Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., November 22, 2009 Kislev 5, 5770 | | Israel Time: 10:55 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Jewish World Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Focus U.S.A. Strenger than Fiction Business Travel Magazine Week's End Anglo File Books
Share |
Abbas must unilaterally declare Palestinian state
By Yossi Sarid
Tags: Mahmoud Abbas 

It is precisely now that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas must not give up hope, and not because of the sweet nothings that Shimon Peres uttered at the rally in the square last Saturday night about people giving up hope in Ramallah. As if at the President's Residence every day is Carnaval, and not only when he's packing his bags for his trip to Brazil.

Abbas was right when he decided to announce he would soon resign: It is impossible to hold negotiations "without prior conditions" while settlement is going on. For 42 years Israel has been scattering prior conditions and faits accomplis all over, marking them with red tile roofs and making the peace process into nothing more than a never-ending process.

But before Abu Mazen quits, he has just one more job to do: He must declare, unilaterally, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Palestine now.
Advertisement
Both sides have a right to act unilaterally. Abbas owes it to his people, to himself, and to us. This week, there were reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finds this possibility very scary, and he expects the Americans to nip it in the bud. But his nightmare is our only chance for an end to the occupation in our time.

When he declares independence, Abbas should call upon the Jews living in the state of Palestine to preserve the peace and to do their part in building up the new country as full and equal citizens, enjoying fair representation in all of its institutions. David Ben-Gurion would not have been upset by such a pretty act of plagiarism from his Declaration of Independence.

And thus, Abbas will become the Palestinian Ben-Gurion. Conditions were no less foggy and circumstances were no more certain when Ben-Gurion declared independence in 1948. But our founding father took the risk, and we are fortunate that he did.

The risk Abbas would be taking is much smaller. Of the 192 member states of the United Nations, over 150 would recognize a free Palestine, and it would soon become the 193rd. Although the American position is an unknown, it is hard to believe that Barack Obama would agree to drag America back into isolation now that it has begun to be part of the world again.

And what would Netanyahu do? Invade and re-conquer the West Bank? Restore the military government in the Muqata in Ramallah?

And what orders will Ehud Barak give his army? Serbia didn't dare invade Kosovo after it declared independence, and even Russia the great didn't allow itself to remain inside the sovereign territory of Georgia after their war.

Immediately after the declaration, celebrations will begin in the capital, East Jerusalem, and people from all over the world will join in, including Israelis. The masses of the House of Ishmael will carouse joyously through the city's neighborhoods, and especially those neighborhoods from which they have been evicted by people with priestly pretensions. This will have to be joy without any manifestations of violence, not even one stone thrown.

This week, I phoned Abbas, after not having spoken to him for at least four years. I told him everything that I am writing now. I also told him something else: What happened to the wall in Berlin 20 years ago, and to apartheid a few months later, would also happen to the occupation: It will collapse, even if attempts are made to reinforce it with nails.

Related articles:
  • Abbas accuses Israel of 'disfiguring' two-state solution
  • ANALYSIS / Bluffing or not, Abbas has shown he's no Arafat
  • Blair: Abbas leaving office due to frustration over stalled peace
    • PROMOTION: Mamilla Hotel
    Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Hamas: No rockets
    Hamas says all militants in Gaza agree to halt rocket fire
    Chavez and the PLO
    Hugo Chavez lauds Carlos the Jackal as 'great' pro-Palestinian fighter
      1.   I agree, Yossi. But leave the separation barrier intact. 03:47  |  Fortuna Benmayor 13/11/09
      2.   Make Palestine a fait-accompli 03:50  |  William 13/11/09
      3.   Or Else? 03:53  |  Murphy Fahrquart 13/11/09
      4.   Am I the only person to have noticed? 04:01  |  Johnboy 13/11/09
      5.   Hamas opposes a state more than Israel does 04:06  |  dyinglikeflies 13/11/09
      6.   Abbas is incapable... 04:15  |  John 13/11/09
      7.   PALESTINE NOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 04:30  |  singer 13/11/09
      8.   the time for palestnian state might have passed 04:34  |  Vasi Kremper 13/11/09
      9.   good idea 04:38  |  joe shmo 13/11/09
      10.   Good idea 04:50  |  Javier Lobo 13/11/09
      11.   sarid 04:50  |  james 13/11/09
      12.   What a naif 04:51  |  Fred Fennaw 13/11/09
      13.   Sarid misses the point... 04:52  |  Jordan 13/11/09
      14.   YOSI SARID 04:55  |  abe 13/11/09
      15.   The Likud Charter spells out what would happen next... 04:56  |  BBSNews 13/11/09
      16.   IF YOU WONDER WHY THE LEFT IS NO MORE IN ISRAEL 05:01  |  Jorge 13/11/09
      17.   why 05:14  |  sam 13/11/09
      18.   Yossi Sarid isn`t being realistic, situation different than 1948 05:14  |  Smadar 13/11/09
      19.   You are a blessed man, Mr. Sarid! 05:23  |  Abe 13/11/09
      20.   The Correct Path 05:44  |  Boyd 13/11/09
      21.   Only way to peace? 05:44  |  AriOren 13/11/09
      22.   Sarid, Please permanently move to Ramallah first 05:58  |  Edward 13/11/09
      23.   Amen, AMEN !! 05:59  |  Jimmy 13/11/09
      24.   Yossi Sarid 06:04  |  Brent 13/11/09
      25.   To Yossi Sarid 06:29  |  Alex 13/11/09
      26.   and what did Abbas 06:40  |  cool 13/11/09
      27.   Yes! And, Mr. Abbas, think big. 06:46  |  Jasper 13/11/09
      28.   Bold and courageous 06:55  |  Michael 13/11/09
      29.   Oslo was Turned into a Fig Leaf Anyway 06:57  |  Mark of Lewiston 13/11/09
      30.   17 Sam - Arguing for Arming Gaza 07:05  |  Mark of Lewiston 13/11/09
      31.   The nlt alternative is a third intifadah 07:24  |  salem Awaad 13/11/09
      32.   #15 But he has to be mighty quick, BBSNews 07:25  |  Johnboy 13/11/09
      33.   declare Palestinian state were? 07:34  |  Haman 13/11/09
      34.   Yossi shows the benefits of advocating from the sidelines 07:44  |  Jacob Blues 13/11/09
      35.   Gaza & the West Bank are BOTH part of Palestine 07:55  |  CJ 13/11/09
      36.   Great idea! 08:20  |  P Sanders 13/11/09
      37.   THAT WILL HARM THE PALESTINIAN CAUSE NOT HELP IT 08:44  |  ZIONIST FOREVER 13/11/09
      38.   ?The struggle with the Zionist enemy is not a matter of borders? 08:46  |  B. Gold 13/11/09
      39.   I don`t get it!! 09:11  |  Macabee 13/11/09
      40.   Sarid always no help at all 09:50  |  Chaim Ben Kahan 13/11/09
      41.   100% agree! and bibi IS worried about it... 09:53  |  eric 13/11/09
      42.   The time for negotiations with Israel is over. 09:55  |  Michael 13/11/09
      43.   30 Michael in UK - Declaration means War or Negotiations 10:15  |  Mark of Lewiston 13/11/09
      44.   To Chaim Ben Kahan 10:20  |  Ana 13/11/09
      45.   If we were Serbs and Judea and Samarai was Kossovo . . . 10:30  |  Zev Davis 13/11/09
      46.   34 Zev Davis - Be Happy You`re NOT 10:50  |  Mark of Lewiston 13/11/09
      47.   sam and the dictionary 10:56  |  sh 13/11/09
      48.   YES, AND YOU MUST MOVE THERE IMMEDIATELY, YOSSI 11:05  |  Nemesis 13/11/09
      49.   Gaza considers itself Palestine too 11:09  |  sh 13/11/09
      50.   Chaim Ben Kahan - WHAT?? 11:15  |  CJ 13/11/09
      51.   Nice choice 11:23  |  r cummings 13/11/09
      52.   Macabee - You are quite wrong. 11:33  |  CJ 13/11/09
      53.   8 11:33  |  zionist forever 13/11/09
      54.   Problem of Gaza 11:36  |  r cummings 13/11/09
      55.   Sarid - You think this is a better alternative? I see differently 11:53  |  S 13/11/09
      56.   as always, DO NOTHING. 11:55  |  Jochai Rubinstein 13/11/09
      57.   Bravo Yossi Sarid 12:22  |  ptr 13/11/09
      58.   going it alone would destroy the palestinain cause forever 12:26  |  zionist forever 13/11/09
      59.   Happy to hear such Israeli view 12:47  |  Shadi 13/11/09
      60.   If he does, he`s dead. 12:49  |  Petra 13/11/09
      61.   What would Rabin do ? 13:07  |  Gershon 13/11/09
      62.   Well this is one option for Abbas/Obama 13:13  |  Justine Effort 13/11/09
      63.   #38, nothing political is forever 13:37  |  newageblues 13/11/09
      64.   #12 - what a naif? 13:49  |  Erastus CoupeDeVille 13/11/09
      65.   # 28 macabee 14:08  |  Axel 13/11/09
      66.   Yossi Sarid advising Abbas a Bosnian-Surbians war In Mideast ! 14:38  |  Akram Zekaria 13/11/09
      67.   sarid 15:12  |  zoe 13/11/09
      68.   The Pitbulls Will Not Just Stand By 15:39  |  Yaakov Sullivan 13/11/09
      69.   Ana on Democratic Inclusion of the Palestinians #33 15:42  |  Yaakov Sullivan 13/11/09
      70.   Chaim Ben Kahan...If Only....... 15:46  |  Yaakov Sullivan 13/11/09
      71.   If Palestine declared statehood now 15:46  |  Josef Trilling 13/11/09
      72.   Grozny, Chechnya... 16:00  |  ben 13/11/09
      73.   east Jerusalem.... 16:05  |  ben 13/11/09
      74.   zionist forever- but most countries would recognise the new state 16:06  |  Yaakov Sullivan 13/11/09
      75.   Palestinians want ONE state solution 16:19  |  Emily Barritas 13/11/09
      76.   Dead man walking 17:05  |  Sean 13/11/09
      77.   Amazing 17:15  |  Mike 13/11/09
      78.   listen up, Yossi 17:24  |  JimUSA 13/11/09
      79.   Pals wait for every new Israel PM to give them more than the las 17:42  |  Ken Rosen 13/11/09
      80.   zionist forever, peacekeepers on Palestine`s border solves that.. 17:44  |  BBSNews 13/11/09
      81.   ben, the annexation of East Jerusalem is illegal... 17:47  |  BBSNews 13/11/09
      82.   # 42 ben 17:48  |  Axel 13/11/09
      83.   "Side by side" ! (3rd try) 18:13  |  Akram Zekaria 13/11/09
      84.   Re: #1 Fortuna 18:18  |  Apa 13/11/09
      85.   Amen,an answer for Ben 43 18:18  |  Dag 13/11/09
      86.   Yossi, Yossi 18:21  |  Sy Dill 13/11/09
      87.   Abbas is doing the usual ! 18:36  |  Akram Zekaria 13/11/09
      88.   BRAVO YOSSY 18:49  |  drdanielito 13/11/09
      89.   I`m with Abe, #19, but. . . 19:20  |  julie 13/11/09
      90.   to dag... not so fast there budy. 19:20  |  ben 13/11/09
      91.   I am agree with you Yossi. 19:23  |  cfs 13/11/09
      92.   # 18 Smadar, Yossi Sarid may be a "rebel"...... 19:49  |  Swiss (Dino) 13/11/09
      93.   Wrong analogy, Sam #17 (2nd try) 20:16  |  zeev 13/11/09
      94.   I have a better question... 20:26  |  Moises 13/11/09
      95.   Sarid - You think this is an alternative? I see differently 6th t 21:20  |  S 13/11/09
      96.   Bad move 21:22  |  Nick 13/11/09
      97.   to Sy Dill #45 22:20  |  zeev 13/11/09
      98.   # 51 moises with a reading problem 22:26  |  Axel 13/11/09
      99.   a nice plan, Mr Sarid, but the problem of Gaza remains - 22:42  |  ivo 13/11/09
      100.   it is the only option left 22:45  |  hg 13/11/09
      101.   #51 Moises 23:24  |  BDS 13/11/09
      102.   #38 zionist forever 23:30  |  BDS 13/11/09
      103.   Ben #68, no problem 23:56  |  Palestinian Prince 13/11/09
      104.   He could have allways done it, but he must not 00:01  |  Fritz T. 14/11/09
      105.   Yes but where are the borders? 00:12  |  Peter Williams 14/11/09
      106.   Please declare a state! 00:16  |  RfaelMoshe 14/11/09
      107.   SETTLERS WILL TAKE OVER, No thanks! 01:00  |  Mike 14/11/09
      108.   Palestinian State 01:09  |  Nezam el Jenini 14/11/09
      109.   to Moises #76 01:21  |  zeev 14/11/09
      110.   #53 Zionist - how to get a single state 01:37  |  Vasi Kremper 14/11/09
      111.   And the right of return? 01:40  |  passerby 14/11/09
      112.   Independent Palestine? More likely a Bantustan. 01:43  |  Ami 14/11/09
      113.   God, please inspire Abbas to do this 01:53  |  Don Boston 14/11/09
      114.   #6 John 05:40  |  Jim 14/11/09
      115.   #15 BBSNews 05:50  |  Jim 14/11/09
      116.   #18 Smadar 05:53  |  Jim 14/11/09
      117.   what utter nonsense MADNESS 06:16  |  Meshuga 14/11/09
      118.   #39 Macabee 07:17  |  Jim 14/11/09
      119.   #41 eric 08:17  |  Jim 14/11/09
      120.   #42 Michael 08:39  |  Jim 14/11/09
      121.   #56 Jochai Rubenstein 08:57  |  Jim 14/11/09
      122.   CJ the agent of the United Nations 09:24  |  arik 14/11/09
      123.   #79 Peter Williams 09:33  |  Jim 14/11/09
      124.   #85 Mashuga 09:46  |  Jim 14/11/09
      125.   CJ you are quite misinformed!!! 10:11  |  Ari ben Yisrael 14/11/09
      126.   # 18 Smadar, Yossi Sarid may be a "rebel"..... 10:18  |  Swiss (Dino) 14/11/09
      127.   Did Yossi Sarid write this to show how insane the far left is? 10:31  |  Hung Well 14/11/09
      128.   Do it Abbas! 12:00  |  Said 14/11/09
      129.   No Jim 13:18  |  arik 14/11/09
      130.   Fait Accompli 13:21  |  Lola 14/11/09
      131.   S Palestine`s borders were defined by default 13:56  |  CJ 14/11/09
      132.   arik You can show where the Law changed?? 14:17  |  CJ 14/11/09
      133.   arik - Res 242 is between STATES 14:34  |  CJ 14/11/09
      134.   CJ Nobody`s arguing that occupation is/was wrong! 15:04  |  S 14/11/09
      135.   Ari ben Yisrael - UH? 15:06  |  CJ 14/11/09
      136.   Situation in 1948 16:23  |  Nevada_)len 14/11/09
      137.   #96 Swiss (Dino) Unilateral declaration should be final option 16:42  |  Smadar 14/11/09
      138.   palestinian state 16:45  |  goldie klugman 14/11/09
      139.   The problem, Mr Sarid ... 17:02  |  Morris Valentine 14/11/09
      140.   #104 Situation in 1948- Aware of circumstances then 17:12  |  Smadar 14/11/09
      141.   CJ . Irrelevant 17:23  |  arik 14/11/09
      142.   CJ 242 17:28  |  arik 14/11/09
      143.   CJ Nobody`s arguing that occupation is/was not wrong! 18:21  |  S 14/11/09
      144.   If Obama doesn`t recognize it, Pals are screwed 18:30  |  Dan 14/11/09
      145.   Better yet; SURRENDER AND BECOME PART OF ISRAEL 18:48  |  Clyde 14/11/09
      146.   Palestinian state 18:56  |  Shaggyman 14/11/09
      147.   good work Yossi 18:59  |  Jay 14/11/09
      148.   126 19:02  |  zionist forever 14/11/09
      149.   realities 19:21  |  Jay 14/11/09
      150.   zionist forever - Stop spouting propaganda and learn instead. 20:04  |  CJ 14/11/09
      151.   Israel declares annextion of security areas and vacant lands... 20:12  |  bernard ross 14/11/09
      152.   Axel :) 20:12  |  ben 14/11/09
      153.   Ari ben Yisrael, what`s "successful" about being hated? 20:48  |  BBSNews 14/11/09
      154.   zionist forever, "just annexed" is stealing... 20:58  |  BBSNews 14/11/09
      155.   Time for Sarid to see the the doctor 21:13  |  Gene 14/11/09
      156.   #124 Yes, arik 21:31  |  Jim 14/11/09
      157.   to Fred Fennaw #12 21:34  |  zeev 14/11/09
      158.   Poor, indignant BSNews 21:35  |  SDHD 14/11/09
      159.   135 21:55  |  zionist forever 14/11/09
      160.   Fortuna - yes keep your barrier 22:24  |  stella westwell 14/11/09
      161.   Chaim Ben Kahan 22:31  |  stella westwell 14/11/09
      162.   sarid 22:53  |  gil stein 14/11/09
      163.   Stella 22:58  |  arik 14/11/09
      164.   zionist forever - I used to be like you, then I looked at what 23:45  |  CJ 14/11/09
      165.   #124 Yes, arik 23:47  |  Jim 14/11/09
      166.   goldie 03:13  |  stella westwell 15/11/09
      167.   #129 Nevada It was Moshe Sharett who related the bad news 03:18  |  Smadar 15/11/09
      168.   #129 Nevada Re: Truman and Israel 03:27  |  Smadar 15/11/09
      169.   Sure, but Abbas must declare a Palestinian state on the East Bank 03:46  |  Genuine Moshe 15/11/09
      170.   For Apa # 84 06:14  |  Fortuna Benmayor 15/11/09
      171.   to arik #124 06:14  |  zeev 15/11/09
      172.   stella westwell # 136 06:18  |  Fortuna Benmayor 15/11/09
      173.   Best move possible for Israel 06:40  |  Joe Frazier 15/11/09
      174.   Genuine Moshe - er..WHY? 06:59  |  CJ 15/11/09
      175.   CJ there was only Jordanian and Egyptian territory in 1967 07:00  |  Joe Frazier 15/11/09
      176.   Brilliant Idea 07:08  |  sfg 15/11/09
      177.   dude, there is no oil in the so-called `Palestine". 07:26  |  haaretz reader 15/11/09
      178.   Yaakov Sullivan 07:33  |  sfg 15/11/09
      179.   Waiting on George III 07:38  |  Mark of Lewiston 15/11/09
      180.   #111, Jim 08:03  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 15/11/09
      181.   #114, Jim, "Israel will win the ensuing conflict" 08:09  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 15/11/09
      182.   #118, Jim, courts cannot fix borders 08:14  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 15/11/09
      183.   #126, CJ, borders cannot be defined by default 08:19  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 15/11/09
      184.   #128, CJ, resolution 242 08:26  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 15/11/09
      185.   Cipora - Israel was a Non-State Actor 09:17  |  Mark of Lewiston 15/11/09
      186.   Mark of L. #163: that`s an interesting doctrine, Mark - 13:50  |  ivo 15/11/09
      187.   to zionist forever #148 - 3rd try 12:24  |  zeev 16/11/09
      188.   to S #143 - 3rd try 12:26  |  zeev 16/11/09
      189.   Unilateral Declaration of Statehood 18:35  |  Jason 17/11/09
      190.   Abbas must unilaterally declare Palestinian state 20:06  |  Angela 17/11/09
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
    Date Local Jewish Singles
    Ready to meet your match? Join Jdate today!
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    More Headlines
    09:26 Israel and Hamas inch toward completion of Shalit swap
    09:44 IAF strikes Gaza after Hamas declares end to rocket fire
    10:53 Iran set to hold 'huge' war games amid threat to strike Tel Aviv
    09:30 Israel wants Turkey back on board as mediator with Syria
    09:31 Peres set to discuss Middle East peace with Mubarak
    09:34 Why is Israel laying claim to an Arab home in Jaffa?
    09:07 Israeli heir: More Kafka works stashed in Swiss vault
    22:00 TV ROUND-UP: Hamas: No more rocket attacks; Iran to hold war games
    10:39 Mendel Kaplan, 1936-2009 / Jewish leader, philanthropist, family man
    09:21 Bill would allow Israeli women in shelters to receive social security
    09:35 IDF commander to brigade: Detain verbally abusive settlers
    10:30 Attorney Yehuda Weinstein thought to be leading AG candidate
    04:10 Ultra-Orthodox pressure stalling mosque, church at Ben-Gurion airport
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
    | Advert: Recommended Restaurants | Makom: Engaging on Israel
    | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved