"The
institution-building efforts led by the Palestinian
government have been
completely undermined by the lack of freedom. This situation
cannot continue.
Oslo succeeded in bringing back 250,000 Palestinians from
the diaspora and
building the capacity for our state. The international
community failed though,
by granting Israel an unprecedented culture of impunity that
allowed them to
use negotiations as a means to continue rather than stop
colonization." Saeb Erekat
BY AARON DAVID MILLER | FEBRUARY 5, 2013
Other than Mahmoud Abbas, Saeb Erekat could be the most recognizable Palestinian on the planet. The chief Palestinian negotiator is certainly among the most passionate in promoting the cause. And nobody on the Palestinian side knows the substance of the issues or the negotiating history better.I first met Erekat in the late 1980s, while working on the Palestinian issue for then Secretary of State George Shultz. Back then, the U.S.-educated diplomat was already showing the brashness and outspokenness that would make him one of the most memorable -- if exasperating -- of the Palestinians with whom we dealt.
He annoyed then Secretary of State James Baker by wearing his kaffiyeh around his shoulders at the opening of the Madrid Peace Conference in October 1991. And over the years, he continued to annoy the Israelis too with his fiery performances on CNN -- though to this day, key Israeli negotiators, such as Isaac Molho, continue to praise his pragmatism at the bargaining table.
It was Erekat's academic bent, analytical chops, and capacity to ...READ MORE
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