Post by artraveler on Feb 10, 2020 14:46:36 GMT -8
Another Peace Plan?
It has been about a month since President Trump released his peace plan for the Arab/Israeli conflict. To no one’s surprise it was judged a non-starter by hardcore types on both sides. That, more than likely, means it has some merit. Israeli’s do not like it because it gives formal recognition to Palestinians as a nation state. The argument being that the they are Arabs, mostly of Jordanian, decent and have a functioning state in Jordan. However, Jordan doesn’t want them. The so-called West Bank territory was one a part of Jordan and was lost to Israel in 1967. Thus, the term “occupied territory” that has plagued us for the last 50 years. Jordan has even said repeatedly that it doesn’t want the west bank back. This presents a conundrum for the Palestinians. The only state the Arabs of the west bank have a natural allegiance with isn’t interested in them and the only state with the ability to govern the west bank, they have declared mortal enemy and have endeavored to destroy.
Since the 1967 war the west bank territory has been, administered militarily by Israel and the civilian population governed by the Palestine Authority (PA). Tensions have risen and lowered most on the call of Arab leaders. There have been several intifadas resulting in the murder of hundreds of Israelis, and Israel has built a high wall to stop infiltration. It has been very successful. The west bank, for Israelis is referred to as Judea and Samaria and is considered as much a part of Israel as Tel Aviv. From their point of view, it is occupied territory, except the occupiers are Arab.
Over the last 50 years Israel has built settlements along the border and into the Judea/Samaria area principally in the Jordan Valley area. In the North Israel has occupied and annexed the Golan Heights. Should Israel also annex the Jordan Valley as seems to be the intent of the peace plan and Israel than the leftovers of a Palestine state are disjointed and undoubtedly ungovernable. An interesting reaction among Arabs who currently live in Israel and have citizenship in Israel will be offered a choice, Israel or Palestine. Not surprisingly, Israeli Arabs, Christian and Moslem are demonstrating that they desire to remain Israeli and not be submerged into another sure-to-fail state.
This is a unique challenge for the government of Israel. Territory that may be agreed to be seeded to Palestine may be occupied by people who do not choose to be in Palestine. Will Israel choose to compensate Israeli citizens who are forced from their home due to a peace deal? Will the state of Palestine do the same? Back in the 70s Abba Eban remarked that the Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. The tone of this offer is very much once and for all time, “take it or leave it”. Could this be their last opportunity?
It has been about a month since President Trump released his peace plan for the Arab/Israeli conflict. To no one’s surprise it was judged a non-starter by hardcore types on both sides. That, more than likely, means it has some merit. Israeli’s do not like it because it gives formal recognition to Palestinians as a nation state. The argument being that the they are Arabs, mostly of Jordanian, decent and have a functioning state in Jordan. However, Jordan doesn’t want them. The so-called West Bank territory was one a part of Jordan and was lost to Israel in 1967. Thus, the term “occupied territory” that has plagued us for the last 50 years. Jordan has even said repeatedly that it doesn’t want the west bank back. This presents a conundrum for the Palestinians. The only state the Arabs of the west bank have a natural allegiance with isn’t interested in them and the only state with the ability to govern the west bank, they have declared mortal enemy and have endeavored to destroy.
Since the 1967 war the west bank territory has been, administered militarily by Israel and the civilian population governed by the Palestine Authority (PA). Tensions have risen and lowered most on the call of Arab leaders. There have been several intifadas resulting in the murder of hundreds of Israelis, and Israel has built a high wall to stop infiltration. It has been very successful. The west bank, for Israelis is referred to as Judea and Samaria and is considered as much a part of Israel as Tel Aviv. From their point of view, it is occupied territory, except the occupiers are Arab.
Over the last 50 years Israel has built settlements along the border and into the Judea/Samaria area principally in the Jordan Valley area. In the North Israel has occupied and annexed the Golan Heights. Should Israel also annex the Jordan Valley as seems to be the intent of the peace plan and Israel than the leftovers of a Palestine state are disjointed and undoubtedly ungovernable. An interesting reaction among Arabs who currently live in Israel and have citizenship in Israel will be offered a choice, Israel or Palestine. Not surprisingly, Israeli Arabs, Christian and Moslem are demonstrating that they desire to remain Israeli and not be submerged into another sure-to-fail state.
This is a unique challenge for the government of Israel. Territory that may be agreed to be seeded to Palestine may be occupied by people who do not choose to be in Palestine. Will Israel choose to compensate Israeli citizens who are forced from their home due to a peace deal? Will the state of Palestine do the same? Back in the 70s Abba Eban remarked that the Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. The tone of this offer is very much once and for all time, “take it or leave it”. Could this be their last opportunity?