by Prof. Ron Breiman
One of the strangest
phrases connected to the diplomatic process is "without preconditions,"
which means that both sides must come to the negotiations without
conditions that determine the results in advance. This is how free and
fair negotiations must be conducted. But in reality, the diplomatic and
media discourse, both around the world and in Israel, doesn't match up
with that. This discourse doesn't talk about a "peace process," but
rather a two-state "vision," which necessarily results in the
establishment of another Arab state. This is much more than a
precondition. It is a dictate.
For the past 20 years,
since the Oslo Accords, the Israeli public's mind has been flooded with
the absurd idea that peace and a Palestinian state are two sides of the
same coin. An irresponsible media has eagerly marketed this lie and
hasn't permitted discussion of other options that are less complicated
and more promising. Instead of an investigative and open media, we've
received a tendentious media.
That is why
declarations by Shimon Peres and Tzipi Livni about the "vision" are
presented as realistic and trustworthy, while statements by Danny Danon,
Zeev Elkin, Naftali Bennett and many other good people are portrayed as
unusual or incomprehensible, to put it mildly. The time has come for a
true and free discussion about different possibilities, instead of
continuing to bang our heads against the wall to reach a "solution" that
is not a solution and not peace. Having shrapnel lodged in your behind
is less painful than banging your head against the wall. Anyone who had
the truth presented to them would choose the shrapnel.
Israel's defensive
position, based on the false link between peace and a Palestinian state
in the land of Israel, has led to a discussion about borders that
focuses on finding a formula based on the 1967 lines. If we weren't
slamming our heads into the wall but were rather opening them to new
ideas, it would be possible to set the Jordan River as the border
between Israel to the west and Jordan/Palestine to the east.
There are some who are
scared of a demographic threat, claiming that if we don't withdraw from
our land there will soon be an Arab majority west of the Jordan River.
However, it is precisely for this reason that supporters of a
Palestinian state should ensure that such a state won't absorb Arab
refugees, who would cause there to be an Arab majority west of the
Jordan River.
And there are those who
utter the catchy slogan "them there, us here," referring to the Arabs
who live in the land of Israel. This phrase is of course false and
misleading. It means a "peace" based on the ethnic cleansing of Jews
from Judea and Samaria and while keeping Israeli Arabs in Israel.
Enlightened individuals and peace seekers should rule out ethnic
cleansing, both of Jews and of Arabs. Anyone who advocates a ban on Jews
living in Judea and Samaria isn't enlightened and isn't a peace seeker.
Ultimately, such a "peace" would turn Israel into a non-Jewish and
non-democratic country, and therefore devoid of peace.
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_opinion.php?id=4777
Copyright - Original materials copyright (c) by the authors.
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