EmptyPromisesAResponsetotheLatestCeasefireinthe.doc

Empty Promises: A Response to the Latest Ceasefire in the Israel-Palestine Conflict Lawrence Zieske Ethics in Development of a Global Environment Bruce Lusignan March 11, 2005 “A lasting process of whatever kind, peaceful or otherwise, must involve populations and not only leaders.” -Dr. Laura Drake On February 8, 2005, the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas met at summit meeting in Egypt with Egypt’s president and Jordan’s king. Following the meeting, Israel and Palestine announced a ceasefire. This agreement was sealed by promises that Israel would end its military actions against Palestinians and that Palestinian militant groups would discontinue attacks in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. Obviously, Abbas’ ability to implement this relies on whether powerful militant groups will back his bid; these groups want total Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, and the right of return of Palestinian refugees to Israel. Israel has instead offered to release 900 prisoners, pull back troops from some West Bank cities and stop pursuing wanted men. Within the same day, the Palestinian militant group Hamas declared that it was not bound by the truce. Hamas representative Osama Hamdan said in order for a truce to be successful, Israel must release Palestinian prisoners and make a clear commitment to “halt all kinds of aggression against the Palestinian people.” He contended those conditions were not met at the summit. Since then, only Hamas has lived up to its statements from February 8. On February 9, Israeli military actions accounted for three Palestinian deaths. Hamas retaliated the day after that, firing rockets at a settlement in Gaza, causing property damage. Both sides are interested in ending the strife, but neither is willing to sacrifice demands that have sparked the volatile environment. After decades of bloodshed, the “peace process” and “ceasefires” are still j