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By Ira Sharkansky
 JERUSALEM—"Festival of negotiation" is one comments heard recently in this neighborhood.
It came from a ranking Jordanian official, criticizing Egypt for hosting protracted and unproductive negotiations about the freeing of Gilad Shalit in exchange for Palestinians held by Israel. His point was negotiations for the sake of negotiations, for publicity to bolster the prestige of Egypt rather than for achieving the ostensible purpose of freeing prisoners.
Currently there is a festival of news about the negotiations. A German diplomat has taken central stage from the Egyptians. Some commentators are seeing progress. Others say the progress is incremental in the extreme, and there remain significant gaps between what the Gazans are demanding, and the prisoners that Israel is willing to release. Especially problematic are individuals sentenced to multiple life sentences (in one case 60) for involvement in killing numerous civilians.
There is nothing new in the criticism of one Arab regime by another. The substance of the criticism is worth noting, especially in the context of American enthusiasm for "engagement."
The Obama administration does not seem in need of bolstering like the Mubarak administration. One is creaking from age and facing considerable trouble at home. The other is less than a year away from an impressive election victory and working hard at domestic problems. But like Mubarak and other Arab leaders, Obama may be seeking applause for what he does internationally in case things do not go all that well at home.
It is useful to supplement the Jordanian's comment with the concept of "festival of consultation."
Again, the subject is talk for the sake of talk, or international meetings for little more than what they may add to the prestige of those meeting.
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It is the style of Arab leaders, more prominent than efforts to improve conditions of the people at home. The practice is especially prominent among Palestinian leaders, carried over from Yassir Arafat to Mahmoud Abbas.
International meetings can be important. Telephones and meetings between underlings are not sufficient for doing business between governments. Ceremonial meetings display the importance of negotiations or agreements. Some details can be settled only between those who hold the reins of power.
Arafat's record is most indicative of the folderol, and nothing else, in meeting for the sake of meeting. How many times did we pictures of him riding in fine cars and conferring with the heads of important or insignificant countries. At the end he was treated in style by French physicians. In order to bury him, however, the Palestinians had to clear the rubble from the courtyard of his headquarters, and get the enemy's permission to bring his body home.
We should commend the most recent activity of the Palestine National Authority in the West Bank. American and Jordanian aid has produced an improvement in security. Once again Palestinian money from overseas has produced new commercial and residential construction.
It happened before, following the Oslo Accords of 1993. That ended badly, for the investors and others, as a result of the intifada that began in 2000.
Presently we see pictures of new shopping malls and plans for a new town outside of Ramallah. Less hopeful are the resolutions at the Fatah convention demanding all of Jerusalem, and insisting on refugees' returns to homes in what is now Israel.
Rubble remains the trademark of Gaza.
Curious are strident demands by Mahmoud Abbas for Israel to stop all construction in the settlements as a condition for renewed negotiations. There may be a majority in the Israel government who do not think negotiations are worth the effort.
Meanwhile, meetings continue about the possibility of further meetings.
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