23.09.2011                      24.Elul, 5771

Feature:

Palestinians seek pride; Israelis fear mischief

Dueling Narratives: Mideast experts discuss what will follow the PA UN statehood bid and what influence it will have on the region and peace talks.

Visiting Ramallah a few short weeks ago, the preponderance of replies to questions about what will follow the Palestinian UN gambit were remarkably similar to those heard in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Israelis and Palestinians were saying the same thing, but with accents on different syllables. For Palestinians, it was “nothing will change on the ground, but it will nevertheless be a boost for national self-respect and something good for the people. Palestine and Israel will speak as equals.” And for Israelis, it was “nothing will change on the ground, but as a unilateral act it’s provocative and could lead to negative unintended consequences – and very much intended political and legal mischief.”…