Without getting into the brass-tacks of the so-called two State solutions of Palestinian problem, the major part of the world is caught in the whirlwind of euphoria over a fast approaching solution, an end of a very bloody, unprincipled, indecent and inhuman conflict of modern day humanity. It is really so?

Israel and its media machine abroad have successfully created the perception  that the two-nation solution is the only solution viable in the present day Middle East. Majority of the world capitals have fallen in line and have given overt and covert support to this idea, which had got first promotional boost from Bush on June 24, 2002 when he had suggested a two-State solution of Palestine problem.

Will Palestine with less than 2200 sq miles area, which is being further, appropriated in the West Bank through more settlements just after the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza Strip and without enough natural resources and reasonable  societal  infrastructure, be and independent and viable State on its own.

The answer is plain No. Actually, with respect to Israel it has never been planned right from the beginning.

Sharon has won substantial victory on image building to such an extent that Musharraf Government has come in the open to show off its tryst with Israel. Addressing the American Jewish Congress Monday 19-9-2005,which according to him was “a high point of his current visit to the United States,” President Musharraf linked Pakistan’s recognition of Israel to the establishment of a Palestinian State. (a very ambitious desire)

The President said, “Peace process progresses towards the establishment  of an independent Palestinian state, we will take further steps towards normalization and cooperation, looking to full diplomatic relations.”

Our government seems to be pouncing on an opportunity to established relations with Israel to qualify for American goodwill for obvious economic reasons as well as so-called diplomatic ascendancy in the region, whereas if we had not shown off that we were starving for a role in Muslim community we would have performed better; an organized approach to foreign relations; a consistent, principled and regular stance on Palestine as in the past would have been in order. We don’t have to announce the death of an ideology for petty economics.

Taking stock of Israel’s assertion in the past, even a bleak hope for a viable Palestinian State is a luxury only the most gullible can afford. Repenting over his help which Areal Sharoon as Commanding Officer of Southern Front had extended to Jordan’s King Hussain in September 1970 to suppress a Palestinian uprising against Hashmite Kingdom, in which King Hussain is known to have killed about 5000 to 10000  Palestinians, Sharoon has been saying Israel should not have helped the Hashemite Kingdom and should have allowed Palestinians to establish Palestinian State there where they really belong to. Then it would have been easier for Israel to push Palestinians from West Bank to Jordan.

It is quite amazing that world leaders have seen some improvement on the issue whereas in reality nothing has changed, rather, Israel’s stance has further hardened and indicates to not so good future for the peace process. Under the peace plan known as the ‘road-map,’ which has been sponsored by the US, Russia, European Union and United Nations, Israel is supposed to freeze the growth of settlements on land occupied since 1967.

Already in violation of the agreed Road Map, about 140 settlements with a total of 240,000 Israelis have been stealthily but steadily expanding in West Bank, and Sharon has now made clear they will remain under Israeli sovereignty, irrespective of Palestinian demands. Further the planned construction of 3,500 new homes in the three-mile corridor to Maale Adumin extends Jerusalem deep into the West Bank. It severs the main link between Palestinian towns to the south (Bethlehem) and those to the north (Ramallah).

The settlements at Ariel in the northern West Bank, and Gush Etzion,  south of Jerusalem, are also expected to be expanded. After the finalization of this plan, Greater Jerusalem will extend halfway across the  West Bank toward Jericho. To net in all these settlements about 2 billions  US dollars are being spent to construct 420 miles electronic ditch-fence- moat that will appropriate about 10 percent of Palestinian lands in West  Bank.

Presently travellers from East Jerusalem to West Bank have to pass through many gates/checkpoints guarded by Israeli soldiers. An authorization, which is very difficult to get, is needed to pass through  these gates that separates Israelis and Palestinians.

They have really sealed about 270,000 Palestinians in the Arab quarters. Considering the way things are organized there does not seem the remotest possibility for East Jerusalem to become the capital of Palestinian State. America is paying quite  handsome  price to accommodate the foggy two-nation-State vision of its president, whereas, Sharon has gained both diplomatically as well as strategically. Gaza has  never been cost effective to Israel. About nine thousand Jewish settlers surrounded by 1.2 million Palestinians never had a future.

Fifty thousand strong men of Israeli Army on red alert did the protection  job at a great cost. The world media showed about 1500 families in Gaza leaving their homes while battling with their own Army and security forces to create a sense of sympathy for the affected families while earning a great PR for Israeli Government. Each displaced family is to be given US $ 13000,000 to $ 400,000 leading to overall displacement and resettlement compensation coast to about 800 million that will naturally be picked up by America.

If what has been said in preceding lines is not enough then read what Palestinian leaders themselves are saying about the peace process. Speaking to Reuters last week Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie said Israel’s expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank could bar the establishment of a viable Palestinian State and renew bloodshed.

Talking to AFP news agency a day later Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the Israeli plan threatened hopes of restarting the Middle East peace process. He said, “[This] sabotages all efforts seeking to get the peace process back on track. The Israeli government wants to determine Jerusalem’s fate by presenting the settlements and wall as a fait accompli.”