How the Palestine Papers Revealed that the PLO Betrayed the World

It helped deflect massive amounts of attention off what (personally speaking) is the biggest act of treachery and treason a government can commit.  Of course, if it isn't clear by now, I'm referring to the Palestine, which were leaked exclusively to Al Jazeera.

Among other issues, some of the main topics of contentious discussion leaked through the cables were:
1.    The PLO's willingness to concede annexation of several illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank
2.    Negotiations over the Haram Al-Sharif's/Temple Mount's ownership
3.    The PA's delayed UN vote on the Goldstone Report

First off, the settlements built in the West Bank by Israel are illegal according to international law.  For Israel to continuously build inside the designated Green Line is criminal.  For the PLO to offer annexation of these settlements, an act that would essentially increase Israeli territory, is simply atrocious.

Of course it could be (and is) argued that, after years stiff rejection at the negotiation table, some incentives needed to be offered to Netanyahu and his team in order for Palestinian motives and desires to be advanced.  Although all negotiations require some "giving and taking," what the PA was offering was still quite insulting to say the least:

Clearly, this undermines all past Palestinian efforts towards achieving sovereignty.  In fact, when considering the amount of land Saeb Erakat was willing to concede, it's hard for anyone (Palestinian or not) to even envision this as a step towards "the two-state solution."  Binationalism maybe, but thats not what the Palestinians (or their global supporters want).  It's fair to say that had this trade-off actually taken place, all efforts by past and present heroes of Palestine (whether you agree with them or not), would have been in vain.

The other issue, the one surrounding the Haram Al-Sharif/Temple Mount, is a bit more pertinent to the wider Muslim community.  If the first instance can be viewed as betrayal of the Palestinian plight, than the surrender of Islam's third holiest site can surely be classified as a great deception of the entire Muslim world.

Muslims world over support the Palestinian cause for two reasons besides the obvious one (resistance against Israeli injustice); Palestinians are Muslim brethren, and Masjid al-Aqsa (Islam's third holiest mosque) which falls within the Haram-Al-Sharif should be under the control of and represented by a Muslim nation/government.

It has though become an accepted bargain today that Jerusalem, being a city of importance to Muslims, Christians and Jews alike, should be divided and split amongst the three groups.  But what Saeb Erakat offered, was truly just vacuous:
“It’s solved. You have the Clinton Parameters formula. For the Old City sovereignty for Palestine, except the Jewish quarter and part of the Armenian quarter … the Haram can be left to be discussed - there are creative ways, having a body or a committee, having undertakings for example not to dig [excavations under the Al Aqsa mosque]. The only thing I cannot do is convert to Zionism.”

This deal, besides being ridiculously one sided (in favour of Israel), is at the very least offensive for Muslims world over. The responsibility of defending and preserving some power over the Haram Al-Sharif has informally been entrusted to the PLO by the global Islamic community.  To even consider handing over (whatever little) power that remains intact is unspeakable.

Yet here, it seems Saeb Erakat is willing to make leeway concessions, essentially using Haram Al-Sharif, as a bargaining chip in these negotiations.  What's worse is that, there really seems to be no silver lining - the Jewish and Armenian quarter would still remain under Israel's control, while the Arab/Muslim quarter (East Jerusalem) would be handed over to an international "committee."

Is this really what the negotiations have come to?  Are these negotiators, who by default represent both Palestinian and Islamic interests, really willing to bargain off control over a religious and historic site for potential future talks which, if the past is anything to go by, almost always fail to resolve anything?
And the Goldstone Report, which if voted in, would have brought Israeli officials one step closer (essentially one step further than ever before) to be prosecuted in front of a war crimes tribunal, has now officially lost all momentum.  It really is "mind bottling" - can "representatives" of the Palestinian people really pass an opportunity to get their aggressors finally tried and exposed in an international court?  The answer, as evident by this delay in voting (another bargaining chip), is unfortunately yes.

It may be safe to assume that the majority of Palestinian's do not actually agree or support the PLO, this act by the nation's "representatives" though has constituted a huge blow to the civilians "united front" image, as well as all other numerous efforts.  For the global community that supports the Palestinian cause, this act of betrayal has undoubtedly cast some doubt over their initiatives that they so passionately indulge in from afar.  The fact of the matter is, that this act has changed the globally perceived passionate narrative about Palestinian unity and struggle.  One that was able to rally masses in cities world over, in huge demonstrations against the tyrannical regime that is Israel, is now but a broken political game for self gain.