Peace Talks

This time, I would like to share a little note of interest about the political situation. In our last Wednesday night meeting in Jerusalem, during a discussion about the "Peace Process" I was struck by a thought that opened my eyes to one of the reasons (in the natural) why the United Nations and the 'Quintet' are not able to solve the Israeli-Palestinian land conflict. In reality, the UN could simply declare a Palestinian state and set its borders if it (the UN) so wanted, as resolutions stating that the 1967 borders are the legal boundaries between the two nations have already been passed. So what's the problem?

The State of Israel, although declaredly a Jewish state, nevertheless has a substantial minority made up of approximately 20% Arabs, with their (mostly) own towns, cities, and farms. Similarly, why don't the nations recognize the Jewish settlements in the 'West Bank' as legitimate towns, cities, and farms of the proposed state of Palestine? One of the reasons why they will not do so is that according to international laws the settlements are illegal and must be removed. The UN, however, could rescind those laws and grant legitimacy to the West Bank Jewish communities. But because the Islamic nations (which make up a large number of UN members) do not recognize Israel's right to own what they consider Arab land (all of Israel plus Judea and Samaria), the UN and co. find it necessary to pressure the government of Israel to remove its citizens from these lands (and if they had their way, from the rest of Israel as well). Thus the present political situation in Israel is extremely volatile.

The 26th of September (this coming Sunday) is the date on which our self-imposed building freeze in the settlements is supposed to end. Netanyahu declared this 'moratorium' (as the American officials like to call it) almost a year ago, as a good will gesture toward the Palestinians. This coming Sunday is therefore a critical date. Will Israel's Prime Minister extend the building freeze in Judea and Samaria? Limit the building? Or lift it entirely as he had promised? If he does not make good on his word, his party and other government ministers could try to oust him from power, which might spell new elections (if no one else is able to form a government). If we go to elections, will Bibi be like Ariel Sharon and form a party that will carry out the will of the United States and other nations? On the other hand, if he lifts the building freeze, as he said he would, and will allow the resumption of construction in the Jewish towns in Judea and Samaria, Hamas could become the ruling factor in the West Bank and terrorism will increase to levels we have not seen in the past. But as a savvy political acrobat, Benjamin Netanyahu could come up with some 'creative' solutions to the dilemma he is facing, solutions which may be very distasteful and unacceptable to both sides; the settlers and his negotiating 'partners'. Time will tell.

Our friend Nir, who grows vineyards and olive trees in the settlement of Bracha on the Mount of Blessing in Samaria, told me that the BBC and other international news networks have been coming up to interview him and some of his neighbors about the situation. Nir said to them that we, the Israelis, should take an approach similar to that of Abu Mazen's (Mahmud Abbas) and declare Israel an apartheid state, since that is exactly what the PA and the UN are attempting to do in a future state of Palestine, which by its very definition will be Judenrehin ("free of Jews").

24/09/2010