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Opening a window of opportunity? Opening a window of opportunity?
(40 minutes later)
By James Robbins BBC News, IsraelBy James Robbins BBC News, Israel
Our correspondent travels to the Middle East with foreign secretary Margaret Beckett, who thinks there is a rare opportunity for progress in the peace process.Our correspondent travels to the Middle East with foreign secretary Margaret Beckett, who thinks there is a rare opportunity for progress in the peace process.
Foreign Secretary Margaret BeckettDiplomats have to be optimists to keep going - and the Foreign Secretary who leads them needs to be able to look on the bright side of life - without, that is, denying reality.Foreign Secretary Margaret BeckettDiplomats have to be optimists to keep going - and the Foreign Secretary who leads them needs to be able to look on the bright side of life - without, that is, denying reality.
So I suppose I should not have been surprised that Margaret Beckett started talking about a "window of opportunity" for Israel and the Palestinians as we were flying towards Tel Aviv on her first visit as Foreign Secretary.So I suppose I should not have been surprised that Margaret Beckett started talking about a "window of opportunity" for Israel and the Palestinians as we were flying towards Tel Aviv on her first visit as Foreign Secretary.
Determined optimismDetermined optimism
But was not this all pretty far-fetched, I asked myself, in the face of two realities: shocking factional violence among Palestinians which threatens to descend into civil war; and the transparent weakness of Israel's government, brought low by military failure in Lebanon and now engulfed by a series of recent scandals.But was not this all pretty far-fetched, I asked myself, in the face of two realities: shocking factional violence among Palestinians which threatens to descend into civil war; and the transparent weakness of Israel's government, brought low by military failure in Lebanon and now engulfed by a series of recent scandals.
President Mahmoud Abbas, of Fatah, and his rival, the Hamas Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyeh, are closeted in the holy city of Mecca where the Saudi King hopes they can put an end to physical feuding in favour of a National Unity Government And was Mrs Beckett deluding herself? In these last months of Tony Blair's decade as Prime Minister, was she simply desperate to find something positive for him in the Middle East?President Mahmoud Abbas, of Fatah, and his rival, the Hamas Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyeh, are closeted in the holy city of Mecca where the Saudi King hopes they can put an end to physical feuding in favour of a National Unity Government And was Mrs Beckett deluding herself? In these last months of Tony Blair's decade as Prime Minister, was she simply desperate to find something positive for him in the Middle East?
Well, his Foreign Secretary was modest enough to use the trip as something of a learning experience.Well, his Foreign Secretary was modest enough to use the trip as something of a learning experience.
So, in a bitter wind, we walked close up in the cold shadow of the much disputed Israeli wall, which is justified by the government as a security barrier to keep out Palestinian suicide bombers. Mrs Beckett had invited, as her guide, an Israeli lawyer, Danny Seidemann, who campaigns against this enforced separation, particularly where the concrete barrier towering above our heads strays from the line of the 1967 borders to extend Israel's land.So, in a bitter wind, we walked close up in the cold shadow of the much disputed Israeli wall, which is justified by the government as a security barrier to keep out Palestinian suicide bombers. Mrs Beckett had invited, as her guide, an Israeli lawyer, Danny Seidemann, who campaigns against this enforced separation, particularly where the concrete barrier towering above our heads strays from the line of the 1967 borders to extend Israel's land.
Political tourismPolitical tourism
The British government helps fund research into the effects on the Palestinian population, and is rebuked by Israel for interference.The British government helps fund research into the effects on the Palestinian population, and is rebuked by Israel for interference.
But mostly this trip was less about political tourism, important though that can be, and more about sizing up some of the political players in solid, face to face meetings.But mostly this trip was less about political tourism, important though that can be, and more about sizing up some of the political players in solid, face to face meetings.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud OlmertSo, there was a session with Margaret Beckett's Israeli counterpart, Tzipi Livni, at the Foreign Ministry - one of very few government ministers who still enjoys popular support in opinion polls - and then later talks with the Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, now bereft of such public support.Israeli Prime Minister Ehud OlmertSo, there was a session with Margaret Beckett's Israeli counterpart, Tzipi Livni, at the Foreign Ministry - one of very few government ministers who still enjoys popular support in opinion polls - and then later talks with the Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, now bereft of such public support.
Window of opportunityWindow of opportunity
The whole focus was on what really made this trip intensely interesting; the fact that the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, of Fatah, and his rival, the Hamas Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyeh, are away in Saudi Arabia, closeted in the holy city of Mecca where the Saudi King hopes they can put an end to physical feuding in favour of a National Unity Government.The whole focus was on what really made this trip intensely interesting; the fact that the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, of Fatah, and his rival, the Hamas Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyeh, are away in Saudi Arabia, closeted in the holy city of Mecca where the Saudi King hopes they can put an end to physical feuding in favour of a National Unity Government.
If one can be agreed, pressure will then be on both Israel and the international community to revive and pursue the search for permanent peace.If one can be agreed, pressure will then be on both Israel and the international community to revive and pursue the search for permanent peace.
This is the "window of opportunity" which Margaret Beckett and Tony Blair are pushing to open.This is the "window of opportunity" which Margaret Beckett and Tony Blair are pushing to open.
Feeling the pressureFeeling the pressure
Sometimes it is when people think they are strong, even if it is an illusion, that they are not prepared to move Foreign Secretary Margaret BeckettSometimes it is when people think they are strong, even if it is an illusion, that they are not prepared to move Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett
She got the strong sense from her meetings with the Israelis of their Prime Minister's great caution; of Mr Olmert feeling the pressure that he may come under from Washington to be a little bold and advance prospects for peace with the Palestinians.She got the strong sense from her meetings with the Israelis of their Prime Minister's great caution; of Mr Olmert feeling the pressure that he may come under from Washington to be a little bold and advance prospects for peace with the Palestinians.
What surprised me, though, was the Foreign Secretary's bluntness, when we talked, on the record, about all this.What surprised me, though, was the Foreign Secretary's bluntness, when we talked, on the record, about all this.
She was quite happy to call both the Israeli and Palestinian governments weak. Governments here are weak, she told me, and many of the players have weaknesses.She was quite happy to call both the Israeli and Palestinian governments weak. Governments here are weak, she told me, and many of the players have weaknesses.
But then she added that means they all have something to gain if they move forward for peace, and it was that exhortation which explained her willingness to humble them.But then she added that means they all have something to gain if they move forward for peace, and it was that exhortation which explained her willingness to humble them.
The nature of Mrs Beckett's determined optimism was in full flow. Mutual weakness could be a real virtue, a positive advantage, she told me. "Sometimes it is when people think they are strong, even if it is an illusion, that they are not prepared to move".The nature of Mrs Beckett's determined optimism was in full flow. Mutual weakness could be a real virtue, a positive advantage, she told me. "Sometimes it is when people think they are strong, even if it is an illusion, that they are not prepared to move".
By now, we were in Ramallah, in the Palestinian West Bank. Unlike Gaza, there has been no Israeli disengagement here.By now, we were in Ramallah, in the Palestinian West Bank. Unlike Gaza, there has been no Israeli disengagement here.
Hopes of a unionHopes of a union
Palestinian President Mahmoud AbbasWe were inside President Abbas's compound, but unable to meet him of course, away in Mecca at the critical encounter with the leadership of Hamas which could make the difference between descent into Palestinian civil war and an opening to some sort of peace.Palestinian President Mahmoud AbbasWe were inside President Abbas's compound, but unable to meet him of course, away in Mecca at the critical encounter with the leadership of Hamas which could make the difference between descent into Palestinian civil war and an opening to some sort of peace.
Instead, some of his key advisors assured the Foreign Secretary that Mr Abbas was doing everything possible to agree a National Unity Government.Instead, some of his key advisors assured the Foreign Secretary that Mr Abbas was doing everything possible to agree a National Unity Government.
And all this was happening in the newly refurbished set of Presidential offices, besieged by Israeli tanks when Yasser Arafat wielded power; a reminder of the fragility of almost everything in the lives of Palestinians.And all this was happening in the newly refurbished set of Presidential offices, besieged by Israeli tanks when Yasser Arafat wielded power; a reminder of the fragility of almost everything in the lives of Palestinians.
The intense two days of the Foreign Secretary's visit was almost over.The intense two days of the Foreign Secretary's visit was almost over.
Did it still feel to me this might be an excuse in determined unreality - a loyal Minister treading a path which others have followed for Tony Blair before - by predicting possible Middle East breakthrough to balance in some way the bloodshed in Iraq? No, not necessarily, although the visit, of course, had a variety of political purposes. Did it still feel to me this might be an exercise in determined unreality - a loyal Minister treading a path which others have followed for Tony Blair before - by predicting possible Middle East breakthrough to balance in some way the bloodshed in Iraq? No, not necessarily, although the visit, of course, had a variety of political purposes.
It was one of her diplomats who summed up the potential as we flew home to Britain. If the Mecca meeting goes well, he suggested, then at least in the Middle East the direction of travel will be right.It was one of her diplomats who summed up the potential as we flew home to Britain. If the Mecca meeting goes well, he suggested, then at least in the Middle East the direction of travel will be right.
From Our Own Correspondent was broadcast on Thursday, 8 February, 2007 at 1100 GMT on BBC Radio 4. Please check the programme schedules for World Service transmission times.From Our Own Correspondent was broadcast on Thursday, 8 February, 2007 at 1100 GMT on BBC Radio 4. Please check the programme schedules for World Service transmission times.