THE Middle-East peace process coughed, sputtered, and began to chug on its way again on Friday, and I watched in bewilderment over the weekend as bits and pieces of the latest episode were revealed — soap-opera like — to those of us around the world who are desperately hoping for real progress.
I'm still sceptical, mainly because no one has been able to give me a satisfactory answer to a simple question: Who makes those American and Israeli flags that the supposedly crazed and bloodthirsty "militants" trot out for the CNN/BBC/Sky photo-opportunity whenever there's "progress" in the peace initiatives?
Do these guys go into the local department store? I mean, picture this business transaction in a Palestinian shopping mall:
"Good day sir, can I help you?"
"Yes, I need an American flag please."
"Very good sir, and what size would sir like?"
"Oh, I don't know. What do you recommend?"
"Well, we have a number of options. This one here is our most popular model — 'as seen on TV', one might say.- extremely flammable and an absolute steal at 400 US dollars. Then we have the same model with a child safety option — a flame retardant corner is woven in for an additional 300 US dollars. And then we have the deluxe model — napalm impregnated with glow-in-the-dark stars and stripes for the serious fighter against the Satanic Imperialist forces — for a mere 1700 US dollars."
"Well, that's all a bit much. Me and my friends are going to attend this week's 'denounce the peace process' rally this evening and just wanted to have a bit of a celebration."
(Conspiratorial whisper) "Well then sir, may I suggest a rental unit? Made of flame-resistant Teflon coated Lycra; simply soak in petrol before the event, then ignite. Wash and wring before returning. Oh yes, and we'll throw in a smaller Israeli flag at no extra charge. Only 50 US dollars."
"That sounds much better. Only tell me, why are all your prices in US dollars?"
"We cannot defile our currency by using it to purchase the symbol of the evil empire. We are very patriotic."
Sounds silly, I know. But then so is the idea that there are people throughout the Arab world who over the years have stockpiled American and Israeli flags to haul them out for ceremonial burnings. Can you imagine Iraqis wasting precious hard currency on importing American flags? Can you imagine anyone making a living manufacturing American and Israeli flags in Arab countries?
Back to the soap opera — there were some poignant moments like the videotape footage of Netanyahu taking a call on his cellphone from Arafat who just called to wish him a happy birthday.
Then there was the moment of dramatic suspense (a.k.a. the 'flashback') when Netanyahu suddenly demands the return of Jonathan Pollard who long time viewers will remember from a 1986 episode when he was written out of the series after being convicted and sentenced to life by the Americans for spying for Israel. "Release him or I leave!" Bibi tells Bill. Will Pollard reappear? We are left in suspense when Bill promises to review the matter in a future episode.
Then there was the solemnity of the event itself — signed on the walnut conference table bought by President Grant in 1869 and last used in 1994 for the peace treaty between Jordan and Israel, signed by Yitzhak Rabin and King Hussein bin Talal.
But at the back of my mind were the journalists who gathered to ask Hamas leader Sheik Ahmed Yassin for his opinion of the accord and were promptly arrested and had their cellphones, tape recorders, and cameras confiscated.
Also at the back of my mind were respected dissenting voices like Jordan's Leith Shubeilath and Palestine's Edward Said whose voices have been repeatedly silenced — one by imprisonment, the other by censorship.
And lastly, the fact that the American Central Intelligence Agency would sit side by side with Netanyahu and Arafat to administer security in the Palestinian territories.
I really yearn for peace for all who live in that land that is regarded as holy even by many agnostics like myself for its contribution to collective human wisdom.
I also know that any peace that demands that voices be stifled cannot hold.