zeev - you make the case well
the double-standards and bend-over-backwards ever-further rationales never cease to amaze me.
"moving the goalposts" is one of the most destructive and toxic things that can be done in negotiations or rational performance measures of any sort. It is a sign of disingenuity.
Arafat and his gang need to be forced to go on record with their bottom line, then live with a mediated settlement of it. No more negotiating, then re-negotiating the negotiation, etc., etc., ad nauseum.
The international community (particularly including the U.S.) claims to have moral standing, yet they do nothing (particularly the U.S.) to prove that. They should step in with a strong hand and set out the following simple rules:
1. Nobody will get all of what they want in a mediated negotiation. If you want a seat at the table, you must (a) publicly state that this is true and commit publicly to accept that, and (b) publicly address those you represent and tell them as well.
2. You must unequivocally state publicly what you view as the optimum outcome for you and those you represent, and the full rationale for why this is fair -- with full specificity and without conditional "if/thens". (i.e. no more equivocation from the PLO about its ultimate aims). This includes publicly addressing your nation/constituency and telling them this is the negotiating basis you will put forth. This goes for Israel and it's desire for control of water, etc. too.
3. You don't want to play by these rules, you don't get to play at all. Real, good faith negotiations happen only once all the cards are on the table. It's long past time for both sides to put the cards on the table in lieu of the double-talk. Most particularly Arafat and his minions.
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