TORONTO — The Mideast peace process is fraught with difficulties and roadblocks, caution and concern, but in one area, there seems to be progress between Israelis and Palestinians, Liberal Party foreign affairs critic Bob Rae said last week.
Bob Rae
Joint co-operation on assembling a Palestinian security force for the West Bank seems to be making progress, Rae said after a 10-day visit to the region.
During his visit, which included stops in Israel, the Palestinian territories, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Egypt, Rae met with Israel Defence Forces (IDF) officers, who told him co-operation on the security force “is much better than anybody expected.”
The IDF and Palestinian security officials meet every day to discuss how security in the Palestinian Authority-controlled area will be managed, Rae said. Based on his discussions with both sides, “there is a willingness and determination to do what needs to be done.”
Rae, who has visited Israel numerous times, including once in 1993 as Ontario premier when he led an official delegation, said Canadians are playing a role in training the Palestinian force.
Nine Canadian Forces instructors are helping train the security detachment and that number will rise to 18. The instructors are under the control of Lt.-Gen. Keith Dayton, U.S. security co-ordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
Rae said he was asked “for Canadian leadership, for Canadian presence, for Canada to play the role of an effective [interlocutor] we have always been in the past.”
During the Israel leg of his trip, Rae met with officials from the Mossad (Israeli intelligence), Foreign Ministry and the IDF. He also met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security adviser, as well as with journalists and President Shimon Peres. Canadian Ambassador Jon Allen joined him on his visits.
“The clear message from the Israelis was two-fold: that the situation remains tough with regards to Hamas and Hezbollah,” including talks through Egypt for the release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit, Rae said.
“There is also deep concern about Iran and the importance of understanding how critical it is for the future of the region.”
At the time of Rae’s visit, Netanyahu was still trying to cobble together a workable coalition, and Palestinians Rae spoke with were taking a wait-and-see attitude on the new government.
In addition, talks between Hamas and Fatah, the dominant Palestinian organizations in the West Bank, were ongoing, U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell had not yet completed his review and Washington had not yet expounded on its policy for the region. Rae said there appeared to be a “sense of realism” in the region and a desire to engage in dialogue once all the new developments play out. In addition, Palestinians were concerned about the expansion of Israeli settlements.
As for negotiations with Hamas, “the fact is direct talks with Hamas are not in the cards until everybody accepts the clear conditions set out by the Quartet and everybody else,” Rae said. The Quartet – the United States, Russia, the United Nations and the European Union – have made talks with Hamas conditional on the terrorist organization agreeing to abide by previous peace agreements, give up violence and recognize Israel.
“In many capitals” outside Israel, he heard concern over Iran and its support of Hezbollah and Hamas.
“It is of deep concern in the region and to moderate opinion everywhere,” Rae said. “Of concern in every country is the expansion of extremist Islamic fundamentalism, which poses a challenge to moderates and stability.”
He was also told “progress on the Israeli-Palestinian issue will help reduce the appeal of extremism.”
Rae said his visit to the region grew out of an invitation to speak at the American University of Beirut. He contacted the Canada-Israel Committee and the Canada Egypt Business Council, who partially financed the trip and arranged meetings in the region.
Rae said his talks in Israel were “cordial, candid and friendly. They always know when they’re talking to Canadians, they’re talking to friends.”