Published: 31 May 2019
Last updated: 4 March 2024
Shaath, considered a moderate, is a former PA foreign minister and was once a key negotiator of self-rule agreements with Israel. He made the comment during an exclusive interview with The Jewish Independent at the PLO’s offices in Ramallah as the Palestinians were coming under pressure of being cast in the role of rejectionists after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar agreed to participate in the Manama gathering scheduled for June 25-26
U.S. officials say the first part of Washington's long-awaited Middle East peace plan will be unveiled at the meeting, which they stress will focus on economic benefits to ensue if the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is resolved. Trump administration Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt says the gathering will "discuss a vision with the potential to radically transform lives and put people on a path towards a brighter future." Organisers hope to elicit investment pledges of $US68 billion over the next 10 years, according to media reports.
But Shaath views the meeting as a trap. It is, he says, an integral part of an effort by the Trump administration to bribe Palestinians to accept autonomy under Israeli military control as the solution to the Palestinian issue and to forfeit their aspirations for independent statehood with a capital in Jerusalem. This, he says, is the essence of what Trump has touted as the "deal of the century''.
"Do people think we are stupid?" Shaath asked against the backdrop of portraits of Abbas and a smiling Yasser Arafat. "What is the long-term objective of the deal of the century? To give an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza? No, it is to annihilate that. The Palestinian leadership won't participate in this annihilation. Going to the conference would do that and encourage our Arab brothers to go further in supporting Mr. Trump."
In Shaath's view the deal of the century is in fact already being implemented, with Trump deciding in Israel's favour key issues such as Jerusalem, refugees and settlements that according to the self-rule agreements are supposed to be negotiated by the parties in final status talks. He cited the December 2017 decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem, the U.S. cut-off of funds to UNRWA, the UN agency that assists Palestinian refugees, talk of redefining the term “refugee” to severely limit its application, and U.S. suggestions that settlements are not an obstacle to peace. He also pointed to American recognition of the Golan Heights, occupied by Israel during the 1967 war, as a prelude to recognition of Israeli annexation in the West Bank.
"Look at what Mr. Trump has already done, so why the hell should we go to Bahrain?" Shaath asked. "There is nothing secret. People who say wait till it's all public should know it already is all public. "What Trump suggests doesn't stand up to the criteria of a two-peoples solution," Shaath continued. "He is not interested in the Palestinian people and if he thinks he will interest us by offering us some money it's stupid. We are not going to sell Palestine for money or sell Jerusalem for money.
"We're waiting for a proper peace process based on the idea of two equal peoples in this land," Shaath said. "Either they equally run one secular democratic country or run two secular democratic countries side by side in peace. But Trump and Netanyahu just want the Israelis to take over as much land as possible. It is ridiculous to say we are against the peace process. What we are against is this type of peace process."
But to their dismay, the Palestinians face a challenge from their Arab brethren over the conference, which could constitute a major step in normalisation of relations of Gulf stateswith Israel. Not only is Bahrain hosting the gathering, which is expected to be attended by Israeli finance minister Moshe Kahlon, but Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar have each announced they will attend, although they say they are doing this to help the Palestinian economy. While another Abbas adviser, Ahmad Majdalani, accused Bahrain of "stabbing" the Palestinian people in the back, Shaath takes a more diplomatic approach.
"Not one of those Arab countries has asked us, 'Why don't you accept the deal of the century?'" Shaath stressed. "But they don't want to anger Mr Trump or get into a war of words and they still believe Iran is a potential aggressor so they don't want to get themselves into difficulties with the Americans when they may be facing something they can't cope with on their own. We don't think any of this is against us, our message to them is, 'We appreciate you, we love you, you are our partners. We understand that you think what you are doing is good for us, that you want to help support the economy and survival and to hold on to Jerusalem as a holy city. But the political aspects of that deal please reject.'"
Shaath said the Palestinians are urging the Gulf states not to take any normalisation steps on the grounds that these would violate the 2002 Saudi peace plan that made normalisation contingent on a full Israeli withdrawal from the occupied territories.
Regarding the Australian election, Shaath struck a combative note, warning there would be consequences if a buoyed Scott Morrison reverts to the idea he voiced late last year of moving Australia’s embassy to Jerusalem. "It will be a big mistake if they continue their onesided politics in the Middle East and if they go back to the idea of moving the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, meaning totally violating international law and signed agreements. If they continue to do that we will oppose them and utilise all our friends and connections in Asia and Africa, the international community and the Palestinian, Syrian and Lebanese expatriates in Australia to fight that. But if they stop that we will establish a friendly relationship with Australia as we had for a very long time."
In an interview with The Jewish Independent in December, Shaath stressed that the Arab world should include Australia in boycott measures if the embassy was moved.
