Israel/Palestine: Reacting to the Palestine Papers

Today, Al Jazeera English released the first of more than 1,600 internal documents from a decade of the Israel-Palestine Peace Process, dubbed the “Palestine Papers.” The papers released today make public a number of secret negotiations between Chief PLO Negotiator Saeb Erekat and the Israelis, including what Al Jazeera called “unprecedented compromises on the division of Jerusalem and its holy sites.”

Doha-based journalist Blake Hounshell (@blakehounshell), reacting to the first releases, stated: “I think today may be remembered as the day the two-state solution died #palestinepapers.” The reactions that followed from around the region were no less strong.

Jordanian @Mayousef would likely agree, but is nonetheless unsurprised by the content of the Papers:

So we know those people on PLO are traitors I thought they are gonna come up with new stuff not details for old news #PalestinePapers

Italy-based @majdal, like Hounshell, sees this as the end:

What a disgusting situation. The PA won't last too long after this. #palestinepapers

While most of the criticism coming from Twitter is being levied broadly at the Palestinian Authority, in the opinion of many, Saeb Erekat deserves most of the blame:

@KonWomyn (location unknown), has this to say about Erekat:

Saeb Erekat now backtracking like he never made offer to Israel. Clearly amnesia's an essential disease in politics. #palestinepapers

Sudanese @simsimt, alluding to Erekat's assertion that the only thing he cannot be made into is a Zionist, believes Erekat's days as a politician are numbered:

The non-Zionist Saeb Erekat is a finished man. Who's next? #palestinepapers

Some individuals note that the blame goes beyond the Palestinian Authority. @Elizrael, based in Israel, has another point:

#PalestinePapers make the Palestinian leadership look bad, but think about how Israeli leaders come across – refusing peace time after time.

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