There is something well-nigh obscene in the perpetual demands that Israel make concessions to its sworn enemies that virtually no other country conceivably would be asked to make.
In any given situation in the Middle East, the solution -- we are assured over and over -- is for Israel to surrender part of its territory to people who commit or harbor those who commit depraved acts of terrorist violence against Israeli civilians.
It's the moral equivalent of asking the United States to cede a portion of its land to al-Qaida following the 9/11 attacks. And it recently got a renewed boost from the bizarrely misguided former prime minister of Israel itself, Ehud Olmert.
Olmert is scarcely new to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
He previously urged partitioning Jerusalem, which would let the Palestinians make it the capital of an independent state. The ceding of other Israeli territories also was part of his earlier proposal, made while he was prime minister.
It didn't work. As with previous offers, the Palestinians said it wasn't enough.
Meanwhile, attacks on Israeli civilian targets have continued. In 2012 alone, literally hundreds of rockets and mortar shells have been fired into Israel from Palestinian-controlled land. Not that international busybodies such as the U.N. -- always eager to condemn Israel for defending itself -- seem to take notice of the attacks that prompt those defensive measures. Appalled by a spate of attacks in February, Israel fired off a brief note to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
"Ten days, ten rockets and not one condemnation," the letter read.
Despite the violence to which Israel is subjected by Palestinian terrorists, however, Olmert has revived his call for Israel to try to trade land for peace. He said Jerusalem is not unified, for all practical purposes, and "that is going to lead us, for want of another choice, to making inevitable political concessions."
But to the extent that those "concessions" mean handing over more territory, they will yield inevitable consequences: more attacks from even more strategic locations.
It does not seem particularly likely, fortunately, that Israel will take Olmert's advice. If anything, there are reasons to believe Israel may launch an attack on nearby Iran to halt its quest to build nuclear weapons. If that happens, it may send a necessary message to Palestinian terrorists, too, that there are limits to Israel's patience.
Current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed talk of sundering Jerusalem and criticized those who "believe that if we only divide Jerusalem, ... we will have peace."
Such a concession would, in fact, encourage radicals and terrorists to make more demands for land, until Israel is strategically unable to defend itself.
That is too great a risk for a nation surrounded by enemies who seek its destruction.
"Israel without Jerusalem is like a body without a heart," Netanyahu said. "And our heart will never be divided again."
Nuclear Israel will continue to occupy their perloined part of what used to be Trans-Jordon under ever mounting pressure until her protector, the US, can no longer afford to be Israel's backstop. Without the US, Israel is virtually friendless. World opinion is massively against her.
The debt fueled slow-motion collapse of the developed world, fueled by the outrageous excesses of the de-regulated US financial sector, are leading to a point in time when Israel will be isolated and alone. The US military advantage will quickly dissipate when economic hardtimes mean the US can no longer garrison the world. That time is near.
Israel will be very lucky to have a centennial celebration in 2048, IMO.
The demands made of Israel have become ridiculous; the world community should be ashamed. The Islamic world has 60+ countries, but the Jewish people only have one tiny tract of land with 6 million Jews.
The current anti-American, anti-Jewish President has been no help at all, and telling Israel to go back to the pre-67 borders was an absurd insult to the Jewish people. In fact, in the opinion of many experts a pre-67 Israel would be suicidal to the Jewish state... which was probably Obama's intention.
Lest we forget, Book of Genesis,12:3,(the Lord said)" And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."
Great article!
Those who refuse to see the obvious are obviously enemies of Israel.
Going forward, in the longer term, Judaism worldwide will thrive while Israel withers as a failed experiment.
You can't negotiate with terrorists.
Israel are the terrorist with America fighting there wars, we got IraQ fot them with American blood. They also run Washington and the MONEY!!!!
To people who commit or harbor those who commit depraved acts of terrorist violence against Israeli civilians?
No, it's to other people, to discourage those same people.
You know why the Native Americans were upset in this country, why they still are? Because they were deprived of what they had because somebody else came in and took it.
You think the inhabitants of the Middle East would react any other way? And sure, you can say "It's their fault, they came in and took it" but actually, that was their ancestors long long ago, and it's not like the Israelis didn't do the same themselves. You can go on and on with the recriminations, or you can try to solve the problems.
Which will you pick? Oh I see, just focusing on the pain.
Great, thanks, continue the fighting.
FPSE,
In the minds of most of the Middle East, we are the terrorists. Our methods may be more antiseptic with our drones, smart bombs, and economic sanctions, but they are no less deadly.
Either you become a US client state or you are the enemy. That's the choice for the countries around the world. That is why the BRIC countries are now banding together to bypass the US dollar in trade. That is the beginning of the end of American world dominance. We must change or the world is going to move away from how we have been doing global commerce.
we got IraQ fot them with American blood
Someone finally taught a cat to use a key board.
Hey wheres my AVATAR
So why do the "Palestinians" live in wretched refugee camps ? Why have they not been helped by all of the muzzie nations in the area ? There is more to this story than what the Jew hating individuals here this morning seem to understand.
Unlike about three folks here today, I understand that the Jews have a legitimate claim to the land Israel sits on.
I also understand that if the muzzies didn't have Israel to blame for all of their misery they would focus on the few remaining Christians in muzzyland. Millions of Christians have been driven out of ALL majority muzzy countries. And the few that are left are under daily assault now. If you are a CNN or NPR addict that would be a concept totally new to you.
Support the muzzies on this folks and you will have the blood of three or four million Jews on your hands. But maybe thats what you want.
Israel should do what is in Israel's best interest and ignore the U.S. the U.N. or anyone else that attempts to interfere. The U.S. has and should meet the obligation of providing any military equipment Israel request. Israel has the financial resources to pay for the materials and equipment needed. There will never be a true "love thy neighbor" peace in the middle east but Israel can stop the aggression surrounding them.
All one need do to understand the animosity and violence directed at Israel by muslims is read the koran. It's all in there. They are anti-semitic because it is in their religion to kill or enslave anyone who isn't muslim, especially jews. This isn't a fight over land. The farce of a group calling themselves palestinians are just terrorists following their religion.
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