by Dr. Haim Shine
The political storm in
Israel is getting closer; I believe it may already be upon us. The
brotherly tiff between Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid and Habayit
Hayehudi Chairman Naftali Bennett is just a short promo for what we can
expect when an outline for an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal is brought
to a debate, an outline that is backed by the United States even if it
is not totally agreeable to either of the sides.
Apparently, behind the
scenes of the negotiations with the Palestinians some real drama is
taking place. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is not wasting his
frequent flyer miles for nothing on his trips between Washington,
Jerusalem and Ramallah. His optimism has a certain structural basis amid
the realities of the situation. His incorrigible efforts to push for an
agreement, even a partial one, expresses the desire of the U.S. to
return to the hegemonic throne it once occupied when it came to matters
of world politics.
The Americans are well
aware of what is happening here; they speak with everyone and are always
listening. They have especially sensitive antennas aimed at Israeli
society. According to the American assessment of the Israeli public's
positions, they are convinced that the key to a possible deal is in the
hands of General John Allen. They believe that if the general can
provide a sense to the Israeli public, through elected officials,
commentators and enlisted media outlets, that the security arrangements
he is proposing are reasonable -- they will be able to neutralize the
right's opposition to territorial concessions, which are based on the
Jews' historical rights in the Land of Israel.
U.S. President Barack
Obama has already proven more than once lately that for him values are
merely a product to be bartered, especially with the merchants in the
Middle East. The Americans' conduct with Egypt, Syria and Iran is a
strong expression of pragmatism instead of vision, tactics instead of
strategy, weariness instead of determination, and weakness over courage.
The American administration is convinced it is possible to sway
Israelis to embark on what is a short road already soaked in blood,
sweat and tears.
There is an American
assessment, based on the political power map in Israel, that Lapid,
newly elected Labor Chairman Isaac Herzog, Hatnuah Chairwoman Tzipi
Livni and Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri will support security arrangements
that include considerable concessions, as well as on Jerusalem. They
have said so clearly. With their verbal eloquence and rhetoric about a
foolish peace they will do all they can to convince the public that
there is no need for the Palestinians to recognize Israel as the Jewish
national homeland, that we should allow for a limited number of refugees
to return based on the principle of family reunification, and that in
the digital age there is no longer the need for a physical presence in
the Jordan Valley. With mystical fervor, very similar to Ariel Sharon's
during his Gush Katif heyday, they will explain to us how the brave
Israelis must give while the cowardly Palestinians must receive.
Aristotle, thousands of years ago, said there is a very thin line
between bravery and stupidity. On the Israeli side this thin line has
been crossed more than once already, and the price for stupidity was
paid by innocent Israelis who only wanted to return home in peace, in
one piece.
Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu is trying to alter this dangerous script for Israel, the one
currently being poured over by the Americans. In his speech before the
Saban Forum he explained there would never be calm in the Middle East
with Iran as a nuclear state. Under such circumstances there would be no
reason for our extremist neighbors, near and far, to reach an
understanding with Israel. Additionally, Netanyahu also reiterated his
fundamental demand that the Palestinians declare an end to the conflict
and their recognition of Israel as the national homeland for the Jewish
people. Anyone with sense, and who has not grown tired of our national
journey, knows that these demands are right and necessary and will
either show the Palestinians are interested in peace or that they have
merely adopted a sophisticated version of Arafat's violent doctrine of
phases aimed at Israel's destruction.
I have warned people on the Right
against putting their faith in Palestinian rejectionism. The
Palestinians have learned from the Syrians and Iranians that deals can
be signed, without the intention of fulfilling them and which provide
them an umbrella of legitimacy to continue pursuing their malicious
policies. The views of the silent majority in Israel are not being
heard. There is a huge discrepancy between the atmosphere of gloom and
defeatism manufactured by the media and the public's resolve not to fall
yet again into a dangerous trap. Losing strategic assets and conceding
the heart of Jewish existence in the land of our fathers with an
undivided Jerusalem as its capital -- pose the real existential danger
to the Jewish and democratic state.
Dr. Haim Shine
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_opinion.php?id=6619
Copyright - Original materials copyright (c) by the authors.
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