Negotiations that enable Israel’s land-grabs

Diana Buttu
Back in the early 2000s, I was part of the Palestinian team supposedly negotiating an end to Israel’s military occupation and colonisation of Palestinian land. The idea was as perverse then as it is now: that those living under military rule have to “negotiate” for their freedom and that the owners of the land have to “negotiate” for Israel to return their land to them.

At the time, we Palestinians were told by many heads of state – including those from the US and Europe – there was no other way and that negotiations were the only path to achieving our freedom. Of course, that is simply not true, for virtually no state has gained its freedom and independence by negotiating with its oppressors.
Back in the early 2000s, I was part of the Palestinian team supposedly negotiating an end to Israel’s military occupation and colonisation of Palestinian land. The idea was as perverse then as it is now: that those living under military rule have to “negotiate” for their freedom and that the owners of the land have to “negotiate” for Israel to return their land to them.

At the time, we Palestinians were told by many heads of state – including those from the US and Europe – there was no other way and that negotiations were the only path to achieving our freedom. Of course, that is simply not true, for virtually no state has gained its freedom and independence by negotiating with its oppressors.