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Last update - 09:31 24/02/2008 Jerusalem first By Gideon Levy Tags: Jerusalem, Palestinians  One could not believe in the negotiations Israel is conducting with the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank; one may also believe that the parties want to succeed, but cannot. One also may think that talks cannot proceed without the elected representation of the Palestinian people, who chose Hamas. There are also no negotiations without Gaza. And now, after we have properly frowned on all these negotiations, we may also decide that for the moment, that's all there is: Ehud Olmert and Tzipi Livni on one side and Mahmoud Abbas and Saeb Erekat on the other - with all their weaknesses. The talks they are conducting are not meant to bring peace; even they do not pretend that is the case. After 40 years of occupation and bloodshed, all that is on the agenda - shamefully - is a "shelf agreement" that no one can implement at the moment. It is precisely for this reason that this paper, bearing no expectations, will not shame those who sign it. Precisely because it is only a document with mere declarative and symbolic significance - and in this sense it may be a landmark document - it is important that it touch on the core issues. There is no importance at all to a declaration about the division of water resources between us and the Palestinians, and it really does not matter whether an agreement of principles is made regarding the size of the Palestinian security forces. These are only declarations. The agreement will be important only if partial Israel and partial Palestine make clear, agreed-on cases on the borders of the future Palestinian state, the future of the settlements and a solution to the refugee problem. Without this, there is no point to more meetings. Not only do they waste the negotiators' and our time, they may even be disastrous. We already have learned this from the history of the region: Negotiations that fail immediately create escalations and another depressing round of terrible violence. We have also learned from the failure of the Oslo Accords: An agreement that does not reach out and touch the molten core of the conflict will fail. Therefore, if the negotiators want to move ahead, they must begin with the core issues. Advertisement Jerusalem must be the first subject on the negotiating table. If the parties cannot agree on its borders and status, what are these negotiations for? Time will not heal any wounds here: What cannot be agreed on now will only be agreed on after another accursed round of violence, and this, we hope, everyone wants to avoid. Those who want to postpone discussing the basic issue of principle - borders and settlements - seek only to delude us. Jerusalem is an inseparable part of this issue - and is actually a relatively easy matter to solve, if the parties move in the spirit of the Clinton plan, which has already defined the obvious: Palestinian Jerusalem for the Palestinians, Jewish Jerusalem for the Jews. All that is left is to decide the fate of the huge Jewish neighborhoods that were built on occupied land, settlements in every sense. Their fate must be the same as that of all the settlements, unless the Palestinians receive a just and appropriate return for forgoing them. The wound that is the settlements must be touched: If Olmert and Livni really and truly want an agreement, they must make clear statements about the future of the settlements. To put off discussion again, as was done to our detriment in Oslo? Why wait? So that instead of a quarter-million land thieves, there will be a half-million? Talks must also be held, of course, on solving the refugee problem; there is no getting away from it. If Ehud Barak can take credit for any constructive contribution over the history of the conflict, it would be his willingness to discuss the core issues. Barak, who has spoken recently only the language of power and violence, gave the impression that he understood that measured steps cannot cross an abyss. Only one great daring leap will do. Olmert and Livni should take this message to heart. The prime minister now bears the burden of proof. If he truly wants progress, he must take two daring steps. He must discuss Jerusalem first, and he must back up talks with practical moves that are no less far-reaching. The release of prisoners, the lifting of the siege of Gaza, and complete freedom of movement in the West Bank are the fundamental conditions for any talks. Unfortunately, Olmert will not be the person to divide Jerusalem. He has neither the nerve nor the ability. The minimum that can be asked of him is to reach an agreement in principle with the Palestinian representatives on its borders that for Israel will be the most moderate and convenient that was ever or could ever be made. Only thus will we know there is a prime minister in Jerusalem, and he wants peace. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Personalized workout Boutique gyms is the next big thing - for those who can pay. No to non-violence 'Human chain' against the blockade on gaza yields disappointing turnout.   1.   Jerusalem 03:41  |  G.L. 24/02/08   2.   I don`t know how you stay sane Gideon 10:22  |  kiwi girl 24/02/08   3.   What do East Jerusalem`s Arabs want? 10:28  |  Joseph 24/02/08   4.   Reality of dividing Jerusalem is different from theory 10:29  |  Sam 24/02/08   5.   Pre-1967 10:31  |  Joe 24/02/08   6.   Once again Levy asks for no concessions from Palestinians 10:36  |  McQueen 24/02/08   7.   Let Palestinians immediately renounce bogus right of return 10:37  |  McQueen 24/02/08   8.   Jerusalem the Only Holie place to Judaisn. 10:42  |  Jean Van Daem 24/02/08   9.   #1 The difference between your logic and G Levy;s 10:43  |  Dromit 24/02/08   10.   Gideon Levy and Olmert `s impotence 11:00  |  Buckeye 24/02/08   11.   Reply to Joe (Post No. 4) 11:18  |  Johnny Weintraub 24/02/08   12.   #2the kiwi bears fruit and it is in the girls head 11:21  |  v hardman 24/02/08   13.   Gideon must you really 11:26  |  Yardena 24/02/08   14.   Give an inch 11:46  |  American Gentile 24/02/08   15.   Jerusalem 12:01  |  Naim S. Mahlab 24/02/08   16.   Let Israeli`s immediately renounce their bogus 12:05  |  kiwi girl 24/02/08   17.   v hardhead - can`t even grow an idea 12:13  |  kiwi girl 24/02/08   18.   Gideon Levy 12:30  |  Ed Rutledge 24/02/08   19.   #6 - McFly- Right of Return is Guaranteed Under International Law 12:43  |  Lev Bronstein 24/02/08   20.   To No. 16 and 17 12:49  |  American Gentile 24/02/08   21.   Jerusalem 12:57  |  Gabe 24/02/08   22.   To No. 16 and 17 13:17  |  American Gentile 24/02/08   23.   #16 13:18  |  Moshe 24/02/08   24.   United Jerusalem the only sensible way 13:22  |  Michael J 24/02/08   25.   4Sam,jews are emotionally attached to everything Palestinian! 13:22  |  lakshmi 24/02/08   26.   Kiwi girl and Gideon 13:29  |  Keith T. 24/02/08   27.   to be generous 13:31  |  peter 24/02/08   28.   18Ed Routledge,right about returning to the Partition Line of 13:34  |  lakshmi 24/02/08   29.   Salomon`s Land 13:35  |  Mario Fiorito 24/02/08   30.   Be Consistant Gideon - same rules apply to Hevron!!! 13:59  |  Dr Eric 24/02/08   31.   Levy ! Leave Israel !! Wherever you live is occupied land ! 14:17  |  Yisrael 24/02/08   32.   OK Levy, I`m a jew and want East Jerusalem, will the Arabs agree? 14:19  |  Steven 24/02/08   33.   Lev Bronstein is very ignorant and a revisionist 14:23  |  Steven 24/02/08   34.   Mentioning the unmentionable 15:37  |  Natallie Durson 24/02/08   35.   Discussion of core issues are interrelated ... 15:52  |  Smadar 24/02/08   36.   Their Goal is to Erase Our Identity 15:59  |  Joseph . E 24/02/08   37.   34natalie Durson,33 Steven;natalie D.Maan News reports that 16:05  |  lakshmi 24/02/08   38.   The 3 yes, yes, yes of Israel 16:30  |  The Archives 24/02/08   39.   Wisdom of Solomon out of Levy`s Being 16:36  |  B 24/02/08   40.   lakshmi you fool, Hebron is More Jewish than any city 16:40  |  Steven 24/02/08   41.   Jerusalem first 16:41  |  goldie klugman 24/02/08   42.   Europe should take the lead in Diplomacy 17:11  |  Tosefta 24/02/08   43.   Was the Hamas prediction correct, after all? 17:13  |  Tosefta 24/02/08   44.   But which half? 17:22  |  Chris Linthwaite 24/02/08   45.   #40 Steven 17:25  |  Chris Linthwaite 24/02/08   46.   LAKSHMI #37: Did You Do A Minor In Historical Revisionism? 17:36  |  Lavi 24/02/08   47.   Jerusalem Arabs do not want to be under Pal rule!! 17:43  |  Free Gilad Shalit 24/02/08   48.   Sderot first 17:43  |  Frank 24/02/08   49.   Ask Jerus Arabs if willing to give up Israeli social benefits 17:45  |  Free Gilad Shalit 24/02/08   50.   40Steven,46 lavi.the hebrews were not the first people in the 18:17  |  lakshmi 24/02/08   51.   Gideon Enough of the B.S. 18:37  |  Chafeeka Mazzawee 24/02/08   52.   LAKSHMI #50: Got Some DNA Evidence To Show That ... 18:48  |  Lavi 24/02/08   53.   This whole matter should be taken out of Israeli hands 18:49  |  Dutch 24/02/08   54.   TOO LATE FOR TWO STATE - ONE JERUSALEM, ONE STATE 18:52  |  Pal 24/02/08   55.   Chris Linthwaite the only ethnic cleansers in Jerusalem were Arab 18:55  |  Steven 24/02/08   56.   Jerusalem & Gideon Levy`s Courage 18:56  |  Ruben Siedner 24/02/08   57.   lakshmi not only are you an historic revisionist, but you`re dumb 18:59  |  Steven 24/02/08   58.   NOTHING ELSE TO TALK ABOUT JERUSALEM 18:59  |  indrajaya 24/02/08   59.   McQueen the right of return is a non issue even by intern`al law. 19:13  |  Steven 24/02/08   60.   The usefulness of these peace talks 19:16  |  Tosefta 24/02/08   61.   Next Year in the Diaspora (not Jerusalem) 20:37  |  Johnson 24/02/08   62.   Because of the great lie of occupation - We shame YOU 20:43  |  smarter then Levy 24/02/08   63.   Portended UN Sanctions 20:43  |  Johnson 24/02/08   64.   63 Johnson,what nonsense! Are you a christian zionist or a 21:00  |  lakshmi 24/02/08   65.   #63 Johnson 21:01  |  tbora 24/02/08   66.   Keep it up. 21:09  |  Max Schindler 24/02/08   67.   tbora #65 21:16  |  Danite 24/02/08   68.   #60, Tosefta 21:21  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 24/02/08   69.   Bottomless Palestinian desires 21:21  |  Scharker Yid 24/02/08   70.   Sounds good but 21:39  |  Adrian de Klerk 24/02/08   71.