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What We Have Here is a Failure to Communicate: Breakdown in talk

© lawhawk

That famous line from the movie Cool Hand Luke has taken on new meaning with what appears to be the total breakdown in talks between the Palestinians and Israelis. The two sides are pointing fingers at each other, accusing the other side of breaking their word or instigating the violence with their action or inaction. Doesn't this sometimes remind you of two siblings that are constantly at each other, not because of any good reason, but because they are so comfortable doing the same thing over and over?

The Israelis have moved more troops and a number of tanks into the West Bank as a precaution against further violence but the Palestinian Authority tells the world that this only will provoke further responses by the Palestinian public in demonstration and riots. Wait a minute. Doesn't the Palestinian Authority have the obligation under the Oslo Accords to quash violent behavior against Israelis where possible. Isn't this a direct violation of the agreements?

The Israeli building of the settlement in Har Homa, while a public relations nightmare for the Israeli government, should not be provoking this kind of response. A similar uprising occurred when the Israeli government opened an archeological tunnel adjacent to the Western Wall/Temple Mount complex. There, Palestinians rioted for days and several dozen were killed in violent clashes with Israeli troops; all over the opening of a tunnel meant to be a tourist destination. The Palestinian Authority told the world that this was a direct violation of the Oslo Accords and that Israel was trying to alter the "facts" of the ground by staking additional claims to Jerusalem. Once again, the Palestinian Authority distorted the facts and the world press jumped on the bandwagon. Archeological discoveries are meant for the world to learn from and enjoy, not just Israelis.

It is true that the Israelis continue to appear insensitive to the Palestinian needs, but then again, the Palestinian Authority continues to fail to meet their obligations under the Oslo Accords. Israel can't expect the Palestinian Authority to act with authority when it appears that they are in collusion with the Israeli government since in the eyes of the Palestinian public, they are only a puppet for Israel. The Palestinian Authority needs the support of the Israeli government to give themselves legitimacy and world opinion will surely shift against them should the violence continue and the Palestinian Authority fails to contain it.

As a nascent government of a state in waiting, the Palestinian Authority faces the problems that a nation-state would and should they fail to act to curb the violence or are, in fact, inciting the

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