Today, Al Jazeera English released the first of more than 1,600 internal documents [1] 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 [2] “unprecedented compromises on the division of Jerusalem and its holy sites.”
Doha-based journalist Blake Hounshell (@blakehounshell [3]), reacting to the first releases, stated [4]: “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 [5] would likely agree, but is nonetheless unsurprised [6] 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 [7], like Hounshell, sees this [8] 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 [9] (location unknown), has this [10] 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 [11], alluding to Erekat's assertion that the only thing he cannot be made into is a Zionist, believes [12] 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 [13], based in Israel, has another point [14]:
#PalestinePapers make the Palestinian leadership look bad, but think about how Israeli leaders come across – refusing peace time after time.