Sabella: Trump's plan is a source of hope, a comprehensive peace strategy must be implemented
The Palestinian Catholic leader welcomes the 20-point Gaza proposal. For him, it is imperative to stop death and destruction. The issue of Hamas (which is factionally divided) still needs to be addressed. There is hope for a first step towards ending the conflict, and rebuilding without displacing the population or turning Gaza into a “Riviera”. An international force is important as is the role of Muslim countries like Indonesia.
Milan (AsiaNews) – Bernard Sabella, a former Fatah representative and executive secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches’ Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees, spoke to AsiaNews about the Trump plan meant to secure a long-awaited truce.
For Sabella, “The success of this 20-point peace plan, which is a source of hope, depends on the acceptance by both sides, first and foremost by Hamas." However, the latter is made up of several factions with multiple bases, "from Gaza to Qatar, so the issue remains complex," but everyone hopes that a “first step" can be taken towards ending the conflict.
"I am hopeful because the ceasefire is imperative in the face of an indescribable level of destruction with over 66,000 deaths, including 17,000 children,” he lamented. Sadly, “voices opposing the plan are emerging in Israel”.
We reached the Palestinian Catholic leader and scholar by phone in Jerusalem, where he is currently staying. Below is the full interview with AsiaNews:
Professor Sabella, what do you think of the 20-point plan developed by US President Donald Trump and agreed to by Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu?
First, I appreciate that there is no reference to the displacement of the Palestinian population; there is no mention of a possible resolution to the Palestinian issue simply by moving people elsewhere.
I think that Egypt, Qatar, and other Arab countries, such as Jordan, also appreciate this element of the plan, excluding the displacement of people into the desert or elsewhere. Even those who decide to leave are free to return.
Another aspect I appreciate is that Gaza is not imagined as a "Riviera" or a huge casino, as some initially imagined. On the contrary, it is a place where people can rebuild, where they can start their lives over, where they can find hope.
And where weapons must not rule...
Exactly, this too is fundamental: demilitarising the Gaza Strip is essential. My ultimate hope is that the entire Middle East can be demilitarised, but this is not the present reality. Without weapons, people can live in peace and harmony with others.
From a broader perspective, what can the plan offer?
Broadening the scope, the Trump plan can offer a comprehensive peace strategy that, in my opinion, Israel has never had. The response of Israeli lawmakers has often been, “We want peace, but it's the others who want to destroy Israel.” If a peace strategy with the Palestinians were to truly take shape in Israel, it could then be applied in Lebanon, Syria, and all other Islamic countries.
Is the involvement of the international community also important?
Of course, it's crucial. We're talking about an international peace movement that includes Indonesia, which envisions the presence of Arab and Islamic nations and their armies.
In this regard, I've heard that Egypt is training hundreds of Palestinians to become police forces in Gaza. In addition to the group Trump proposes to ensure a truce and peace, the involvement of Palestinian "technocrats" who can take control of the area is essential.
Given the circumstances, I think this is acceptable, even if some in Ramallah would like the full participation of the Palestinian Authority, which, however, has a different agenda when it comes to reform.
I also believe that the many recognitions from European states like France, Spain, Portugal, and others (Australia and Canada) have been an important factor in the development of the plan. If we want peace in the Middle East, the military option isn't enough; we need to work on a different level where Palestinians and Israelis can see each other eye to eye and live in relative harmony.
Trump himself has personally invested in its success, and now he takes personal responsibility. Will this pressure be effective, on both Israel and the Palestinians?
I also think his intervention is important and decisive. All the pressure is now on Hamas to accept it, and in my opinion, they would be making a grave mistake by rejecting it. I think they should move forward and work on this, also counting on the support of Arab and Muslim states that have welcomed it and have every interest in making it work.
For this reason, Hamas should especially support it. Certainly, there have already been reports from other factions in the Strip, such as Islamic Jihad, that they are against it, but I think Egypt and Qatar will play a fundamental role in ensuring it is accepted and implemented. Cairo, Doha, but also Saudi Arabia and Turkey can all exert some influence on Hamas.
On the other hand, Iran seems to be taking a backseat...
At present, Iran is not involved in what is going on, but when it comes to Muslim nations, Indonesia's presence is very important, having strongly supported the peace initiative from the very start. Indonesian Islamic scholars have played an important role and are studying ways to foster reconciliation between Muslims and the other citizens of the nation. This is a fundamental initiative that should involve Christians, Buddhists, and Jews. All these factors should push Hamas to embrace the plan and see how it can be implemented on the ground.
Professor Sabella, you mentioned the Palestinian Authority (PA) earlier. Is it really excluded from what is going on, or could it also play a role?
I think the problem is that some Israeli politicians view the Authority as a threat. They see the PA as the potential for a Palestinian state and don't want that to happen. For this reason, they portray it as very weak, as in need of reform. I'm no apologist for the (Palestinian) National Authority, but it has done some very good things on the ground.
One can embrace some policies and reject others, but overall they have provided a framework for self-governance for the Palestinian people and society. Overall, they've done a good job. Nonetheless, for some Israeli politicians, the danger the PA poses stems not from its rather moderate stance, but from the fact that it could pave the way for the creation of a Palestinian state.
In this regard, there is no reference to a Palestinian state, but Trump has said there will be no “annexations”. In their supporting document, the foreign ministers of Arab and Muslim countries refer to his guarantee that Israel will not occupy the West Bank.
The plan specifically addresses Gaza, and does not explicitly mention the West Bank. For Arab countries like Saudi Arabia, the move towards annexation, for domestic reasons, would represent an end to possible diplomatic relations with Israel and the prospect of normalisation.
The key point is that today, not only the Palestinians, not only the Arab states, but Israel should, first and foremost, develop a strategic vision for peace. A vision that transcends war tactics (I attack Iran, I strike Hezbollah) and embraces the entire Middle East. Such a project goes beyond governments and authorities and engages people, looks to the grassroots, and fosters dialogue and discussion that is interreligious, social, and human, before it is political.
In recent months, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, has repeatedly stated that the end of the war will not be the end of the conflict. Can Trump's plan go in this direction? And what role can the Church play?
The Catholic community is a minority, and the Church in the Holy Land Church is small, but despite this, it can exert influence and has done a great deal of work in this period. This is why I believe that the Trump plan, if it leads to concrete and practical results, can foster dialogue, and in this perspective, the Church and Christians have been a model, an example of how we can reach out to others in everyday life – in schools, hospitals, clinics, in welcoming refugees from the Greek Orthodox community in the Latin parish in Gaza.
All of us in the Holy Land look with hope to any plan that not only aims to rebuild Gaza for its people, but also to rebuild the Christian community and its institutions, which were destroyed in the war.
We want Gaza to continue to be a place where Palestinian Christians can practise their faith, live in peace, meet others, especially their Muslim neighbours, and create a different future and a different perspective for the Strip. I remain cautiously optimistic, and I hope that things work out on both the Israeli and Palestinian sides so that we can finally begin a long process towards reconciliation, reconstruction, and hope.
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17/01/2025 16:16
