Land For Peace, June 2, 2011.
A Legal History video will give a blow by blow history of Israel’s negotiations with its Arab Palestinian neighbors. Historically in the Middle East peace negotiations have focused on a Land for Peace formula. In its finished form the video will have an introductory section containing a brief overview of Israeli history and a general introduction related to its formation. The video will briefly cover the British Mandate then discuss the creation of Israel with the passing of the UN General Assembly Resolution of 181, and the subsequent Armistice. It is important to note that this video will focus almost exclusively on the legal facts. For example P.M. Yasser Arafat of the PLO, now referred to Fatah, promised to change the Palestinian National Council Charter in 1993. The charter states that Fatah will settle for nothing less then the destruction of the State of Israel. To this day the charter has not been changed.
Law will be used as a prism through which major debates about the history of the Israeli state and Palestinian society will be analyzed.
In its present form the video takes a brief look into the peace process between Israel and the PLO starting in 1993 and ending in 1996. In 1996 the Palestinian National Council met to vote on amending their charter to recognize the State of Israel. The articles to be amended were specifically related to the promises the Palestinians made to the world at Oslo. The historic Olso Accords were signed between Yitzchak Rabin Prime Minister of Israel, Yasser Arafat Prime Minister of the PLO and William J. Clinton President of the United States of America. The promise of peace, made at Oslo, resulted in P.M. Yasser Arafat receiving the Nobel Prize for Peace. Unfortunately P.M. Arafat had no intension to follow through on his promise to change the PNC charter nor did he intend to order a stop to the killing and hatred his organization inspired in his people. Ultimately Arafat’s deceptive diplomatic posturing has resulted to, if not contributed greatly to what is today a tragedy of epic proportions in the Middle East.
The questions raised in the finished video will be positioned in a manner that the viewer can relate to on a personal level. Issues covered will question what is fair and just in negotiations on a legal level. Why should the Israeli’s be expected to negotiate with the Palestinians? We will score who has followed through more honestly on the peace agreements that have been signed thus far.
Historically the Palestinians have not followed through on the promises they have made in signing legal documents.
The purpose of this documentary is to educate and engage its viewers. We all know that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. The time is now to clear the air on what has been done in the past and what not to do in the future. It is important for this generation to understand the past sincere attempts by Israel to secure a safer relationship with their Palestinian neighbors.
