Posted on 12/17/2008 2:45:18 PM PST by forkinsocket
Along Route 2, which follows the Mediterranean coastline, motorists are seeing an unusual sight: a Palestinian flag next to an Israeli one.
Below the image appearing on billboards is a message in Hebrew: There's a viable peace initiative on offer from Arab states. Reach a land-for-peace deal with Palestinians, and we will recognize you. The signature? The flags of 57 Arab and Muslim states – all except Iran.
The unprecedented ad campaign is the initiative of none other than the Palestinian Authority (PA). Late last month, the PA also ran full-page ads with the same message in Israeli papers.
The campaign represents an interesting role reversal. A decade ago, it was the Israeli government that was trying to sell its own skeptical electorate on peace, while the late Yasser Arafat had trouble getting Hamas and other rejectionist groups to sign on to the Oslo deal that he had reached with Israel five years earlier.
Today, the political futures of both peoples are at a critical juncture. PA President Mahmoud Abbas's tenure legally expires Jan. 9, and Israel faces national elections on Feb. 10. That makes it all the more opportune a time to try to win hearts and minds.
On Monday Israel freed 224 Palestinian prisoners in a goodwill gesture to bolster Mr. Abbas's image in the West Bank and Gaza. For the past year Abbas has been sitting with Israeli officials at US-backed peace talks. Mark Regev, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, said the latest prisoner release was intended to "strengthen the trust and confidence in the [peace] negotiations."
The ad campaign, in the eyes of the Palestinian movers and shakers behind it, is the PA's way of speaking directly to the Israeli public about peace.
(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...
Is this the 7 yr Peace Plan?
I would take note of the Palestinian publications and education system.
If the tone and subject matter had changed significantly, I might talk to the Palestinian leadership directly to see what could come of it.
My fear is that a Palestinian state becomes a reality, and they smuggle in arms to destroy Israel.
You can’t take back being destroyed.
I read the whole article. Not one mention of the the scores of rockets being launched out of Gaza at Israeli civilians.
It is the Christian Science Monitor. I had wondered what else was taking place that would make this seem a reasoned time to do this. Obviiously, NOTHING.
The media in this nation is shameless.
“Is this the 7 yr Peace Plan?”
Sounds like it. In 7 years, no more Israel.
How about, say, taking a week or so off from lobbing rockets at Israeli cities? That would really say “peace” to me.
Just the Arab version of 'change you can believe in'. Worked for Hussein.
Give the palesimians a plot in Antarctica. Only the penguins will object..
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