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Creating an Atmosphere Conducive to Real Negotiations
(Jerusalem Post) Alan Baker - Clearly, the present atmosphere between Israel and the Palestinians cannot really be seen to be encouraging for any genuine negotiation. With Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas repeatedly trying to undermine Israel's Jewish heritage in the area, running to the UN and attempting to bypass negotiations, as well as threatening prosecution against Israel's leaders, one might assume, correctly, that he simply does not really want to engage Israeli negotiators in any genuine negotiation. Clearly, prior to any possible return to a negotiating mode, a number of key principles, in the form of a code of conduct or negotiating rules, need to be accepted. Without such a code of conduct, it will be impossible to establish even a minimum of mutual trust in order to conduct genuine negotiations. The leaders and negotiators of both sides should undertake to cease all public statements relating to the content and progress of the negotiations, including derogatory comments and criticism of the other side. During the negotiating process, neither side should initiate any action or sanction in any international body aimed at undermining the issues under negotiation. Furthermore, each party should avoid actions or decisions that might prejudge the outcome of the negotiations. Both sides should refrain from demanding preconditions for entry into, or continuing, the negotiations and should seek to ensure ongoing public support for the negotiations. The writer, former legal adviser to Israel's Foreign Ministry and ambassador to Canada, is director of the Institute for Contemporary Affairs at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs.