Israeli Lawmakers Demand Inquiry Into Oslo Accords and Their Impact
During a discussion in the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Security Subcommittee on violations by the Palestinian Authority of the Oslo Accords, the Sovereignty Movement called for the establishment of a commission to investigate the agreements and their consequences. Nadia Matar, a leader of the movement who presented the demand, explained in an interview with Channel 7 that the initiative aims to learn lessons from the past rather than seek revenge. The discussion, chaired by MK Tzvi Sukkot, included representatives from official bodies such as the Civil Administration, the National Security Council, and the Ministry of Defense, but none provided a comprehensive list of Palestinian violations, revealing a lack of official Israeli oversight over the 34 years since the accords were signed.
Matar recounted her early opposition to the Oslo process, including founding the "Women in Green" organization and later the Sovereignty Movement with Yehudit Katzover, emphasizing the need for a positive political plan centered on Israeli sovereignty. She argued that a commission would help close the chapter on Oslo and initiate a new era where Israel draws clear lessons to avoid repeating past mistakes. Matar referenced historian Barbara Tuchman’s work on historical decisions that led to disasters, noting that even well-intentioned actions can have catastrophic outcomes.
Addressing concerns about investigating political decisions, Matar cited the Agranat Commission, which examined the political and military failures surrounding the Yom Kippur War, focusing on whether decision-makers had all relevant information and warnings. She stressed that right-wing governments that continued the Oslo process should also be scrutinized. Regarding the composition of such a commission, Matar suggested retired legal and security experts rather than Supreme Court judges to ensure balanced and measured examination.
Matar emphasized that the call for investigation is a democratic tool to prevent future errors, noting that the Oslo spirit still influences Israeli society and that many Israelis have grown up accepting the Palestinian Authority’s control and the idea of a Palestinian state as unchangeable. She warned that Israel’s concessions to terrorism set a dangerous global precedent. Matar advocated for a shift to a sovereignty-based approach, highlighting that settlement alone is reversible without sovereignty, as seen in Gaza and northern Samaria.
When asked about potential left-wing calls for investigating settlements as obstacles to peace, Matar rejected the comparison, affirming that settlements are part of the Zionist enterprise and the foundation of the state, unlike the Oslo agreements which she views as granting territory and arms to an enemy within Israel’s heartland.
