of fear
for their lives. If Palestinian academics such as Nusseibeh are afraid
to appear in public with Israelis such as Uri Avineri, Ruth Dayan and
Shlomo Ben-Ami, this speaks volumes about where Palestinian society is
headed.