"Today we are in a position where the Palestinian political option may end. There is a chance that in the end we will see the West Bank and Gaza divided into regions controlled by the PA [Palestinian Authority], while others [fall] under the control of different Palestinian factions, such as Hamas," according to Professor Hillel Frisch.
A member of the Begin-Sadat (BESA) Center for Strategic Studies, Dr. Frisch told the last Forum meeting of the current Knesset session that social and economic conditions among Arabs "make the establishment of democratic institutions difficult."
Bassem Eid, a Palestinian human rights official, added that armed PA in-fighting "is an indication [of] anarchy and lack of ability of the PA to put an end to violence within the PA itself." He added that while Israel must allow PA chairman Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas) to deal with domestic problems, his administration has failed to live up to commitments to the people and to Israel.
The most optimistic speaker at the forum was Dennis Ross, former American envoy to the Middle East during the administration of President Bill Clinton and a promoter of the Oslo 2 agreements which exploded into the current war, nearly five years ago.
"The international community must support Abu Mazen and assure that his non-violent policies succeed, but Abu Mazen also must make brave and hard decisions," according to Ross.
He pointed out that Abu Mazen's problem is that he "must deal with [Yasser] Arafat's legacy, which perpetuated turning Palestinians into victims. The Palestinians are used to demanding their rights but are not used to a system of obligations," Ross said.
A member of the Begin-Sadat (BESA) Center for Strategic Studies, Dr. Frisch told the last Forum meeting of the current Knesset session that social and economic conditions among Arabs "make the establishment of democratic institutions difficult."
Bassem Eid, a Palestinian human rights official, added that armed PA in-fighting "is an indication [of] anarchy and lack of ability of the PA to put an end to violence within the PA itself." He added that while Israel must allow PA chairman Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas) to deal with domestic problems, his administration has failed to live up to commitments to the people and to Israel.
The most optimistic speaker at the forum was Dennis Ross, former American envoy to the Middle East during the administration of President Bill Clinton and a promoter of the Oslo 2 agreements which exploded into the current war, nearly five years ago.
"The international community must support Abu Mazen and assure that his non-violent policies succeed, but Abu Mazen also must make brave and hard decisions," according to Ross.
He pointed out that Abu Mazen's problem is that he "must deal with [Yasser] Arafat's legacy, which perpetuated turning Palestinians into victims. The Palestinians are used to demanding their rights but are not used to a system of obligations," Ross said.