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Another Perspective
Second Thoughts
Israel has gone along with the “peace process” since 1993 — only to find itself ever more reviled and isolated.
Uzi Arad, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s national security adviser, appears to be having second thoughts about the so-called “peace process.”
“Have you failed to notice,” he asked a Jewish Agency audience in Jerusalem this week, “that the more we lend legitimacy to a Palestinian state, the more it comes at the expense of our own?”
Well, yes, some observers actually have noticed this. We’ve also noticed how the goals of the peace process have evolved over the years. It was launched by Israel back in 1993 in the expectation of actually achieving peace with the Palestinians. But it soon became evident that Yasir Arafat and his gang of cutthroats had a different idea. They sought to use their newly established (courtesy of Israel) strongholds in the West Bank and Gaza as springboards from which to “liberate” the rest of “occupied Palestine.” The Palestinian leadership called this a “strategy of stages,” and they launched a new and terrible wave of terrorist attacks to implement it.
Did Israeli leaders, seeing that they had dug Israel into a deep and dark hole with their peace process, decide at least to put down the shovel? Hardly. Since the United States and the European Union strongly favored the peace process, successive Israeli governments felt that they couldn’t simply abandon it; instead, they re-defined it. Now the principle goal of the peace process became winning over “international opinion.” By releasing convicted terrorists, withdrawing unilaterally from the Gaza Strip, offering to withdraw from virtually the entire West Bank, freezing settlement construction, and using every possible occasion to reiterate its unwavering commitment to a “two-state solution,” Israel sought to convince American and European opinion-makers that it was truly and genuinely devoted to peace, thereby taking the sails out of the increasingly successful anti-Israel propaganda campaign being waged by the Left and the Arabs.
But as the international hysteria over Israel’s interception of the pro-Hamas Turkish flotilla demonstrated, this strategy hasn’t worked out too well, either. Today, Israel is more isolated than ever — so much so, in fact, that when the British rock star, Elton John, decided to perform in Tel Aviv last week (thereby administering a stern rebuke to the Pixies and Elvis Costello, who had canceled their performances), Israelis heaved a collective sigh of relief. Arad called Israel’s Palestinian peace-partners “major actors” in the on-going de-legitimization of Israel campaign, and raised a provocative question: “Maybe we should have acted somewhat differently, less zealous to champion the Palestinians, and more eager to defend our own ranks?”
Duh, ya think?
But even while expressing reservations about past Israeli support for the peace process, Arad seemed to come up with yet another rationale for pursuing it:
“I also took notice — all of us did take notice — that the United States [has] changed the definition of its policy on Iran, from one that said a nuclear Iran would be ‘unacceptable’ to one in which it said that the United States ‘is determined to prevent Iran from becoming nuclear.’ There is determination there. There is activism.”
Translation: With the Obama administration supposedly demonstrating “determination” and “activism” toward Iran, it would be foolish for Israel to pick a fight with Washington by abandoning the peace process.
On such delusions and false hopes does Israel’s national security strategy appear to rest.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (50) | Leave a comment
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Gabe Mann| 6.24.10 @ 6:44AM
How can there ever be "peace" in Palestine?
I sympathize with the Jews' tragic history; The Jews are victims, but now they are victimizing the Palestinians.
Israel has created in the Occupied Territories a regime of separation based on discrimination, applying two separate systems of law in the same area and basing the rights of individuals on their nationality.
Under this regime, Israel has stolen hundreds of thousands of dunam of land from the Palestinians. Israel has used this land to establish dozens of settlements in the West Bank and to populate them with hundreds of thousands of Israeli citizens.
Israel prohibits the Palestinians as a group from entering and using these lands, and uses the settlements to justify numerous violations of the Palestinians’ human rights, such as the right to housing, to earn a livelihood, and the right to freedom of movement.
This is the terrible reality. Although I myself am Jewish, I sympathize with the Palestinians' awful plight.
Ryan| 6.24.10 @ 8:04AM
It doesn't excuse the Palestinians' continued efforts to engage civilian populations in Israel. It doesn't excuse the random violence and suicide attempts.
No excuses.
If they stopped blaming Israel - even if they truly are at fault - and worked on bettering themselves rather than attacking others - they would come out better.
Harry the Horrible| 6.24.10 @ 9:54AM
When the residents of an area give aid and comfort to invading armies (as the Palis did), then yes, they are going to be discriminated against and governed under different laws. This isn't wrong - this is common sense. They're enemies.
KyMouse| 6.24.10 @ 10:33AM
Mr. Mann, if you'll read the Hamas Charter, you will find Jews described as greedy and plotting to control the world. Hamas insists that the world's wars have the fingerprints of Jews on them. Hamas (and other anti-Jewish groups) don't appreciate your support -- they merely consider you a useful tool.
And keep in mind that the "Palestine" they consider "occupied" is ALL of Israel. The Peace Process is really a piece-by-piece process to dismantle Israel.
"Hamas will never recognize the legitimacy of the Zionist state that was founded on our land," said Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal of Damascus in 2006.
Israel has always welcomed people who are willing to live in peace, and a recent survey found that seven out of ten Israeli Arabs would rather live there than anywhere else. Arabs make up about 20 percent of the population.
The God of Israel, the God of your people, says this (Amos 9:14-15): "I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them."
Serge from Wellington| 6.28.10 @ 5:18AM
KyMouse, watch your spelling!
You wrote to Mr. Mann: "...they merely consider you a useful tool".
It's "useful fool" - just one letter, but how much more clarity.
RCV| 6.24.10 @ 11:58AM
The Arabs who live in the western part of former Palestine (Jordan is eastern Palestine) have had no greater enemy than their own leaders and the leaders of surrounding Arab lands. As Winston Churchill famously said, they have never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
When the old Ottomon Empire was broken up by the British and French after WWI, they created a host of new Arab countries -- Iraq, Syria, Lebanon (to protect the Maronite Christians) and Jordan. Jordan was created out of 2/3 of Mandate Palestine; it was intended to be and in fact was, Arab Palestine. In the remaining 1/3 of Mandate Palestine (the whole of which had been awarded to the British by the League of Nations with the express mandate of creating a "national home for the Jewish people), the British dithered for 30 years, moving from creating a Jewish national home, to dividing into two states, one Arab one Jewish, and finally and dishonorably, washing their hands of the problem. Not content with the proposals for even a small Jewish state in the area alongside a larger new Arab one, the Arabs inisisted on controlling the whole, rejecting the wise counsel of Abdullah of Jordan. They invaded the new Jewish state sanctioned by the UN.
What happened next? Arab Jordan controlled the West Bank of Palestine, and Egypt seized Gaza. Did they create a "Palestinian" state? No. Jordan incorporated the West Bank and declared that IT was Arab Palestine, and the Palestinian National Assembly ratified the decision. It was not until Jordan lost the seized territory in 1967 that it suddenly decided there was such a thing as "Palestinian" nationhood apart from Jordan.
Israel has made many mistakes in dealing with the Arabs in the ocupied territories, the largest of which was not returning the West Bank (sans Jerusalem and a few other strategic parts) back to Jordan after 1967. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that demographically, you can't maintain a Jewish Israel and hold the West Bank. But as to whom the Palestinian Arabs have to blame for their present plight is largely themselves.
NavyBrat | 6.24.10 @ 1:00PM
"Although I myself am Jewish, I sympathize with the Palestinians' awful plight."
Ah, so you're one of those Jews that gives the rest of us a bad name. Nice for you to feel empathy towards those who are sworn to destroy every last one of us. You're an idiot. Go hug a suicide bomber & tell him how much you "sympathize with his awful plight" before he pushes the button. Let us know how that works for you. Moron.
Dope and Chains| 6.24.10 @ 6:26PM
Y'know, Gabe, I pity the Palestinians, too, but unlike you, I'm not at all confused about who is to blame for their plight. Golda Meir's "peace will come ... when the Arabs love their children more than they hate us" is operative here: The Palestinians are exactly where their Arab brethren want them. The Islamic power brokers of the region -- Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, even Syria – could end the "suffering" in the West Bank and Gaza tomorrow if they wanted to with all those petrodollars sloshing around. That they refuse to do so is rather telling, no? If they came to the aid of the Palestinians, the onus would be on Israel to start getting reasonable about Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Arab resettlement within its borders. Based on the Muslim world's conduct in general, and Palestinian conduct in particular, over the past four decades, this remains an idealist’s pipe dream. Why should the Jewish state give an inch to those who persist in leering at them over the security fence and chanting the mantra, "We won't rest until we've killed every last one of you"?
Occam's Tool| 6.24.10 @ 7:36PM
Yes, Gabe, and that's why the Palestinian West Bank economy is growing by leaps and bounds. Please keep in mind that 1967 was a defensive war. Had the Arabs made peace in 1966, 18 years after the State of Israel was formed, there would be no "occupation."
I remember the Palestinians dancing on 9/11. I feel no sympathy for a group of people that freely elected Hamas. You want war, you get it.
Christopher Holland| 6.24.10 @ 10:56PM
I have as much sympathy for the Palestinians as I do for the bloody krauts who didn't know there was a concentration camp at the end of the street. None whatsoever. Screw them, let them eat cake, I couldn't care less. Learn to act like civilised people and forget about the martyrdom BS - then give me a call. Until then, suffer and enjoy your victimhood.
believer| 6.25.10 @ 10:34AM
KyMouse-You And I believe these great and mighty things that the God of Israel is doing in
Israel, however getting Europe and most of America to accept them is another story.Sympathy for the Israelis to the Palistinians
has swiftly shifted and no amount of concessions to peace on the part of Israel will change the minds of The Obamas and Clintons of this world.
I pray that Netanyahue has the balls to tell World
to get out of Israels affairs as it is written in Zechariah 14:2 that God will draw all Nations against Israel to battle, and that includes America if were still around.
Melvin| 6.24.10 @ 6:58AM
I think Israel wanted this peace process to work just like everybody else did in the Western World. The only ones that weren't on-board were the Arab States.
After the Arabs realized that they could not win an outright war with Israel, Gamal Abdel Nasser began a war of attrition with Israel which is still ongoing today.
Unfortunately with time marching on, the United States would chose from time to time a President that fell under the Arab States PR spell, and denounce that Israel was treating the Palestinians terribly.
Truth be told that it is the Arabs States who are using the Palestinians as cannon fodder, and keeping them in poverty all do lay the blame at Israels feet.
Remember back when, when the Palestinians who by historical sense are really Jordanians tried to overthrow the government of Jordan and the Jordanians started wiping out the Palestinians and they decided to beat feet out of Jordan.
Does a rational person think that a modern Country like Israel would want to remain in a state of perpetual war for all these generations?
How many millions upon millions of dollars have been thrown at the Philistinism Leadership only to disappear into nameless bank accounts and they live the high life in beautiful villas while the rank and file Palestinians continue to live in refugee camps. This isn't a Israeli problem but a Palestinian/Hamas Leadership problem.
But of course the Palestinian headscarf wearing professors and students of Duke University in North Carolina somehow conveniently miss that point.
S.L. Toddard| 6.24.10 @ 7:07AM
“Nothing is more essential, than that permanent, inveterate antipathies against particular Nations, and passionate attachments for others, should be excluded.”
- President George Washington
“Not seldom it has seemed as if some eminent Neoconservatives mistook Tel Aviv for the capital of the United States.”
- Russell Kirk
NavyBrat | 6.24.10 @ 10:13AM
Same lame BS from Doddard, different day. I've seen at least 5 different occasions where someone has punked you uot by putting that Washington quote into its proper context. Go dust off your SS uniform Doddard. Then go hug a suicide bomber.
Ken (Old Texican)| 6.24.10 @ 2:01PM
Hey Navy Brat,
That was me that printed out the entire speech segment right here! (Ken offered, blushing modestly.)
NavyBrat | 6.24.10 @ 2:43PM
Ken. I thought that might be you. Cheers, Brother Ken!
Ray| 6.24.10 @ 3:11PM
"Nothing is more essential, than that permanent, inveterate antipathies against particular Nations, and passionate attachments for others, should be excluded."
I'm glad you reminded us of the quote. It puts the whole situation into perspective, but not in the way your were hoping for.
The actions warned about in that quote concisely describe the Palestinian treatment of the Israelis. There are plenty of "Palestinians" living peaceful in Israel, with all the rights and opportunities of any other Israeli citizen. Many are even member of the Israeli government. The same can NOT be said of GAZA or the West Bank. Nor can it be said of any other "territory" the Palestinians occupy. The Palestinians themselves are practicing true apartheid while the Israelis on the other hand, are not.
Also, there are far more countries, and individuals, "attached" to Palestinians that there are attached to the Israelis. The Palestinians receive far more support than the Israelis. Even the UN itself condemns the Israelis and hail the Palestinians in their "effort" to replace Israel with Palestine.
So, who's the people Washington warned us about? It sure isn't the Israelis!
Ray| 6.24.10 @ 3:13PM
Sorry, that should read "antipathy" and not "apartheid"
Occam's Tool| 6.24.10 @ 7:40PM
You know, Toddard, if the Capitol of the US WAS in Tel Aviv, and Netanyahu was President, I don't think we would be worrying much about illegal Mexican immigrants running over our border. What an excellent idea.
Christopher Holland| 6.24.10 @ 11:04PM
Is this the famous Russell Kirk who has all the streets and cities named after him and who wrote the best philosophical treatise since the Bible? Or am I thinking about somebody else?
Alan Brooks| 6.26.10 @ 10:31PM
Toddard quotes Russell Kirk as if he were Madison himself.
Kirk was a 2nd-string NR guy; there are hundreds of 'em.
Serge of Wellington| 6.28.10 @ 5:30AM
Russell Kirk was a true moron in more senses than one. Both him and another eminent moron in this forum mistook Tel Aviv for the capital of Israel. It isn't.
Occam's Tool| 1.12.11 @ 10:15PM
It is, of course, Jerusalem that is the Capitol of Israel. However, my comment about Bibi as President still stands. Bibi could give two of his testicles over to the Chosen One and still have 3.
Ryan| 6.24.10 @ 8:02AM
As long as the Palestinians blame Israel instead of working on their own house (ie, continued acceptance of Hamas and Hezbollah, and belief in the Priories of Zion), and as long as the Arab states concentrate more on attacking Israel rather than bettering the life of the Palestinians, there will be continued issues between the states.
martin j smith| 6.24.10 @ 8:10AM
I think for quite a while Israelis know thaey are just appeasing US pressure to keep us off their backs. They knew full well that the so called "peace process" was an exercise in futility. Its pressure from Clinton,Bush I and II and now Obama that are really the reason for israel's participation. At some point, very soon there will
be an an opportunity for a break especially if there is a big Republican-Conservative win in November which would put a hold on Obama's power. Netenyahu is praying for that I am sure.
KyMouse| 6.24.10 @ 9:54AM
On July 3-10, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), of which I was a member for a quarter-century, will hold its General Assembly in Minneapolis. The PCUSA Middle East Studies Committee will present its report, "Breaking Down the Walls," which you can read at www.pcusa.org/middleeastpeace/.....eport.pdf.
The cut-to-the-chase recommendations begin on page 50; they include dividing Jerusalem, ending the Israeli "occupation" of the Golan Heights, and economic divestment from companies that do business with Israel (especially Caterpillar). But there is much, much more. Unfortunately.
RCV| 6.24.10 @ 2:21PM
disgraceful
Occam's Tool| 6.24.10 @ 7:42PM
Yeah, I know. That's why I use to call the Presbyterian Church USA the Presbyterianazi church. Oh, and by the way, for those of you who chant "anti-Israel isn't antisemitic" know that the Presbyterian Church (USA) also devotes considerable resources to destroying Judaism as a specific target.
Ken (Old Texican)| 6.24.10 @ 10:11AM
I just hope Israel can hold off bombing Iran until after our November elections. Their intelligence services will be advising them.
KyMouse| 6.24.10 @ 12:39PM
Have you all seen "When we die as martyrs," the short video that is being shown in Gaza and other Arab/Muslim places? You can find it on YouTube, National Review Online and other sites.
The cute little children sing, "When we die as martyrs, we will go to heaven...Without Palestine, what meaning is there to childhood?...O Allah, take revenge for us..."
And as the children appear to be surrounded with heavenly light, a man croons to them, "Children, you have fulfilled your religious obligation...you have taught us the meaning of manhood...."
People such as Mr. Toddard and Mr. Mann are always demanding that Israel make concessions. How about demanding, just for a change, that the Arabs/Muslims stop encouraging their children to kill Jews?
NavyBrat | 6.24.10 @ 1:04PM
KYMouse. Toddard's just a moron. Mann is yet another liberal Jew who wouldn't know the enemy if it bit him in the tuchus. Its ok. Those of us Jews who actually KNOW who the enemy is will be ready. Fools like Mann will only sit & ask "how did this happen?"
Christopher Holland| 6.24.10 @ 11:08PM
If they are really so keen on death, why do they complain so much when they are bombed and shot at? You can't please these people, they always complain. Dead people don't need a country, either, so why do they keep on asking for one?
Israel from Haifa| 6.24.10 @ 8:08PM
There is an error here. The "staged plan" to destroy Israel stage by stage was not born in the 1990's. Arafat was broadcasting it all the time in Arabic during the 1970's.
Tim*| 6.24.10 @ 8:53PM
Tea Party Supported Candidate For Pennsylvania Senate ,Pat Toomey :
"Although much of the world community wants to deny it, Israel has a legitimate right to self-defense, and it is exercising that right in the waters near Gaza," Toomey said in a June 1 statement. "I refuse to join the 'blame-Israel-first' crowd."
Jewish Democrat Response :
" Ira Forman, executive director of the NJDC (The National Democratic Council ), argued that Sestak's statement on the flotilla incident was not much different from Toomey's. He predicted that efforts to draw distinctions on Israel would fall flat.
"Toomey is not the right type of Republican to get Jewish votes in the state of Pennsylvania. Sestak, given his AIPAC voting record, can't be demonized as a Jimmy Carter," said Forman, referring to the former president's harsh criticisms of the Jewish state. "The result is that Jewish votes are highly likely to be overwhelmingly Democratic."
These Socialists are part of the 78 Percent of Jewish-Americans ,who voted for Obama and Sestak.
The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates
We Vote For Pat Toomey November 2nd.
RCV| 6.24.10 @ 10:41PM
So what exactly is your point? Both Sestak and Toomey are strong supporters of Israel, so Jewish Democrats in PA naturally support the candidate whose views on other issues more closely mirror theirs. Why in the world would they vote for Toomey?
Tim*| 6.25.10 @ 8:00AM
This ObamaBoy !
U.S. Senate candidate Pat Toomey criticized Rep. Joe Sestak for joining 53 of the most left-wing Democrats in Congress last week in signing a letter urging President Obama to exert pressure on Israel to remove its blockade of the Gaza Strip.
“I strongly disagree with Joe Sestak’s effort to pressure Israel. The Israeli actions in Gaza are a legitimate act of self-defense, without which we would see Hamas turning Gaza into a terrorist launching pad once again. Like any other country, Israel has a right to defend itself from terrorist activity. I have no doubt that the U.S. would take similar actions if it faced the same kind of daily threats to its existence.”
NavyBrat | 6.25.10 @ 8:50AM
Tim*. Rest assured, bro, here's one PA Jewish Repub. who's given money & plans on giving time to Mr. Toomey. He is MOST ASSUREDLY the best man for the job!
"Don't Give Up the Ship!"
RCV| 6.25.10 @ 12:00PM
Statement from Joe Sestak on the Gaza flotilla
Friday, June 4, 2010
The loss of civilian life in any case is tragic and I express my sincere condolences to the families of those killed and injured on both sides of this event.
Israel has a legitimate right to defend itself. In this case, it appears that the ship carrying humanitarian and construction supplies attempted to break a naval blockade of Gaza despite clear warnings that that they would be denied entry. While the Palestinians have a right to humanitarian assistance, we must not forget that there remain radicals, fueled by organizations like Hamas, who wish Israel’s destruction and have no intention of recognizing its right to exist. Israel must maintain its right to protect itself from them and thwart their attacks, including by preventing dangerous materials from getting into the wrong hands.
In the short-term, I support the recommendation of the United States for the Israeli government to quickly appoint an independent commission to review the circumstances that surrounded the event so that the latest round of peace talks toward a sustainable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can proceed without interruption, and not let this unfortunate incident delay such talks.
Above all, this incident highlights the fact that the status quo is unacceptable and that the United States must take a lead role in encouraging further dialogue. Active efforts can better ensure that this does not become an obstacle to further negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, with the United States. Instead, talks must be able to persist with active demonstrations of a willingness to move toward a sustainable two-state solution that protects Israel’s security for the long term.
In working with Israel to learn from this incident, we cannot lose our focus on protecting Israel’s security.
Nick| 6.25.10 @ 8:40PM
RCV,
Could Sestak straddle the fence any more widely?
Reminds me of an old "WKRP in Cincinnati."
Les Nessman :"Right now, I'm devoting a great deal of time and study to that problem. And I intend to issue a position paper on that. A position that is at once simple, yet complex. Flexible, and above all else, fair to every American."
Or Israeli and Palestinian!
Serge from Wellington| 6.28.10 @ 5:45AM
Hmm... this "willingness to move toward a sustainable two-state solution" is exactly the spoon of sh*t spoiling the whole barrel of honey.
Thumb down for Sestak!
Occam's Tool| 1.12.11 @ 10:18PM
My dear RCV,
Sestak signed the Gaza letter. Refusing to sign the letter is the Litmus test for solid pro-Israel sympathies. Sestak is wishy-washy.
Yosemeti Sam| 6.25.10 @ 12:37AM
Um, really - what is Israels' pain threshold in
enduring all the crap dished out to her?
If only the Swiss would open up and reveal the established accounts of the Philistine - er, Palestinian - cutthroat leaders who've cashed in mightily from intercepted funds destined for the welfare of Palestinians as a whole.
We would see the big picture: the incentives for
keeping the anti-Israel gravy train chugging along.
BTW - just how did Arafats' widow come into her fortune?
Tim*| 6.25.10 @ 12:57PM
"Jennifer Rubin reminds us that Joe Sestak signed a letter regarding Gaza that “call[ed] for Israel to sacrifice its own security to allow materials into Gaza that could easily be converted to weaponry and could provide cover for smuggled weapons.” Rubin correctly identifies that where a politician stands on the Gaza issue is definitive:
" It’s worth also noting that Sestak received the endorsement of non-friend of Israel J Street "
steveabrams| 6.25.10 @ 5:03PM
Israel is gonna be hated no matter what it does....so give all Palestinians on West Bank and Gaza 30 days to leave Israel. So what? How many more countries can hate Israel?
Oy. I am sooo sick and tired of the "Palestinian question."