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Saeb Erekat, a Harvard Kennedy fellow student and negotiating Palestinian leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization, criticized the agreement between the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel, and said in an interview with The Crimson on Saturday that he did think the agreement would alleviate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Erekat also criticized America’s role in the Trump administration’s agreement and policy in the region more broadly than U. S. President Donald J. Trump, has “pushed Palestinians and Israelis back at least 50 years ago. “
Trump and his son-in-law and adviser Jared C. health, education, trade, security and diplomacy, and exchange of embassies and ambassadors.
The deal earned Trump a Nobel Peace Prize nomination.
In a rare movement during a polarized election year, former Democratic president and presidential candidate Joe Biden praised the agreements and wrote that “it is smart to see others in the Middle East recognize Israel and welcome it as a partner. “
Erekat, however, said that the agreement would not promote peace and criticized the negotiations for taking a position without Palestinian consultation, adding that the agreement appears to reverse a past proposal passed through the Arab League that league member states would not normalize relations with the Palestinians. Israel without a full Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank and Gaza Strip and the creation of a Palestinian state.
“The real challenge here is between the Palestinians and the Israelis. It’s between the Emirati and the Bahraini, or the Bahraini and the Israelis or the Emirati and the Israelis,” Erekat said.
In criticizing Trump and Kushner, Erekat said the conclusion of the deal used a dirty tone and went beyond the heads of Palestinian leaders.
“When Kushner tries to tell the Palestinians, “Look, I’m going through their heads. I’m making the Arabs make peace with Israel. They are left alone. ” You’re abandoned. ” What does this mean for my people?What does this mean for the Palestinians?Erekat asked.
He also said that Trump’s policy toward Israel and Palestine is more destructive than that of past administrations.
“Other presidents – I’m not saying they weren’t pro-Israel – but at least they were looking to come up with a two-state solution on the 1967 lines so we could live and let it live. That’s what we are, negotiating, and it’s come a long, long, long way, ” said Erekat. “This guy and this administration, which they have done so far, have managed to push back the Palestinians and Israelis for at least 50 years.
The White House may not be able to be contacted to comment on Erekat’s reviews.
In the interview, Erekat said he felt revered for having the scholarship at the Kennedy School and addressed some of the controversy surrounding his appointment.
He appreciated Harvard’s resolve to provide a platform on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, referring to former Israeli foreign minister Tzipi M. Livni, who got the same scholarship last year.
“Tzipi Livni has been my counterpart for many years, and we’ve dealt with others,” Erekat said. “We’ve postponed it, yes. We had agreements, yes. And for Harvard to have it and then have me, show what Harvard is. It’s a wonderful university. “
Along with the rest of the Kennedy School, the Erekat Scholarship will be held entirely online due to the coronavirus. He said the transition to online meetings with academics and diplomats has been difficult, but he believes it is necessary.
“I have to get used to that, ” he said. I in the human factor, mark language and eye contact. “
Erekat’s appointment has been controversial, following accusations that his ideals are anti-Semitic and data, as Harvard spokesman James F denied. Smith, that the Palestinian Authority paid the university nearly $2 million for the Erekat Scholarship.
Critics, such as the pro-Israel defense organization StandWithUs, criticized Erekat’s appointment, calling him anti-Semitic and noting that his words refused to regard Israel as a Jewish state.
Erekat rejected the complaint and condemned anti-Semitism in the interview.
“My clash with Israel is religious. It’s a political, territorial and narrative issue,” Erekat said. “Anti-Semitism is bad. “
“Writer Raquel Coronell Uribe can be contacted by raquel. coronelluribe@thecrimson. com. Follow her on twitter – raquelco15.
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