Few may realize it, but
Israel, and in particular
Benjamin Netanyahu, scored a diplomatic success this week. Maybe not a home run, but at least a double. French FM Bernard Kouchner greeted Netanyahu's visit with dark mutterings claiming that
Israel does not seem to want peace. We have become used to French diplomats making bizarre remarks about our "shitty little country," and praising Iran as a force for stability in the Middle East. Nonetheless, Kouchner's visit portended a frosty reception. But Netanyahu stole the show by offering to meet with Syrian President Hafez Assad in order to make peace. This elicited the predictable Syrian reaction, and earned Bibi the following priceless headline, in Al Jazeera, no less,
Syria rejects Israel talks. That headline may have been worth the whole trip.
Israel proposes peace talks, an Arab country refuses.
The same treatment was not afforded to Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas's refusal to meet with Netanyahu and resume peace talks, because, as we each of us discovered at about age 5, life is not fair.
Israel proposed unconditional peace talks with the Palestinians, and the Palestinians refused. Israel is nonetheless blamed for the "stalled peace process." It is time for Israeli diplomacy to stop whining about the unfairness of life, and to deal with the world as it is.
The Great Father in Washington wants peace, but peace is impossible to achieve. Nobody wants to anger the Great Father in Washington, who can do terrible things if he is so minded. In the absence of realistic prospects for peace, the game that is being played is how to blame the other side for the failure of peace talks, given that their failure is inevitable. The Palestinians have been winning the game by default, because
Israel is not half-trying.
Netanyahu is worried that any serious peace talks will lead to concessions, and concessions would mean problems for his coalition. He needn't worry, as there won't be any serious peace talks in any event. All he needs to do is offer a temporary across the board freeze on building in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, provided the Palestinians will accept the main principles of the
Clinton Bridging Proposals: Palestinian refugees return to Palestine and not to Israel, Jewish neighborhoods of East Jerusalem will become part of Israel, Israel will recognize a Palestinian Arab state and the Palestinians will recognize Israel as the state of the Jewish people. For obvious reasons, the United States must stand by the Clinton proposals. For equally obvious reasons, Mahmoud Abbas cannot accept this proposal, because for nine years he has been insisting on Right of Return (to Israel) for Palestinian refugees and "stood firm" in his claim to every millimeter of Jerusalem beyond the 1967 green line armistice demarcation, lock stock and noman's land.
Without a doubt, the usual people will find the usual ways to portray Israel as an obstacle to peace, but it would nonetheless be worth the effort to prove the point.
Ami Isseroff
Original content is Copyright by the author 2009. Posted at ZioNation-Zionism and Israel Web Log, http://www.zionism-israel.com/log/archives/00000723.html where your intelligent and constructive comments are welcome. Disributed by ZNN list. Subscribe by sending a message to ZNN-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Please forward by e-mail with this notice, cite this article and link to it. Other uses by permission only.
Replies: 5 Comments
Interesting observations, especially those about a final peace agreement. The fact is, I think everyone realizes how things must end (as you describe it) te question is, how long will it take and how long will both sides chafe against one another until the right leaders are able to bring about peace.
mcsa, Tuesday, February 23rd
Interesting observations, especially those about a final peace agreement. The fact is, I think everyone realizes how things must end (as you describe it) te question is, how long will it take and how long will both sides chafe against one another until the right leaders are able to bring about peace.
ccna, Monday, February 1st
There is no peace to wicked thus saith the Lord! Im angry with the wicked everyday. Jerusalem was trodden down and the same ones that destroyed it was to build it up again as prophesied. God's people are the people of god..the lost sheep of the house of Israel which were scattered to the four corners of the earth to worship gods of wood gods of stone gods our forefathers never knew. But it was prophesied that he would return them unto their land again and even those who have taken the covenant and become a member of the body of christ if God deems us worthey. So God's word has never returned unto him void!
DORCAS ISRAEL, Saturday, December 19th
Sorry, correction from last post...
Interesting observations, especially those about a final peace agreement. The fact is, I think everyone realizes how things must end (as you describe it) te question is, how long will it take and how long will both sides chafe against one another until the right leaders are able to bring about peace.
Charlie H. Ettinson, Tuesday, November 17th
Interesting observations, especially those about a final peace agreement. The fact is, I think everyone realizes how things must end (as you describe it) te question is, how long will it take and how long will both sides chafe against one another until the right leaders are able to bring about peace.
Charlie, Monday, November 16th
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