JERUSALEM, Feb. 5, 01 (CWNews.com/Fides) - A leading member of the Franciscans of the Holy Land said Israel and the Palestinians are not ready for peace and that a longer, slower peace process would provide better results.
Father David Jaeger OFM., an Israeli Franciscan and member of the Holy See Franciscan Custody, proposed that negotiators relaunch the peace process on a regional basis in the framework of international legislation.
Father Jaeger was one of the team of experts who drafted the agreements signed between Israel and the Holy See. As Israelis prepare to elect a Prime Minister on Tuesday, Father Jaeger spoke of the lost opportunities and the steps that must be taken to reach a lasting agreement.
Father Jaeger is in favor of «returning to the basis of the regional conference held in Madrid in 1991, peace negotiations involving neighboring countries. Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan are all interested in a regional solution, with international support.« He said, «The path of multi-lateral negotiations is more difficult and arduous, but its results are certain and accepted by all sides.»
Priority must be given to the question of Jerusalem, he said: «For at least twenty years now the Pope has said that this is a crucial point in the struggle for peace. Recent events, from Camp David onwards, confirm this intuition.»
Another important question for negotiation regards the people-- Israeli settlers and Palestinian refugees: «For international law, an occupying power may not settle on occupied territory. On the other hand we have a consolidated situation: more than 250,000 Israeli settlers in occupied territories. Considering their repatriation impossible, the Israeli government proposes an exchange of territory: this would seem a practicable solution.» Regarding the problem of refugees, «negotiations foresee major international efforts to provide refugees with a home and compensation; the idea is to guarantee them a dignified life, but not necessarily a return to Israel. Some would settle in the new state of Palestine, others in the Arab countries or elsewhere.»
The time factor, Father Jaeger says, is decisive: «Since May 1996 talks have been few and far between. To reach an agreement, regular sessions must be planned. Moreover the delegations involved must have the necessary authority to take definitive decisions.»
This delicate process requires a balanced moderator, patent and impartial: «When Camp David talks failed Clinton blamed the Palestinians, and this made them mistrustful of negotiations. A mediator needs to be more prudent and self-disciplined and never take sides.» Father Jaeger said he thinks that Europe must play its part: «In foreign policy Europe finds difficulty in assuming a position common to all its members and this weakens its impact.»
Catholic World News Service - Daily News Briefs
5. februar 2001