Fighting the good fight is
something that must be done without let-up. And it means fighting here at
home as well as internationally.
I want to begin by sharing an
excellent article by Moshe Dann, "The fundamental misconception about
Arab-Israeli peace."
Dann addresses a very basic issue
for our nation with clarity (all emphasis added):
"'The “peace process' between
Israel and the Arabs, touted as part of a 'two state' plan, failed not because
of disagreements over settlements and boundaries, but because of a basic false
assumption: that Palestinianism could be fulfilled in a Palestinian state
alongside Israel. It failed not because Israel did not give enough, but because
nothing would have been enough...
"The dispute is not over territory, but ideology – Palestinianism, the basis of their nearly hundred-year war against Zionism and the State of Israel, the national historic homeland of the Jewish People. For Arabs, Palestinians and most Muslims, that struggle is jihad against the infidel.
"Since a 'peace process' requires Arabs to give up their opposition to a Jewish state, it contradicts their basic principles and historic mission. While some might make temporary concessions, the goal is the same. It explains not only why the “peace process” failed, but why that failure was and is inevitable.
"The dispute is not over territory, but ideology – Palestinianism, the basis of their nearly hundred-year war against Zionism and the State of Israel, the national historic homeland of the Jewish People. For Arabs, Palestinians and most Muslims, that struggle is jihad against the infidel.
"Since a 'peace process' requires Arabs to give up their opposition to a Jewish state, it contradicts their basic principles and historic mission. While some might make temporary concessions, the goal is the same. It explains not only why the “peace process” failed, but why that failure was and is inevitable.
"The primary
goal of Palestinian nationalism is to wipe out the State of Israel, not to
legitimize its existence.
"...Palestinianism is not an
authentic national identity, but a political construct developed in the mid
1960s as part of the PLO’s terrorist agenda. 'Liberation' did not refer to
Judea, Samaria, Gaza and eastern Jerusalem, which Arabs then controlled, but to
Israel itself.
"...Trying to convince Palestinian Arabs to change their concept of Palestinian identity and accept Israel, therefore, means throwing out the struggle to 'liberate Palestine from the Zionists.' It assumes that their struggle is to achieve statehood alongside Israel, not to replace Israel with an Arab Muslim state.
"...Statehood means denying the Nakba (catastrophe), the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. It means admitting that everything for which they fought and sacrificed was in vain.
"...Statehood means giving up 'the armed struggle' against Israel, the heart of Palestinian identity. It means that the concept of Palestinianism created by Arabs and the PLO, accepted by the UN and the media, and even by Israeli politicians was a hoax, a fake identity with a false purpose. It means that their suffering was for naught.
"Statehood involves taking responsibility and ending incitement and violence, confronting the myths of 'Palestinian archeology,' and 'Palestinian society and culture,' and it requires building authentic nationalism, with just and transparent institutions.
"In this context, for Palestinians, Arabs and most Muslims, a 'peace process,' the 'two-state solution' that accepts Israel, is a metaphor for defeat.
"...Trying to convince Palestinian Arabs to change their concept of Palestinian identity and accept Israel, therefore, means throwing out the struggle to 'liberate Palestine from the Zionists.' It assumes that their struggle is to achieve statehood alongside Israel, not to replace Israel with an Arab Muslim state.
"...Statehood means denying the Nakba (catastrophe), the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. It means admitting that everything for which they fought and sacrificed was in vain.
"...Statehood means giving up 'the armed struggle' against Israel, the heart of Palestinian identity. It means that the concept of Palestinianism created by Arabs and the PLO, accepted by the UN and the media, and even by Israeli politicians was a hoax, a fake identity with a false purpose. It means that their suffering was for naught.
"Statehood involves taking responsibility and ending incitement and violence, confronting the myths of 'Palestinian archeology,' and 'Palestinian society and culture,' and it requires building authentic nationalism, with just and transparent institutions.
"In this context, for Palestinians, Arabs and most Muslims, a 'peace process,' the 'two-state solution' that accepts Israel, is a metaphor for defeat.
"As long as massive funding and
proposals for solutions are based on establishing a second (or third) Arab
Palestinian state west of the Jordan River they ignore inherent contradictions,
fan the flames of resentment and undermine Israel’s security and viability.
"And, as long as Palestinianism can tap into the unlimited cesspools of Western Jew-hatred and Arab bank accounts the conflict will continue..."
"And, as long as Palestinianism can tap into the unlimited cesspools of Western Jew-hatred and Arab bank accounts the conflict will continue..."
~~~~~~~~~~
For many of us who have been
witnessing events here with clear eyes and a sense of horror, what Dann writes
is axiomatic: The "two state solution" ain't gonna work. There was never a
chance.
He says, "We need to return to
reality and leave dreamy visions and hype where they belong." "Ein
breira (no choice)."
Agreed. It's absolutely
essential to begin the dialogue in earnest about the inherent failure of the
Oslo vision and the "two state solution."
We have to start.
Yet this will be a long hard
haul, not just internationally, but even here at home.
Some people are reluctant to
surrender that lovely vision -- they cling to it in the face of all evidence to
the contrary. Our president, Shimon Peres, falls into this
category. He waxes eloquently optimistic even when there is no cause for
optimism -- and is greatly loved abroad for his embrace of this international
fantasy.
Others -- whatever they know in
their hearts -- are without the courage to buck the international
consensus. Our prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, can be
counted in this category. While I certainly cannot see into his heart, I
am convinced that he knows full well that there is no chance of a peace
process succeeding, no possibility of negotiations coming to a meaningful
fruition.
Yet, instead of standing up before
the nation and telling the unvarnished truth, he plays that game --speaking of
his fervent hope that Abbas will come to the table, and of his commitment to a
Palestinian state (albeit a "demilitarized" state -- yet another
fantasy).
It is likely that he has convinced
himself that he is sparing himself and his nation unnecessary grief by
playing it this way. I imagine that he hopes to incur less international
wrath and secure more support. But in the final analysis he is
bringing Israel to a diplomatic dead end (a dead end, admittedly, that he
hopes to blame on Abbas), without helping us to move on in positive and
constructive terms.
~~~~~~~~~~
What we require now, of
course, is serious dialogue at a national level regarding what comes
next. Various proposals have been advanced, and must be examined.
They include but are not limited to:
[] Annexation of all of Judea and
Samaria, with the Arabs resident within our borders being granted full
citizenship. (In spite of much of the hype you've likely heard, they
are not a demographic threat.)
[] Annexation of only area C,
which is fully under Israeli control according to Oslo and encompasses all
Jewish areas plus areas important for security, but does not encompass the major
areas of Arab residence. This might be done as a first stage towards
eventual full annexation, or this might be an end unto itself -- in which case
questions remain as to what happens to areas A and B, where the Palestinian
Arabs have full or partial control (see following).
[] Movement of the Palestinian
Arab "refugees" (those registered with UNRWA) to a third country for
resettlement, with an autonomy that provides local control accorded to
those remaining Palestinian Arabs who live between the river and the
sea.
[] Establishment of
"cantons" in Judea and Samaria, in Palestinian Arab areas, each to be
governed by a local clan (hamula). This is the proposal of
Dr. Moti Kedar, who says that as the Palestinian Arab society is clan-based only
this will truly allow peace. (He actually sees a good deal of the Arab
Middle East ultimately breaking back down into clan-controlled regions, rather
than remaining as the artificially created "nations" that currently
exist.)
[] Encouragement of voluntary
movement of Palestinian Arabs into Jordan, which is the true Palestinian state
(although the Jordanian king is loath to acknowledge this). Perhaps
along with this an annexation of Palestinian Arab areas of Judea and Samaria to
Jordan, so that the Arabs would be franchised via Jordan and not Israel.
Or, in another permutation, autonomous areas for Palestinian Arabs in Judea and
Samaria that would be federated with Jordan and permit Jordanian
citizenship.
~~~~~~~~~~
There is obviously a great deal
to consider: precipitous decisions cannot and should not be made with
regard to matters of such import for the nation. But we must begin to talk
about the possibilities -- in their various permutations -- and the implications
of each.
(Please! Do not write to me to tell me which way forward is obviously
best. I am simply explaining the various options here.)
With a prime minister who is not on board, this will come slowly.
But I do see hopeful signs of a nationalist turn within the Knesset and the
nation. I see good people who are willing to confront the issues.
This is not going to move forward without a whole lot of angst. It may
even be two steps forward and one step backward.
But I have hopes that over time it indeed will move forward. And --
to the very best of my ability -- I will be tracking and celebrating that
progress.
~~~~~~~~~~
One of the really good people right now is Miri Regev (Likud), who is about
to start a Knesset lobby to promote annexation of Judea and Samaria. Right
on! It will at least be a subject of conversation in the Knesset
now. And a other good people will be joining her. I would bet
on the firebrand Tzipi Hotovely (Likud) and the long-time fighter for the
nationalist cause, Arieh Eldad (National Union).
Another is Ze'ev Elkins (Likud and Coalition Chair), who has, most
recently, promoted a bill to provide tax breaks of 35% for donations to NGOs
that encourage settlement, including in Judea and Samaria. That bill
passed in the Knesset yesterday.
~~~~~~~~~~
Then we've got the good people who are fighting the fight for Ulpana and
other "unauthorized" communities. Battle is being done by people such as
Zevulun Orlev (Habayit Hayehudi) and Ya'akov Katz (chair, National Union).
I've been alluding for some time to that fact that they will be bringing
legislation to the Knesset to address this issue. And tomorrow is the day!
Quite a tense day it promises to be.
Originally Orlev said he wouldn't bring the legislation forward unless the
prime minister released the government ministers to vote their consciences and
did not require coalition discipline. And there was considerable lobbying
to try to convince Netanyahu to do just that.
But the latest word is that he will not. Both he and his "coalition
buddy" Mofaz have announced that they will not support this legislation.
Mofaz particularly irked me with his statement that he would not contravene a
ruling of the High Court. This is circular reasoning, since the High Court
ruling was based on the position of the government.
Why the legislation is being brought forward in spite of the opposition at
the top is not clear, for if it doesn't pass it may not be brought back for
several months. Might be some arrangements in process behind the
scenes that have yet to become apparent.
~~~~~~~~~~
Again, for the record: broadly, the proposed legislation says that if a
certain period of time (roughly four years) has passed during which Jews are
living in housing in Judea and Samaria and an Arab suddenly claims ownership,
that ownership must be documented in court. But even if it proves
valid, if more than 20 Jewish families live in the community, it cannot be
dismantled. Instead the Arab owner will be compensated with funds or an
alternative site of land.
~~~~~~~~~~
Speaking of "an alternative site of land," Netanyahu, who had made all
sorts of noise about how he would find a way to save Ulpana, is now offering the
residents an alternative so that the houses in question can be dismantled.
He could save Ulpana. By allowing ministers to vote their
conscience on that legislation, or by giving the word that the IDF should take
the land, which would enable it to be fully and unquestionably legalized.
What he is offering here feels like his attempt to pretend to help the people
without actually saving Ulpana.
~~~~~~~~~~
Other points of political interest:
The two nationalist parties, National Union (Ihud Leumi) and Habayit
Hayehudi (formerly Mafdal), are in process of making arrangements to
merge. I see this as positive, because, for maximum political
effectiveness, there must unity of nationalist elements. This merger
will not be accomplished easily, but is necessary.
I have learned that some polls indicate an increase in support for these
parties, combined.
Naftali Bennett, formerly a key aide to Netanyahu, had planned to start his
own nationalist party. But as elections won't be held for some 18 months, he has
shifted strategies and will be joining Habayit Hayehudi. This, too, I see as
positive. For he has considerable political expertise and support -- via his
work as head of the Yesha Council -- and will be an asset. MK Uri Orbach
is backing him to head the party.
Many of you may feel the need for a score card, or a spread sheet, to keep
track of all of this. But I share it because the import -- with the advancement
of a nationalist agenda down the road -- is so great.
~~~~~~~~~~
Please, see my most recent
article, up on American Thinker. It deals with the true meaning of
hudna, a word used by the Palestinian Arabs that is often
erroneously translated as "truce."
~~~~~~~~~~
©
Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by Arlene Kushner,
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