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He surrendered Palestinian sovereignty at Oslo. Edward Said explained best.
He described "the fashion-show vulgarities of the White House ceremony, the degrading spectacle of Yasser Arafat thanking everyone for the suspension of most of his people's rights, and the fatuous solemnity of Bill Clinton's performance, like a 20th century Roman emperor shepherding two vassal kings through rituals of reconciliation and obeisance, (and) the truly astonishing proportions of the Palestinian capitulation."
It was unilateral surrender, a Palestinian Versailles. Vaguely defined negotiating steps were affirmed. No outcome was specified. Israel obstructed and delayed. It made no concessions. It continued colonization unimpeded.
Palestinians got nothing for renouncing armed struggle. Recognizing Israel's right to exist was one way. Major issues were left unresolved. They await later final status talks. Two decades later, Palestinians are still waiting.
Issues include an independent Palestinian state, the right of return, settlements, borders, water rights, and East Jerusalem as Palestine's exclusive capital.
Subsequent negotiating rounds followed. Results were one-sided. Some talks were inconclusive. Others broke down. Palestinians are blamed for Israeli obstructionism. Peace remains stillborn.
It's more tragedy and travesty than real. Negotiating without a good faith partner is futile. Palestinians never had one. They don't now.
Colonization is official Israeli policy. Militarized occupation enforces it. Palestinians have no say. Praying to the wrong God is called terrorism.
Said anguished over "a disheartening bloody impasse." He called Palestine an isolated prison. Conditions reflect a vast wasteland of repression, destruction and human misery.
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