[THE MOST UNUSUAL THING ABOUT THIS ARTICLE IS THAT THE NYT PUBLISHED IT ABOUT A YEAR AGO.]
WHATEVER word you use to describe Israel’s 1967 acquisition of Judea and Samaria — commonly referred to as the West Bank in these pages — will not change the historical facts. Arabs called for Israel’s annihilation in 1967, and Israel legitimately seized the disputed territories of Judea and Samaria in self-defense. Israel’s moral claim to these territories, and the right of Israelis to call them home today, is therefore unassailable. Giving up this land in the name of a hallowed two-state solution would mean rewarding those who’ve historically sought to destroy Israel, a manifestly immoral outcome.
Of course, just because a policy is morally justified doesn’t mean it’s wise. However, our four-decade-long settlement endeavor is both. The insertion of an independent Palestinian state between Israel and Jordan would be a recipe for disaster.
The influx of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees from Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and elsewhere would convert the new state into a hotbed of extremism. And any peace agreement would collapse the moment Hamas inevitably took power by ballot or by gun. Israel would then be forced to recapture the area, only to find a much larger Arab population living there.
Moreover, the Palestinians have repeatedly refused to implement a negotiated two-state solution. The American government and its European allies should abandon this failed formula once and for all and accept that the Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria are not going anywhere.
On the contrary, we aim to expand the existing Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria, and create new ones. This is not — as it is often portrayed — a theological adventure but is rather a combination of inalienable rights and realpolitik.
Even now, and despite the severe constraints imposed by international pressure, more than 350,000 Israelis live in Judea and Samaria. With an annual growth rate of 5 percent, we can expect to reach 400,000 by 2014 — and that excludes the almost 200,000 Israelis living in Jerusalem’s newer neighborhoods. Taking Jerusalem into account, about 1 in every 10 Israeli Jews resides beyond the 1967 border. Approximately 160,000 Jews live in communities outside the settlement blocs that proponents of the two-state solution believe could be easily incorporated into Israel. But uprooting them would be exponentially more difficult than the evacuation of the Gaza Strip’s 8,000 settlers in 2005.
The attempts by members of the Israeli left to induce Israelis to abandon their homes in Judea and Samaria by offering them monetary compensation are pathetic. This checkbook policy has failed in the past, as it will in the future. In the areas targeted for evacuation most of us are ideologically motivated and do not live here for economic reasons. Property prices in the area are steep and settlers who want to relocate could sell their property on the free market. But they do not.
Our presence in all of Judea and Samaria — not just in the so-called settlement blocs — is an irreversible fact. Trying to stop settlement expansion is futile, and neglecting this fact in diplomatic talks will not change the reality on the ground; it only makes the negotiations more likely to fail.
Given the irreversibility of the huge Israeli civilian presence in Judea and Samaria and continuing Palestinian rejectionism, Western governments must reassess their approach to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They should acknowledge that no final-status solution is imminent. And consequently, instead of lamenting that the status quo is not sustainable, the international community should work together with the parties to improve it where possible and make it more viable.
Today, security — the ultimate precondition for everything — prevails. Neither Jews nor Palestinians are threatened by en masse eviction; the economies are thriving; a new Palestinian city, Rawabi, is being built north of Ramallah; Jewish communities are growing; checkpoints are being removed; and tourists of all nationalities are again visiting Bethlehem and Shiloh.
While the status quo is not anyone’s ideal, it is immeasurably better than any other feasible alternative. And there is room for improvement. Checkpoints are a necessity only if terror exists; otherwise, there should be full freedom of movement. And the fact that the great-grandchildren of the original Palestinian refugees still live in squalid camps after 64 years is a disgrace that should be corrected by improving their living conditions.
Yossi Beilin, a left-wing former Israeli minister, wrote a telling article a few months ago. A veteran American diplomat touring the area had told Mr. Beilin he’d left frightened because he found everyone — Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Jordan and Saudi Arabia — content with the current situation. Mr. Beilin finds this widespread satisfaction disturbing, too.
I think it is wonderful news. If the international community relinquished its vain attempts to attain the unattainable two-state solution, and replaced them with intense efforts to improve and maintain the current reality on the ground, it would be even better. The settlements of Judea and Samaria are not the problem — they are part of the solution.
Dani Dayan is the chairman of the Yesha Council of Jewish Communities in Judea and Samaria.
Secure borders? What a joke! Arabs are already digging tunnels under security fence. http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/judea-and-samaria-arabs-dig-tunnels-under-security-fence/2013/06/14/ – Now at least Israel can do something about terrorists and criminals in Judea and Samaria. Once they become a sovereign country, it’s going to be impossible. By the way, note the caption under the picture says “Arab workers erecting security fence”. But they look African.
@ SarahSue:
SarahSue returns from time to time with a wealth of good advise.
Please don’t stay away so long.
@ SarahSue:
@ SarahSue:
Well said and as usual we are on the same page.
Been a long time hope all is well with you.
Comment to OTTER in moderation.
@ Canadian Otter:
Israel has allowed for years Americans to do pretty much what they wanted in the territories like AID ,building with American contractors hundreds of projects and roads for the Palis etc. Note: Just because one vehicle had UN markings does not automatically mean they were actually from the UN?
It could also means that American security contractors are providing security for UN VIP’s in Y&S. Yet: The license plates on the Black SUV ate “CC”consular corps-diplomatic plates.
In short I assume they are there with the knowledge and approval of Israel but then who knows. That’s what happens when you are a vassalage.
America nor any European country allows Israeli security personnel who protect our PM and ministers in those countries to be armed. When was the Last time in any of the territories that UN vehicles were attacked? I have a hunch they were protecting who they were protecting from the Jews not the Arabs.
Why do you think Israel agreed to have an American contractor build our most secret missile base ( Obama leaked to the the public last week) for a lousy $ 25 million dollars? I know there are tough budget restriction today but for 25 million, even for Israel it’s peanuts and we have capable contractors here. Why deny Israelis the work and benefits?
IF ISRAEL DOES NOT DIVEST FROM AMERICA AND SOON WE ARE IN REALLY DIRE STRAITS.
Canadian Otter Said:
None that I’ve seen. Adopt the Levy report for starters. The so called Jewish right like American Jews seek to be understood but not educate or eve pose a united strong opposition to prevalent group think assumptions. This should not be the tactics. The tactics should be to show how the current and past policies of the governments of Israel are endangering them all and why. The message primarily should not be about the settlers but the dangers to all Israel without the settlers.
I have long said that as long as the Likud rules the right can never unite and coalesce around real nationalist issues like what happened with leftist governments. Since most Jews in Israel politically are either right wing or right of center, being in opposition gives them more power than phony right wing likud led coalitions who pursue the same policies of the left. In the last elections the Likud only got 19-20 seats less Lieberman. That’s less than 20% yet BB can do pretty much what he wants? Shelly, Livni or Lapid would have the right not only at the gates but tearing down the gates.
Canadian Otter Said:
Jews will have learn to protect themselves! If the IDF/Israel Police do withdraw, that leaves Jews with freedom of action. In fact, the Jews can defeat the Arabs and establish a second Jewish State. All of this is quite possible. The future is not determined in advance – the unthinkable can yet be prevented – once Jews act.
Davidka Said:
Indeed, this is the most important thing we need. To start speaking our language, instead of using the enemy’s terms.
US armed men providing security for UN vehicle in Judea/Samaria. This may be nothing, or yet another step in the process of Israel losing control of the land. If the Israeli government does not object, it sanctions it. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/168948 –
@ yamit82:
Does that perspective of cost-benefit analysis ever come up in discussions? In the Knesset, in the media, the IDF, among those who see themselves as an authority in these matters? ~~~ Perhaps settlers could commission a study. Since neither history, heritage, security, nor religion are valid considerations for your leftist dictators and sheeple MKs, maybe the prospect of economic hardship could bring a reality check. Such as the cost of protecting a narrow country against terror, infiltrators, kidnappings, Arab environmental pollution, Jewish emigration due to insecurity, and more. – Does any of that ever come up, or is it always the “occupation” mantra? ~~~ It cost $90K per Iron Dome missile to fire at a $200 home-made Qassam rocket. That’s unsustainable. And how do you fight urban terrorists, launching rockets from a highrise balcony – and still do it with “restraint”? ~~~ Jews will be robbed twice, once of their land and then of their money to pay for extra defense. To say nothing of the lives lost. ~~~ Even contemplating the idea of giving any of your land to those Nazis should be regarded as treason.
I find this relatively new trend of keeping the status quo to be just as odious as all the other tried and failed ideas to ‘solve’ the Israeli ‘problem’. Supposed smart people that are experts in their fields are dumb as a rock when it comes to proposed solutions.
One of the main reasons these people always offer solutions that fail is because they forget certain facts and principles.
The first and foremost principle is that you must recognize your enemy to be able to defeat your enemy. Anyone trying to destroy your cultural and your country is an enemy.
The first and foremost fact is that all enemies must be defeated without mercy or compassion in anyway possible.
Japan has never forgotten these simple rules and wonder of wonders, they have escaped most of the real and present dangers faced by western countries. They have no muslim problems, no NGO problems, no immigration problems, no liberal or progressive problems, no communists, no socialists, no Nazis or any other group trying to destroy their culture or country.
Democracies, on the other hand, have allowed our rights and privileges to be usurped by our enemies. Why, for instance, was islam ever allowed the mantle and protection of religion? Why were they allowed to use and abuse our precious freedom of speech? Why are they allowed to abuse our legal system? We gave them an inch and they took ten miles. Why have we allowed the rights of a few trump the rights of the majority? Why have we allowed the truth to be the new ‘hate’ speech?
Now that all the ideas of our ‘betters’ have been tried and failed, we are now hearing the most of absurd of the absurd, that we must be happy with the status quo. The only problem with this is that our enemies are not happy with the way things are because they have not achieved their goal: our annihilation.
I cannot remember the last time I saw an act of violence in my beloved state of Colorado. I am not so naïve as to think violence does not happen, but it is rare. The last few times I have had to deal with death, it was death from old age. Yet our fearless, feckless leaders seem to think that the Israelis should accept violence and death of the young as a natural, common occurrence. What an outrage!
No, no, no! We will not accept this. There are solutions. The open pocket book has had very limited success, but the closed pocket book has 100% success. Follow the money. Cut off the money and the welfare seekers go elsewhere. Every time, without fail. Pass a law outlawing islam. Period, no exceptions. No foreign funded NGO’s. No special rights for minorities.
There is no reason on God’s green earth that we obligated to accept anything but the very best for our selves and our countries.
SarahSue – God bless American, God bless Israel
I find this relatively new trend of keeping the status quo to be just as odious as all the other tried and failed ideas to ‘solve’ the Israeli ‘problem’. Supposed smart people that are experts in their fields are dumb as a rock when it comes to proposed solutions.
One of the main reasons these people always offer solutions that fail is because they forget certain facts and principles.
The first and foremost principle is that you must recognize your enemy to be able to defeat your enemy. Anyone trying to destroy your cultural and your country is an enemy.
The first and foremost fact is that all enemies must be defeated without mercy or compassion in anyway possible.
Japan has never forgotten these simple rules and wonder of wonders, they have escaped most of the real and present dangers faced by western countries. They have no muslim problems, no NGO problems, no immigration problems, no liberal or progressive problems, no communists, no socialists, no Nazis or any other group trying to destroy their culture or country.
Democracies, on the other hand, have allowed our rights and privileges to be usurped by our enemies. Why, for instance, was islam ever allowed the mantle and protection of religion? Why were they allowed to use and abuse our precious freedom of speech? Why are they allowed to abuse our legal system? We gave them an inch and they took ten miles. Why have we allowed the rights of a few trump the rights of the majority? Why have we allowed the truth to be the new ‘hate’ speech?
Now that all the ideas of our ‘betters’ have been tried and failed, we are now hearing the most of absurd of the absurd, that we must be happy with the status quo. The only problem with this is that our enemies are not happy with the way things are because they have not achieved their goal: our annihilation.
I cannot remember the last time I saw an act of violence in my beloved state of Colorado. I am not so naïve as to think violence does not happen, but it is rare. The last few times I have had to deal with death, it was death from old age. Yet our fearless, feckless leaders seem to think that the Israelis should accept violence and death of the young as a natural, common occurrence. What an outrage!
No, no, no! We will not accept this. There are solutions. The open pocket book has had very limited success, but the closed pocket book has 100% success. Follow the money. Cut off the money and the welfare seekers go elsewhere. Every time, without fail. Pass a law outlawing islam. Period, no exceptions. No foreign funded NGO’s. No special rights for minorities.
There is no reason on God’s green earth that we obligated to accept anything but the very best for our selves, our children and our countries.
SarahSue – God bless American, God bless Israel
Canadian Otter Said:
Peace agreements with Egypt and Jordan did not reduce the military cost or reduction in manpower in the military, both increased. Flights from Lebanon and Gaza did not bring any peace dividends in the good will of the nations towards Israel nor reduce the costs to our military, in fact they only increased substantially, while allowing the terrorists north and South to arm. Now they have attained some deterrent against Israel and have become existential threats.
Not a single positive payoff has come to fruition based on government promises and defeatist prognostications have come to pass for our retreats on all fronts. They have only whetted our enemies appetites for more.
These are the facts.
@ NormanF:
The elite’s modus operandi is to proceed in incremental steps, seen in major decisions, such as Sinai and then Gaza, and in decreased neighborhood security. IDF/police no longer protect the settlers, and they only intervene if settlers take defense into their own hands – to arrest the Jews. The day the govt wants settlers out, they will let the Arabs loose and arrest Jewish defenders. Jews will flee with no compensation~~~ Motorists are on their own as they face daily attacks by Arab stone throwers. ~~~ Holy sites are either off-limits for Jews, or desecrated by Arabs with complete impunity (Mount of Olives, Temple Mount). ~~~ There is creeping Dhimmitude in many areas of society. ~~~ Employment discrimination: there will be 500 new Arab teachers hired to teach Jews! ~~~ The way I see it, another partition is taking place slowly, with Arab facts on the ground and IDF/police inaction. – But J/S is only another step in the dismantling of Israel. What’s really at stake is not only J/S but the whole country that is being handed over to the Arabs. When we were kids we would have never thought the UK and all of Europe would one day be Muslim, but it’s happening. The unthinkable, the slow surrender of Israel to the Arabs by the govt., is a very real danger.
Canadian Otter Said:
Which does not preclude a two state solution if the Arabs really wanted one. They want to destroy Israel and that is why peace is not going to happen until the coming of the Messiah.
yamit82 Said:
Every one talks around the Jews like they don’t exist or declares them to be “illegal.” Refusing to deal with reality is what makes peace impossible. Neither Yamit nor Gaza is a model because there are simply far too many Jews living in Judea and Samaria and eastern Jerusalem for ANY Israeli government to evict by force even if it wanted to. The Arabs by their hatred of the Jews preclude peace from being made and this fact – not the size of Israeli settlements – is what prevents it. As long as the world refuses to accept reality, the status quo will endure for a long time to come.
Has anyone done the math? Here are two issues to be discussed: First, how much is the land worth in terms of real estate and resources? Has anyone ever seen an estimate? And then, how much would it cost to defend the border? Take Gaza as an example, although it’s not accurate because the Jewish population along the border with the Pali state would be much closer to the terrorists and much larger. And Gazans are barely armed compared to what a sovereign Nazi Arab state would be able to purchase. Take all that into consideration and calculate the cost of defending Israel against your peace partners, indefinitely, forever, at least until the next war. – The diplomatic cost of Annexation and giving Arabs incentives to emigrate would be a tiny fraction compared to the cost of creating an Arab terror state on Jewish land.
Before anyone gets carried away, the Jewish populated area is only 1.7% of Judea and Samaria, and 5% to 8% if you include the area within the security fence. See short video here: Ten Unknown Facts about the West Bank – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dp4f3wXwyZg
Danny is speaking truth, of course, but it is painful to see him shooting himself in the foot by using the loaded language of Israel’s opponents. The residents of Israel’s ancient heartland are not “settlers.” They are residents of Judea and Samaria and live in towns in Judea and Samaria or go to college in Judea and Samaria. The “territories” are Judea and Samaria, not “territories.” Israel did not “seize” anything; Israel liberated its heartland that had been seized from it by naked Jordanian aggression. And so on.
The pocketbook incentive should be offered to the Palestinians. Many would take it. That’s been shown. With financial incentive and a willingness to work they would go to their host country as an economic asset with a willingness to work while, obviously, significantly improving their own lot at the same time. I’ve heard figures like 60% say would accept such a deal. The international community can then answer to the rejectionism those Palestinians would receive by their prospective host countries, the only thing that would hold back such a workable humanitarian solution. It is a real alternative. I don’t hear much of it coming from officials when they answer about how the financial compensation to the settlers aren’t feasible. The same money promised by the international community to help resettle the settlers in a so-called deal could go to happily relocating many of the Palestinians.
NYT prints it to show that settlement justification is based on facts on the ground and security. Nowhere is the mandate under binding international law, to “encourage Jews to settle west of the Jordan river”, mentioned. This jewish right of settlement should be quoted in all such “justification” arguments because the breach of these rights means that Jews have no right to rely on international law as opposed to everyone else, and it means that the signatories guaranteeing those treaties are worthless and Israel cannot rely on guarantees in international treaties. the more the jewish right is repeated the more people will be made aware and ultimately it will start to be considered and discussed. what more can a jew ask of the world than to be considered, forget about honoring agreements???
HILLTOPS TRAILER.mov
THIS is WONDERFUL NEWS.
This must be repeated and often.
I am an executive in a growing public company. I work in an office and to keep me awake I watch RT, aljaz and presstv. All free streaming on the net.
Presstv is the worst. It reports innuendos as fact and like RT and al jaz, full of propaganda. Presstv is the most boring of the three. Al jaz has lots of blogs or globs by Western traitors and those seeking attention who write incomprehensible gibberish ( Chomsky, Falk, Steven Roach ).
All three are boring, with a parade of left wing loons. The only bright spot is Max Keiser, Capital account and the insipid Peter Lavelle. A failed commie talk show host.
Q: WHY IS THERE NO STREAMING FROM ISRAEL TO COUNTER THESE MUSLIM/LEFT WING LIES?
This is vital to counter the lies financed by the Saudies, Iran, and other godless muslim groups.
One particular vile creature is Stephen Lendman.
Here is a link to “Crosstalk”.
He is Jewish American left wing loon ( so many of them: Beinart, Friedman, Blumenthal, Keiser, Wallace ( dead), Safer ( as he dead?),,), blaming all problems in the ME on Israel with same narrative: Israeli “occupation” bad, and silent on the occupation of Gibraltar, the Falklands, Cyprus and Western Sahara and the possession by Holland, England and France of their territories in the Caribbean and Africa. He sounds like he did voice overs for the Duckman TV series.
http://rt.com/programs/crosstalk/syria-chemical-weapon-assad/comments/
Why doesn’t anyone talk about “Palestinian” national rights being answered across the river Jordan, where most of the “Palestinians” live. Hashmanites are foreign occupiers and usurpers of this lion’s share (78% in fact!) of Palestine and they are about to fall. What then will be left of Jordan? How would it then not be the “Palestinian” state? Why must there be 3 Arab states in Palestine and only one sliver for the Jews who were promised this entire area for the reconstitution of the Jewish national home by the powers of the world order?