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“For the Palestinian people this is not a surprising decision. People in the occupied territories are pessimistic and remain sceptic. For them peace talks have failed as demonstrated by the continuation of settlements”. Silvio Tessari, head of the Middle East and Northern Africa Office of Caritas Italia, comments in an interview with SIR on Israel’s resumption of settlement building in the Palestinian territories after the end of the moratorium announced by Prime Minister Netanyahu on 26 September. “The Palestinians – said Caritas spokesman – are confronted with daily problems relating to displacement, a weak economy, school and health”. For Tessari, the Palestinian Prime Minister Abu Mazen is in a blind alley because if he “withdraws from peace talks, he is likely to lose even more ground, at least in this phase, but at the same time, if he continues the negotiations with new apartments being built in the settlements, he will lose power in the eyes of its people. Likewise, the continuation of settlements could fuel new tensions and lead to a third Intifada”. According to Tessari, “Abu Mazen was right in his decision to take a week time to discuss the matter with the Arab League. It was a wise decision. In these situations it is always useful to gain time. Of course the situation will remain tense, unless the United States stop Israel’s settlement building, but Israel needs to show a completely different attitude. Without compromising its security, Israel could take an unexpected almost prophetic and far-sighted decision in political and human terms, that is, allowing the creation of a Palestinian state not divided by walls and checkpoints which make it a jigsaw puzzle”. “Such a decision – explained Tessari – could also imply the creation of a Palestinian State which includes the Israeli settlements. As there are many Palestinians who live in Israel, it would not be strange to see Israeli people living in an independent Palestine and enjoying full rights. I believe Palestinians could accept something like this. But they won’t accept the continuous occupation of their lands”.


© SIR - 29 september 2010