Bezoek Gretta Duisenberg aan conferentie in Jakarta, Indonesie.

Foundation

S T O P T H E O C C U P A T I O N

Peace is Feasible in the Middle

East

address by

Mrs Gretta Duisenberg

Chairperson

at the

International Humanitarian Conference on Assistantship for Victims of Occupation

"Stop the Occupation"

(31^st October - 2^nd November 2008)

Jakarta, 2^nd November 2008

We have reached the final stages of this wonderful conference and, indeed, some very hectic days. I am honoured to be invited to deliver the closing address. And I do not want us to go our ways without a positive message. Despite all gloom and doom, I hope to be able to convince you that peace is feasible in the Middle East. Let me explain.

These are confusing times. The many conflicts in the Middle East seem to grow from bad to worse. This is the case for the Palestinians in the first place. People in Gaza are gradually being choked to near death, and deliberately so. Life on the West Bank becomes increasingly more difficult. Developments - if I may use that concept - in The Lebanon, Afghanistan and Iraq are not encouraging, to say the least. As long as the outgoing president of the USA may consider using the window of opportunity while still in the driver's seat for a couple of weeks, Iran may face an Israeli/American military assault. Syria was a recent victim twice.

The world in changing fast, however. We saw the end of the mono-polar system, politically and economically dominated by the USA. We see a multi-polar world emerging. Populations in many emerging giants are just angry because we allow Israel to trample Palestinians and set the Middle Eastern region on fire. They are right.

I may stress that I shall offer our views from a European perspective. Other nations, also those in the Far East, may add their increasing weight and power to achieve peace between Israel and his neighbours. And I am convinced that our discussions at this conference serve as yet another contribution to our goal in a significant way.

We have been given the honour to listen to the remarkable opening address of our conference of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, H.E. Dr. Susilo Banmbang Yudhoyono. Other dignitaries of Indonesia also play a central role in this important gathering. This, and the very fact that we come together here in Djakarta, are excellent demonstrations of the growing weight and importance of emerging nations, notably in the Far East.

Turning now to the West, the political system of the United States of America has lost its focus. The many-facetted pro-Israel lobby in the USA routinely destroys the reputation of political candidates who dare not to support the Israeli regime unconditionally. Leadership in the USA is not just an endangered species. It has, for all practical purposes, died. Compliments to those who give priority to the dubious ambitions of Israel, instead of honouring their obligations under the US Constitution.

The United Stated is still strongly backing Israel. Cracks in its armour start to appear. Questions are finally being put on the table for national scrutiny. And that - at last - is good news. I am not optimistic about the fate of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East under either of the two presidential candidates in the USA. Both pledge their strong support for Israel, neglecting realities on the ground.

On the other hand, American society is known to be flexible and resilient. One may hope that young senator Barak Obama, if and when president, will have the courage to brake away from worn-out political patterns. I certainly hope that the next US president will show the necessary understanding, the political determination and the courage to break away from old patterns and policies. That would be an important step to restoring credible American leadership in our times.

My environment is Europe, an economic giant as well as a confused political dwarf; a dwarf out of choice, not necessity. The lap-dog syndrome, the so-called North Atlantic 'bond', is a predominant factor. The underlying assumption - what is good for the USA, is good for Europe - is increasingly loosing weight. These days, the argument is becoming more of an oddity. Among the many victims of European lack of self-confidence are stability in the Middle East and a just and lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians. In our view, the European Union holds great potentiality to promote that very stability and peace.

And yet, some glimmers of hope seem to appear on the horizon. The Arab League, under strong Saudi leadership, put sensible peace proposals on the table. They are sensible as they largely follow existing international law, the sole foundation for a just and lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Contrary to present US and European leaderships, the Arab world shows determination, a sense of purpose and a sense of proportion.

Some recent critical voices give me cause for some optimism:

- John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt in their now famous study called The Israel Lobby challenge the subordination of vital American interests to the Israeli policies of aggression, occupation and oppression;

- James Petras carried out a devastating vivisection of The Power of Israel in the United States, published in August 2007;

- Richard Falk, special rapporteur on Palestine to the Secretary-general of the United Nations and a distinguished American scholar with a Jewish background, used Slouching toward a Palestinian Holocaust as the title of an article written in 29 June 2007;

- Baruch Kimmerling, an Israeli sociologist, points out that Israel's ultimate goal is politicide, the dissolution of Palestinians' existence as a social, political and economic entity.

Those, and many other critical voices set the necessary tone of the international public debate. They greatly enhance public awareness.

I am also encouraged by my many discussions with young people. Better than most of their parents, they do understand the core issues, perceive the dangers for world peace and see the opportunities that may solve many of the worst problems. The upcoming generations are not burdened by the feelings of guilt of their parents, emanating from the Second World War. They are far less inclined to support Israel unconditionally and do understand the Palestinian cause better. I am convinced that the young people of today will be able to fundamentally transform European policies towards the Middle East and do so for the better.

Just one week after the cease-fire between Israel and The Lebanon in August 2006, I could see the devastation caused by Israel with my own eyes. Of course, it greatly reinforced my determination to carry on with my Foundation Stop the Occupation. It also made our Board reconsider our strategies.

We re-emphasize international law as the centrepiece, as our guiding principle. I wish, all politicians would make this decision. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its regional context are not exactly a simple case, let alone an easy one. The seemingly complex, contradictory set of problems fall into place, however, once international law is applied. Priorities and responsibilities become clearer and more manageable. The ultimate goal, a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, takes centre stage.

The long term foreign policy goals of the Israeli regime are at the heart of the issue. They can and should be challenged by the entire world community, firmly based on legal and binding international principals.

We asked ourselves how to make a difference. The role of our Foundation, the leverage if you like, is not so much in the Middle East itself. The Umma and the Arab world have their own responsibilities and roles to play. Our political influence is limited; limited in scoop and limited to the so-called Western world.

Israel, as the main problem in the Middle East, is more harmful to Europe than to the USA. It will not be easy for America to change tack on Israel, and certainly not in the short run. Moreover, heavily biased America is useless as an honest broker in this conflict. The European Union must - and can - take the lead. It can make the difference between turmoil and peace in the Middle East, provided the political will and perseverance are there. The instruments to enforce peace are at hand. Sadly, the EU acts as impotently as ever. We see as our main task to convert European irrelevance into EU action.

Israel is a vulnerable, but surprisingly noisy and offensive state. The country, however, continues to exist thanks to Western world's virtually unconditional support. EU support, however, should not be unconditional. It should come at a price. European leverage on Israel is political, economic and diplomatic. Israel only merits EU support when it acts in a civilized manner, respecting and obeying international law and seeking genuine peace with all its neighbours. If not, as is presently the case, Israel should face the consequences. The EU and its member states hold the key to a just and lasting peace.

Now, I can zero in on the central question: is lasting peace in the Middle East feasible? You may be surprised: the answer is yes. But I hasten to add: provided that .........

- provided that the Western world comes to its senses;

- provided that core values and norms - international law, of course - take center stage;

- provided that normal, objective analysis replaces European guilt-feelings for the Holocaust and punctures the hot-air balloon of Israeli propaganda in Israel itself and in our very own countries;

- provided that all countries of the European Union recognize the State of Palestine (as a number of them already did).

Speaking to you in Indonesia - in the Far East - I am strongly aware, of course, of the great potential of the political clout of emerging nations. Together, we should be able to convince Israel of the wisdom to join the civilized world of nations.

No solution of the conflict of Israel with the Palestinians and its other Arab neighbours seems to be in sight. The most important reasons are the structural refusal to make peace on the Israeli side and lack of compliance with international law of peace initiatives - like Madrid, Oslo, Geneva, Annapolis and the Quartet.

Israel's regime, obsessed by exaggerated security concerns, wants military superiority over all its neighbours combined. It deliberately whips up fears among the population, psychologically vulnerable given its tragic past. As a result, the country constantly commits acts of aggression in neighbouring states or threatens to do so. (The name 'Israel Defence Forces' is quite a misnomer.) The process of stealing land, water, trees and destroying houses in the Occupied Territories and routinely terrorising people at hundreds of checkpoints continues in endless cycles. It keeps the Palestinian people in serfdom for not less than 40 years, with no end in sight. Israel maintains and often tortures more than 12.000 Palestinian men, women and children under Guantanamo and Abu Greib type of conditions. When Israel releases a handful, it has already grabbed a similar number of victims to compensate.

The only yardstick for non-biased judgment of the Middle East conflict and the chances of a just and lasting peace is international law in its many forms and shapes. A multitude of relevant international law is in force:

- the Preamble of the United Nations Charter;

- 39 UN-Security Council Resolutions regarding Israel;

- the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice of 9^th July 2004;

- many Treaties and Declarations on Universal Human Rights and;

- those in respect of the Rights of Children;

- the laws regarding wars emanating from the The Hague Conferences on peace in 1899 and 1907;

- humanitarian law as laid down in The Geneva Conventions, notably the Fourth Convention.

Israel violates all these instruments of international law on a large scale and on a daily basis. The scope and magnitude of these violations erode international law in a fundamental way. There is an adequate description of this behaviour: state terrorism. The USA and Europe have allowed Israel to stay on this criminal course.

Peace lies around the corner when Israel would comply with the minimum requirements of international law. The most important is withdrawal from all Occupied Territories and start final stage negotiations on an equal level with the Palestinians. Failing to do so promptly, say within six month, Israel will have to face serious consequences. The European Union should launch a massive, yet peaceful set of sanctions. I just mention a selection of the most important measures:

- Israel should be suspended from any participation throughout the entire United Nations system;

- The EU should propose an Israel Tribunal in the UN Security Council. Top-politicians, top military brass and judges who rule torture within the law will be called to account on war crimes and crimes against humanity to the international community from a prison cell in The Hague. (The USA will veto it. Making the point is nonetheless of utmost importance.);

- these selected politicians, military top-brass and judges should also be prosecuted in the courts of European member states;

- the General Assembly of the United Nations can decide to instruct the International Criminal Court in The Hague to prosecute Israeli citizens suspected of offences against universal human rights and the rights of children and humanitarian law;

- Israel should be excluded from cooperation with NATO and other forms of military cooperation. A comprehensive weapons embargo must be enforced;

- Israel will be isolated from access to the European financial, economic, academic and social facilities;

- visa for Europe will be imposed on all Israeli citizens. Living in the occupied territories and seizing Palestinian properties constitute a crime under the Fourth Geneva Convention. Thus, all Israeli citizens living illegally in the Occupied Territories are barred from entering Europe, also when in transit.

My forecast is:

Israel will listen and climb down within two years and a just and lasting peace will come in sight.

I feel privileged to participate in our deliberations and thank you for your attention.

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