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A Palestinian-Arab Responsibility

Israeli media outlets recently revealed a plan to turn the Qalandia Airport into an Israeli industrial zone and an extension to the Atarot industrial zone built on Palestinian owned lands to the north of Jerusalem.
 
They also revealed that Israeli authorities are persisting their policies to expel Palestinian Jerusalemites from their city by revoking their blue IDs which entitle them with the right of "permanent residency.”
 
The target this time is a Christian family living in the Old City.
 
This is, one component of the Israeli policy being relentlessly implemented to isolate the Holy City and to enhance the settlement activities within its boundaries.
 
Muslim and Christian worshippers are prevented from accessing their relevant sacred shrines in Jerusalem. Israeli authorities impose burdensome taxes on the Palestinians under various pretexts.
 
Such measures mean that Israeli occupation is moving ahead with implementing its plans and policies aiming at Judaization of Jerusalem in defiance of Palestinian, Arab and international parties. The numerous condemnations issued by these parties could not reverse these Israeli positions. On the contrary, Israel has attached no importance to these stances, of which the least to be said is that they are powerless and ineffective.
 
Arab-Islamic-international tolerance of what is happening is odd, but stranger still is hearing talk about peace while the Jerusalem issue constitutes a central issue.
 
These Israeli practices have been carried out by all successive governments, whether led by Labor, Likud or the Qadima parties. It is expected that the upcoming government of Netanyahu-Liebermann will be more aggressive.
Is it logical that Palestinians and Arabs celebrate the "Jerusalem as a Capital of Arab culture" festival while Israel bans any kind of cultural activities in Jerusalem? Rather, it insists on occupying the city, changing its character and expelling its Palestinian residents. Unfortunately, there is no Palestinian-Arab- Islamic stance equivalent of the Israeli challenge.
 
Is it logical that the new American administration announces its commitment to peace and a two-state solution without commenting on the Israeli practices or asking Israel to halt them? With such bias, how could anybody be convinced that America or Europe might bring any substantial contribution to the peace process or to the Palestinians?
 
It might be more appropriate to ask ourselves, Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims, about our own behavior before we put blame on other parties. Where is our responsible position toward the Israeli practices in Jerusalem? Have our positions bypassed the routine condemnation reflected through our statements issued daily by various parties, statements that go unheeded and with no positive reactions?
 
Does the belief in peace and the readiness to make it mean keeping the current state of silence, helplessness and division? Israel, on the other hand, has defiantly ignored all the signed agreements, and virtually buried the international legitimacy. Europe and the U.S. have tolerated the Israeli actions to the extent of even defending them in the international arena.
 
That miserable reality, combined with the European-Western hypocrisy, presses us to question the stances of Arab and Islamic leaders who have never utilized the leverage cards at the disposal of their nations to influence a change in the European and American policies, especially when the Western interests in the Arab-and Islamic world are strikingly defined.
 
The ongoing silence about what happens in Jerusalem and outside the city only serve to encourage Israel to continue its plans aiming at more Judaization of the Holy City, expulsion of its native residents – a responsibility for which the leaders of the Palestinian-Arab side must be brought to account.
  
What is going on means undermining the foundations of the peace process. The slogans being raised are but a tactic to dope the Palestinian people and the Arab nations. Israel, meanwhile buries all hopes for a peaceful solution.
 
Ibrahim Deibes is a veteran Palestinian journalist. This editorial first appeared in Al-Quds.