Some thoughts on ‘Elusive Peace’ on BBC2
BBC2 started a mini series last night entitled Israel and the Arabs: Elusive Peace, which traces the past six years of the peace process.
The program was fairly balanced, considering it was made by the BBC and that Suha Arafat was a producer (although it is particularly insensitive and not coincidental that the final two episodes will be shown over a Jewish holiday so many will not be seeing it), and it was very interesting to see how personality and politics interact at this level.
Two things stood out; the role of Chirac in breaking the momentum in Paris in January ‘01 – his pursuit of glory undermining the process of negotiations – and Barak’s private reneging of his offer to Clinton even before Arafat’s rejection of a ceasefire and Jerusalem offer. Yet the question of Jerusalem remained underdeveloped.
Tension had been mounting for a year and the cause of the rioting will always be contested (was Sharon’s visit to the Temple Mount provocative or just a very useful pretext?), but the great revelation of the show – that Barak had last-minute
second thoughts in private about the compromise over Jerusalem before Arafat rejected it publicly – was irrelavent. If Arafat had in fact agreed to the offer, then Barak would have had no choice but to have honoured his promise (and face
the consequences back home). That he did not absolves Barak from changing his mind.
Indeed, the focus of the program was this impasse over Jerusalem, an issue so fundamental that the wider terms of the Camp David offer, particularly the territorial concession of 95%+ of the West Bank, were not even mentioned. Lack of contiguity of a future state – long held to be the major stumbling block by non-Palestinian commentators was not only false, but not, apparently a significant concern for Arafat, whose primary goal was not to betray the Muslim Arab community with a compromise over Jerusalem. Yet whilst the importance of the symbol of Jerusalem to both sides was elucidated, the extent to which Barak’s offer was so unprecedented , and that he was even prepared to box himself in by having Clinton propose it, was not developed. The frostiness of his reception back in Israel must have been a relief. How would the country have reacted if he had been forced to compromise Jewish sovereignty over the city? That Arafat not only remained intransigent but also played dumb to Barak’s demand to call Mohammed Dahlan to halt the violence only reinforces the view that Arafat was not going to accept whatever was proposed, whether from Barak or from his ‘only friend’ Clinton.
1 commentA moan about my fellow Londoners
Like many Londoners pretty much obliged to use the capital’s rapid transit underground system, the Tube, I have my fair share of horror stories, though thankfully not as horrific as those endured by the victims of the July 7 mass-murderers. One thing that I continually find unpleasant is that, despite the availability of cheap clothing, modern toiletries and the like, so many of the British travelling public smell. Yep, you smell, people. You stink, in fact. This evening was probably the worst I have endured. To be exact, it was the Victoria line between Victoria and Pimlico, the stop where I get off.
It is the 21st century, ladies and gentlemen. We no longer have to live in the smelling, fetid environment of London in the age of smoky fires, horse shit and open sewers. So for crissakes, get with the modern world!
Rant over.
1 commentWhile I write…
I have a pile of writing to do for various outlets including several reviews for Blogcritics, a short story sequel, a new song and full time writing stuff. Yes, I write all the freaking time.
I recomend you cast you eyes on this piece by Steyn where exposes the idiocy of the left-wing’s press obsession with frankly daft claim that Bush said he invaded Iraq “on a mission from God.” While you are at it, check out Hitchens piece on the real reasons behind terrorism. And its not the West’s fault; its the fault of the evil morons who are perpetuating the death and destruction.
Comments are off for this postNot bad…need to work harder
Jeremy the Loner
This rant about power-ballads might actually explain why he is such a loser loner. Found via Dean.
People who slag off power-ballads just don’t get it (or is that any?). Hard rockers (like me) write power ballads to get laid, lets face it. It also tends to expand the band’s fan base and attracts more women to the audience (see above). Rock fans use power ballads to show their sensitive side…you see a trend here?
I left the above missive on Dean’s site in response to Jeremy’s rant.
Comments are off for this postBohemian Like You
I plucked a computer game out of a discount bin some years ago. The game—a simulation of the Le Mans road race—
was a dud, but I really liked the song that kicked off the opening title sequence, “Bohemian Like You,” by The Dandy Warhols. (Crappy “3-D” website here.)
Apparently I wasn’t the only one who thought so: the song was soon featured in Vodafone ads in Europe and no less than three automobile (Chrysler, I think) ad campaigns in North America. Which is kind of ironic (the Le Mans/Chrysler angle, at least) in that the first verse of the song goes thus:
you`ve got a great car
yeah, what`s wrong with it today?
i used to have one too
maybe i’ll come and have a look
They didn’t feature that part of it, needless to say, preferring to focus on the bouncy “IlikeyouIlikeyouIlikeyou whoo-hoo!” chorus.
I didn’t think there was a video of the song, but it turns out they did do one, a rather ahem! frugal affair (approx. budget = $14.92, plus probably some free drinks for the folks in the karaoke bar). Witness.
Warning: Nudity, albeit with most of the interesting bits pixelated out.
Warning: People in karaoke bar.
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