By Yoram Getzler.The most recent Jerusalem Report issue included an article by Ron Pundak, one of the major architects of the Oslo agreement. In his article he argues the fine points of the agreement. I think the outrage of the Oslo group as professional adults in not being able to admit that there were some mistakes. Perhaps some of the criticism is too harsh. Perhaps too politically motivated.
But like almost all human endeavors it was not perfect. Professional adults to be trusted, in order to learn have need to recognize their mistakes. Otherwise there is no hope of doing better next time, which is what the Israeli Left is is asking for in all the elections since the turn of the century.
I am disappointed and amazed that Dr. Ron Pundak (Jerusalem Report Saving Oslo Dec 31 2012) continues to speak as if the Oslo Accords were an honored and positive issue to be debated and consulted rationally in any considerations of the relations between Israel and any facet of the Arab Muslim world, including the Palestinians. He seems to believe that the specific words agreed upon have some real meaning for Israel, much less than for the Palestinians.
This agreement was proven bogus only 17 months after its Washington signing when Yasir Arafat addressed a gathering in a Johannesburg SA mosque. In response to those criticizing, he explained that he was following the precedent of the Prophet himself by using “Taqiyya”, known as holy deception to gain advantage over the enemies of Islam. He then urged on the worshipers “to come and to fight and to start the jihad to liberate Jerusalem.”
On second thought, I am not totally surprised that Dr. Pundak continues to refer to the Accords in a positive voice as none of those others responsible, including President Shimon Perez, Yossi Balen, Adv Gilead Sher etc. have yet understood the contribution of that agreement to the continuing process of the disappearance of the Israeli left and the prospect of another four dangerous depressing and calamitous years of Netanyahu/Lieberman/Benett misrule (with Netanyahu as the new Left).
All this is not to say that Israeli actions and policies do not also bear partial responsibility for the failure of Oslo. But that is not the basis on which the Israeli electorate votes.
The fact that none of these distinguished, well meaning but foolish individuals, who were responsible for “Oslo” are capable of an honest assessment and the taking of responsibility for the physical and mortal danger this agreement has placed us in for the foreseeable future is added cause for the lack of trust by the vast majority of Israelis of the traditional Israeli political Left. This has brought about a desperate hope that although harmful and dangerous the policies of Netanyahu/Lieberman/Bennett will save them from additional successes by the Israeli Left.
Yoram Getzler
