Abbas Says US Agreed to ‘Palestine’ Along ’67 Borders’
IT MAY WELL BE THAT IF WE AGREED TO ’67 PLUS SWAPS, SUCH A DEAL IS AVAILABLE. EVEN IF ISRAEL WOULD BECOME A “POLITICAL POWERHOUSE”, IT NOT WORTH IT. I SEE NO REASON TO GIVE UP ON AREA C. TED BELMAN
Only by shrugging off its inertia and going full steam ahead on a diplomatic solution with the Palestinians can Israel rescue itself from the disaster of the recent fighting in Gaza.
Nevertheless, even now Hamas has the power to threaten our communities all the way up to the outskirts of Haifa. The Israeli public, which bore the burden and granted large license to the political and military echelons, expected a different ending. What we got was disappointing and leaves what some may even call a sour taste in the mouth.
In the coming days we will probably all be subject to a massive campaign. We will hear explanations that the IDF dealt a fatal blow to Hamas; they will try to convince us of miracles and wonders and that – in the words of Defense Minister Ya’alon – “we seared the consciousness” of Hamas. According to this logic, Hamas will be too scared to enter into any future entanglements with the IDF, given the brutal punishment we just meted out.
I have no desire to interfere with the “triumphant” official explanation, but my experience in fighting terrorism has taught me that the human consciousness is not something onto which one has to etch just one irreversible time. Those who still insist on sticking to this ideal should honestly examine just how we have “seared the consciousness” of a whole host of Israel’s enemies – and how burnt the minds are of the many Israelis who watched entire towns in the south empty of their inhabitants.
Regrettably, the lack of a firm victory in Operation Protective Edge has seared the image of Israeli weakness into the minds of the leaders of radical Islamic terrorist groups in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. In their eyes, the Jewish state, with the strongest army and the most sophisticated equipment in the Middle East, was unable for more than 50 days defeat a terrorist organization that controls the a limited territory. And these days, with the threat of radical Islamic terrorist groups at its height, this crystallizing consciousness has far-reaching implications.
It should of great interest to the State of Israel to end the conflict in Gaza as fast as possible, while taking proactive measures and initiatives that will drive us to a political settlement. But the problem is that taking the initiative is not the favored path of the political and military leadership spearheading the current conflict. There are probably two types of possible initiatives, and it would extremely desirable to combine them.
One option, which has led to countless words being disgorged and is now irrelevant, was a military ground operation to give Hamas at the very least a sense of its imminent collapse, if not more. As I have said before, this could be done without occupying the Gaza Strip.
Abbas and Netanyahu meeting in Washington, D.C. in 2010 (Photo: Getty Images)
The remaining possibility is somewhat outside the box; viewing what is happening in our region from a strategic perspective, one can understand that the war in Gaza is a relatively small event in light of the challenges posed by other regional events. In the current situation, one must take meaningful political initiative, be surprising and daring, and turn this crisis into a regional opportunity. In this situation, one must soberly consider the courageous alternatives that Israel rejected in the past.
The time has come to dust off the Arab peace initiative, update it and make it into a surprising massive regional process, which gradually resolves – while providing significant security guarantees for Israel – the conflict with the Palestinians.
Such a move would involve both the State of Israel and the Arab nations that share many common interests: concerns over a nuclear Iran; fear of the threat of radical Islamic fundamentalism; and the worries over the growing instability that the Arab Spring brought to the entire region. On the international level, such a move has a good starting point: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the Gulf Emirates, the EU, United States and possibly other countries in the world are likely to support this initiative and help it progress.
Abbas, Qatari emir, and Mashal (Photo: AFP)
It will not be at all simple, but this is the right way not only to move Israel toward regional reconciliation, and not only to take advantage of a geopolitical reality that is convenient for Israel, but to gradually chip away at the ground under Hamas’ feet in the international, Arab and Palestinian arenas, and force it to make important decisions.
In the face of an agreement supported by the world in general and the Arab world in particular, including Hamas’ patrons, would make Hamas into a terrorist organization rebelling against a legally recognized government that has signed a peace agreement with Israel. Under such conditions, it would be far easier to isolate and weaken Hamas.
If we can help the economy of the West Bank to flourish, an alternative reality will emerge in front of the residents of Gaza that is far more magical than the one provided by the Hamas government. This will also contribute to the continued weakening of the organization, not only militarily but also politically. Hamas is an organization to whom Arab and international legitimacy it is very dear, and this will it require and even demand of it to display a certain amount of political pragmatism. I am not deluding myself into thinking that the organization will change its fundamental values, but like other political-religious movements, it can also reject those values for a more convenient stance when necessary.
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The tragedy of Israel is embodied by its current government, which cannot take advantage of the opportunity and rise to the challenge. Under this government, we can only prepare for the next round of violence against Hamas. The lack of courage on the part of the leadership to set far-reaching goals other than a military campaign against Hamas becomes a lack of courage to start a political process to break the stalemate in the diplomatic arena.
Israel today is led by a flaccid leadership and a coalition that dictates political paralysis. Under these circumstances, only a far-reaching diplomatic initiative will allow Israel to transform the conflict with Hamas from a tactical draw between a strong state and a terrorist organization into a strategic knockout.
The time has come to dust off the Arab peace initiative, update it and make it into a surprising massive regional process, which gradually resolves – while providing significant security guarantees for Israel – the conflict with the Palestinians.
Another Oslo Accords is not to anyone’s benefit who values peace.
If Israel doesn’t win decisively, it loses.
THE WINNER WILL BE DECIDED IN THE MINDS OF HAMAS, HEZBOLLAH, IRAN, ETC.
To obtain deterrence the enemy must review the situation and say “never again” to themselves. Otherwise,Israel hasn’t defeated Hamas…..Israel needs a decisive victories to convey to the entire Middle East, including Hezbollah, ISIS and Iran, that you don’t mess with Israel. I’m afraid Israel hasn’t done well enough in this respect.”
“Coalition partners Yesh Atid and Hatnuah, intend to push Netanyahu to advance a peace agreement with the Palestinians. Minister Jacob Perry of Yesh Atid and the party’s faction chief MK Ofer Shelah warned their party would quit the coalition if the prime minister fails to move toward a two-state solution.”
This mind set and these pronouncements are a major reason why Israel appears impotent to the Moslem extremist community. Netanyahu would be well advised to get rid of these under cutters since they jeopardize Israel’s security.
Shame on the defeatist leftists who do not learn from the Oslo failure from the Lebanon withdrawal failure, from the Gaza withdrawal failure, and from Israel’s reluctance and failure to decisively damage Hamas to the point where Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, etc. say “never again” and mean it.
The IDF ground offensive meant that body bags were going back to Israel and that was just great with Hamas. When Israel began to assassinate Hamas leaders and take down the tall towers, Hamas realized that Israel has stopped playing games and they got serious too. Israel should have realized that they had a very limited time window to accomplish their objectives.
Immediately they should have shown that they were at war. They should have cut off electricity, food and other “humanitarian” activities.
To deter to all attacks on Israel, Israel must immediately respond by destroying Gaza infrastructure at an increasing rate for each incoming missile. The 1st one that comes in , 2 buildings are destroyed. The 2nd one that comes in, 4 buildings are destroyed. The 3rd one that comes in 8 buildings are destroyed. When Hamas stops, then Israel knows and the world knows that Israel’s response has been “proportionate”.
The only effective weapon in the Gaza war was thehuman shield… It worked and Israel spent a fortune on helping to make it work.
No one is pulling out of Judah and Samaria inspite of Diskin’s article, or Abbas making a speech to be relevant.
Bibi will talk to Abbas if as he said he gets a ‘Get’ (divorce) from Hamas. So if this happens will Abbas agree now to the IDF in Judah and Samaria for the next 40 years and it will only leave upon Israel’s review and concurrence. Will he now forgo East Jerusalem and all the settlement blocks?
This stuff means more talk and reasons for people to write articles and some on both sides of the issue will get all worked up.
Bibi is not giving the store away.
This is what was done in the last bombing phase which declared the policy to bomb ALL civilian targets which were being used for military purposes. This appears to have been a message that the hamas bunkers under shifa hospital holding all the leaders were about to be bombed next. I beleive this was the cause of their capitulation.
I believe that this has already been proceeding under the table, covertly, informally, with a series of understandings and cooperations. This has been confirmed by BB and liberman. However, the time has NOT come, contrary to this author, to unveil the understandings as the arab street is not ready for this bombshell. It is being unveiled slowly by reducing demonization from the arab press such as what just transpired over gaza.
A possibility that should be considered is the unveiling of understandings through actions on the ground rather than through permanent final agreements, which will only bring polarization. We should look for step by step actions that point out the route being traveled without revealing the final destination. Let us remember that a sudden REAL state is not exactly what Abbas can swallow in one gulp either as it would mean the dangerous task of allowing massive pal immigration into his area which would invite massive destabilization and strife. His alternative would be to refuse the immigration which would be untenable to the Pal street. therefore, it is advantageous also for abbas to move slowly with small steps while maintaining the usual rhetoric of diplomatic resistance etc. to distract the street.