Even if you become “the darling of the Arab world” … where is the powder keg that Israel fears?

In his article “The Palestinians: One Hundred Years of Religion” (10/27/2020), Dan Shiften reiterates the assertion regarding the misappropriation by Palestinians of opportunities to achieve peace with Israel. According to him, the cowardly rulers have caused the Palestinians to lose the Israelis, the Americans and even Europe and the Arab countries.

Had Shiften conducted an objective analysis, he would have found that a few lethargic Israeli leaders tossed the “London Accord” in 1987 into the dustbin of history, along with the Saudi initiative of 2002, which was endorsed by the United States. Palestinian leaders and rejected by Ariel Sharon.

However, the question is not simply a historical analysis. Even assuming that Palestinian history is a collection of missteps, while our history is a series of unsuccessful peace efforts, the real question is, what will happen to us? What is the future of Israel in a situation where “business as usual” is the reality of one state, with very partial autonomy for the Palestinians, over a small part of the West Bank, and with a very legal situation? problematic, in which the minority governs by the majority, by laws that allow it to have legal coverage, Allegedly. It’s the keg of gunpowder that can explode on our faces or the faces of those who follow us, and that’s what we need to take apart.

It is wrong to think that this powder keg will explode because of the world’s fatigue in the face of Palestinian complaints, that the Arab countries are preferring their interests and establishing political and economic relations with Israel, and that this administration or this administration is proposing plans. unlikely peace. The only practical way to dismantle the barrel is to set a border between us and the Palestinians.

The most practical solution was to come to an agreement with Jordan immediately after the Six Day War on the basis of the armistice borders between us and her, with reasonable modifications, including part of the Old City of Jerusalem. The National Bloc government asked King Hussein to annex 30% of the West Bank, and he explained that this was not possible on his part. If it is not possible to speak with the Palestinians again, and if Jordan is ready to settle with us (despite its cession of the West Bank 32 years ago) which includes the West Bank, then Israel will function properly if he accepts that. If that also proves impossible, we will have to turn to the unilateral option. It’s a possibility that the one-state solution would be worse. It has many flaws, and there is one advantage: Israel is not in a situation where a Jewish minority dominates an Arab majority.

Arab countries have been interested for years in getting closer to Israel because it opens the door to America and because of its scientific, economic and security development. Even if the whole world is convinced that the Palestinian leadership is flawed, and even if we become the love of the Arab and Islamic world, we will not solve the most difficult problem at our door: securing Israel as a Jewish state and democratic viable.

Through: Yossi Beilin

Israel today 4 /11/ 2020