Richard, Oslo created a transitional arrangement, where it was hoped that positive measures on the ground would build trust. Didn't happen.
On the Israeli side, they did yield the land, give the PA guns, establish the cooperative arrangements, and educate and inform for peace; they recognized the Palestinian national movement. But they also kept building settlements, which was most unhelpful, even though it was not prohibited by Oslo.
On the Palestinian side, they took the land, established security forces and cooperated for a while in the cooperative arrangements. But the PA completely failed to establish law and order in its territories, their rule is much more like a collection of mob bosses claiming turf. The money Arafat got for economic development went into Swiss bank accounts. Hamas provides the only social services. So far from educating from peace, they teach their children that the Jews stole the historical Arab land of Palestine (a political entity that did not exist before the establishment of the PA in 1993), and that ancient Judea never existed. Then of course, they returned to terrorism. In short, the PA broke everything it had committed to under Oslo.
So, given the outcome, yes, it's a very unworkable situation. Oslo required Arafat to be another Nelson Mandela. Unfortunately, he turned out to be another Robert Mugabe instead. |
