Israel’s opportunity to stop a train wreck

[Forkboy]

EVER SINCE outgoing Middle East envoy George Mitchell used the phrase “train wreck’’ with Charlie Rose in May, it has become jargon for what will happen in September when the Palestinian leadership goes to the United Nations seeking “full membership for the state of Palestine.” The Netanyahu government is so gravely threatened that it has made opposition to the UN affirmation of Palestinian independence a litmus test of loyalty to Israel. A catastrophe looms.

The Obama administration has announced its intention to use its Security Council veto to derail any such resolution, and both houses of the US Congress have, with near unanimity, condemned the Palestinian approach to the UN as “unilateral” and a “circumvention of direct negotiations,” a death knell for the peace process. Yet consider another possibility: Instead of denouncing the pro-Palestinian UN resolution, Israel should announce its intention to support it.

Instead of a train wreck, a peace train. Against its critics, Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat insisted last week that the UN bid “will preserve the peace process and the two-state solution.” Why not see it that way? A means of moving the two parties out of stalemate, and toward the well-understood endgame of compromise and co-existence. “Now that you are recognized as the state you are,” Israel could say, in effect, “Let’s make it real by promptly settling the outstanding issues.”

Last week, the Arab League voted to support the Palestinian application for full-member status at the United Nations. But Arabs weren’t the only ones. In Jerusalem itself on Friday, about 4,500 Israelis and Palestinians mounted a solidarity “March for Independence,” as a banner put it. Last month, 5,000 Israelis demonstrated in Tel Aviv, calling for the creation of an independent Palestine. Members of the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, joined both demonstrations. The Israeli press and blogosphere are full of voices raised in support of the Palestinian UN move. (The Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz editorialized in favor of Friday’s march.) For these Israelis, the issue is a simple one of justice, the long-overdue reckoning with the aspirations of an occupied and dispossessed people. But the issue is also purely pragmatic: as a demonstrator’s sign said in Tel Aviv, “A Palestinian state is in Israel’s interest.”

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2011/07/18/israels_opportunity_to_stop_a_train_wreck/

[JDPriestly]

1. We received a fund-raising letter from the Simon Wiesenthal

Center the other day which states:

"These six simple words (spoken by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas) could bring peace to the Middle East. . . . .

"I will accept a Jewish State."

Do any of the Palestinian advocates on DU have a link to Abbas stating in writing or in a speech "I will accept a Jewish State"?

Because if you do, I would like to have it to respond to the letter.

Thanks in advance.

[Riftaxe]

2. How would the palestinian warlords

profit from peace? :shrug:

[NobodyInParticular]

3. Abbas

Are you suggesting that President Abbas risk his life by making this kind of statement in public? Aren't you a bit naive about the willingness of Hamas to be okay with "I will accept a Jewish State?"

[no_hypocrisy]

4. Didn't the U.N. technically create two countries in 1948 when Israel was born?

And if so, wouldn't this just be developing the U.N.'s prior policy?

[Shaktimaan]

5. nope.

The UN doesn't have the power to create countries. It can only make "suggestions" in the form of resolutions. Since this resolution was rejected by the Palestinians back in '47 or '48 its terms were invalidated.

[JDPriestly]

6. So, what do I respond to the letter I received?

Does the Palestinian government (I assume there is a government if they want recognition as a country) accept the existence of a Jewish state or not?

Has Abbas stated that he will accept the existence of a Jewish state?

It's quite a simple question. Yes or no.

If there is to be a two-state solution, each state has to accept the right of the other to exist.

The US should be able to get Israel to agree if Abbas agrees on behalf of the Palestinians. So it's up to Abbas to say the words.

[aranthus]

7. Here's the short answer.

Does the Palestinian government (I assume there is a government if they want recognition as a country) accept the existence of a Jewish state or not?

Not.

Has Abbas stated that he will accept the existence of a Jewish state?

No.

It's quite a simple question. Yes or no.

If there is to be a two-state solution, each state has to accept the right of the other to exist.

The US should be able to get Israel to agree if Abbas agrees on behalf of the Palestinians. So it's up to Abbas to say the words.

Here's the tricky part. If Abbas says those words, he'll most likely be killed, and quickly. What has been said is that the PLO "recognizes" Israel. Ordinarily that might be enough. It would be similar to the US recognizing the rebels as the government of Libya. However, the PLO, Hamas, and the other Palestinian groups are all on record one way or another as not recognizing the right of a "Jewish" state to exist. That's why there is a war to begin with. What's the difference? By refusing to recognize a Jewish state, they keep open the demand for a right of return. That means the right to flood Israel with Arab "refugees" and turn it into an Arab state with a Jewish minority; something the Israelis can never allow. Conversely, by maintaining the demand for right of return, they are continuing to deny Israel's Jewish existence--which is what the war has always been about. That's why Abbas can't say the words. No Arab leader could. Polls vary, but it's at least an open question as to whether the Palestinians are serious about a two state solution, or whether they see it as merely a step in creating a single Arab state.

[JDPriestly]

9. Thanks. Your answer is very clear and intelligent.

[Shaktimaan]

8. They do not.

The PLO has recognized Israel's existence as a state. But there is currently a stall in the peace process over just the issue you raised (supposedly anyway) as the Arab contingent adamantly refuses to recognize Israel's right to exist as a JEWISH state. It's being discussed here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x358189

The letter is accurate in at least that regard. The rest of it... I dunno. ;)