September 12, 2002

COMMENTARY

A Peace Plan From Within

By Benjamin Ben Eliezer

Yesterday, millions of Israelis mourned the loss of some 3,000 innocent victims in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in America. Sadly, as the violence between Palestinians and Israelis continues, neither people has much hope that this seemingly endless spiral of mutual bloodletting will end. Yet I believe there is a practical way to douse the raging fires in our region and eventually return both sides to the path of negotiations.

I recently set forth what has been termed the "Gaza-Bethlehem First" plan; its immediate mission is to restore calm. This single-minded process stipulates that the more success the Palestinians have in bringing about a reduction of terror, the more calculated risks Israel can take regarding the Palestinian areas. The initiative is intended to create a step-by-step, reciprocal process that gradually reduces tensions, while rebuilding urgently needed trust and hope among our peoples.

Although the international media have focused almost entirely on the continuing violence, the Gaza-Bethlehem plan has already yielded some positive results. Israeli troops have evacuated Bethlehem, allowing Palestinians to take security control of the city. So far, the area has been relatively quiet. But since the scourge of terror still looms in the Palestinian areas, Israel retains the right to act in defense of its citizens.

The framework is initially being implemented in Gaza and Bethlehem and, if successful, will be extended to other areas. It must be emphasized that this plan differs from all previous proposals because of its deliberately modest ambitions. Rather than setting its sights on broader, long-term objectives, the plan focuses solely on the pressing need to calm tensions first.

Gaza-Bethlehem First is a realistic process that does not make impractical demands of the Palestinians. The only criterion we require is that they achieve a reduction in terror. The plan calls for a gradual course of action. The more they do, the more we can do; and the more we shift toward a better dynamic.

There are no timetables in this plan -- a common pitfall of all previous attempts, whose schedules created fixed expectations that were often dashed, leading to more disappointment and recriminations. This is a process with a different rhythm. We will proceed according to the pace of events on the ground. There is no pressure to meet deadlines and we are not asking that the process be rushed. We do, however, ask to see results.

Unlike other plans, this is an initiative that has come from within -- from people living in the region. It reflects the real desires of people on both sides to make a change. However, while we have taken it upon ourselves to carry out the process, we will still need support from the international community. The idea for Gaza-Bethlehem First was initially raised at a meeting I held with Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak in July, and came to fruition with his assistance and that of other regional leaders who have pledged support.

For the Palestinians, the toll of becoming a breeding ground for terror, combined with poor leadership, has resulted in rampant poverty and a significant deterioration of living conditions. Israel helps provide basic humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians; but as the threat of terror is reduced and our citizens have greater security, we will readily take further steps to ease the burden of daily life.

It is my impression that there are enough people on the Palestinian side who have come to the conclusion that violence will lead them nowhere and are seeking a different avenue. If we succeed with this plan, we will also succeed in strengthening pragmatic forces within Palestinian society.

Removing terror from the equation of our lives serves the interests of both sides -- not just Israel's. Some Palestinians have claimed terror as an effective weapon to employ in achieving their goal of self-determination. Nothing could be further from the truth. Elimination of terror would create the grounds for a major shift in interaction with Israel, enabling the virtually unlimited potential for economic, educational, and social benefits that people in the region deserve and are so yearning to enjoy.

However, despite the promise of Gaza-Bethlehem First, full eradication of terror will require more than this plan. It will require deep-seated reform of the Palestinian Authority. But the gradual implementation of this plan in other parts of the West Bank would pave the way to more comprehensive discussions on ways to build a better future. Our situation will be resolved only at the negotiating table and not militarily. But meaningful dialogue regarding a long-term vision for our peoples is only possible in an environment of relative quiet.

Mr. Ben Eliezer is Israel's minister of defense and chairman of the Labor Party.