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Right, wrong and the Israeli-Arab peace process
October 22nd, 2007 · 18 Comments
Former Israeli Knesset Member and Minister of Justice Tommy Lapid argued persuasively, but erroneously in a recent Jerusalem Post op-ed that both Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu are right in their contrasting approaches to the peace process.
Olmert knows that he must at least try to engage the Arabs in dialogue, and wean his nation off the belief that all the dreams, hopes and prayers of generations of Jews can be fulfilled in the midst of the present conflict, wrote Lapid.
But that doesn’t mean Netanyahu is wrong to warn of the dangers inherent in Olmert’s course of action. If the weak and seemingly incapable regime of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, with whom Olmert is negotiating the surrender of the West Bank, is again defeated by Hamas as it was in Gaza, “not only Tel Aviv…will share the fate of Sderot, but so will Ben-Gurion Airport, cutting off Israel’s ties with the world,” Lapid conceded.
Israel, Lapid concluded, simply has no choice but to soldier on along this path of disparate political approaches, as “there is no practical solution to the conflict in sight. …Some situations have no solutions. And for the time being, life goes on.”
That conclusion sounds reasonable, if not bleak, on the surface, but falls apart if we dig a little deeper.
Lapid fails to entertain the option of one side in this equation – either the right led by Netanyahu, or the left led by Olmert – waking up to reality and backing the other’s position. While it is unlikely to happen, examining the consequences of such an occurrence shows precisely why both sides are not right.
If, as Lapid accepts, Netanyahu is correct in his current assertion that true and lasting peace cannot be made with the Abbas-led Palestinian Authority regardless of how much Israel gives, then for Netanyahu and the bulk of his followers to adopt Olmert’s position would lead to catastrophe.
However, for Olmert and the left to adopt Netanyahu’s position would signal a seismic shift in an increasingly pointless diplomatic process that has produced plenty of photo opportunities and little peace since its inception more than a decade ago.
Lapid suggests that the right’s alternative to Olmert actively pursuing doomed land-for-peace negotiations with the Palestinians is to create a diplomatic vacuum, to more or less ignore the issue all together. Lapid is right that such a scenario would invite “pressures that we would find it impossible to withstand.”
But Lapid is wrong in thinking that the right’s substitute for offering strategic concessions to an intractable foe is diplomatic idleness. Netanyahu has long insisted that it is his desire to find a truly workable solution to the conflict, and one of the right’s more active members in this arena, National Union Party chief Rabbi Benny Elon, just launched a thoroughly detailed alternative peace plan of his own.
The ideas being put forth by the right might not result in bilateral peace, but for the nation at large to embrace them would signal to the world that Jewish history and Israeli security are no longer being offered as sacrifices on the alter of a false peace. And that would restore national pride, dignity and a willingness to fight for Israel’s rights to levels that have not been seen since the early years of the Jewish state’s rebirth.
Lapid and others on the left see the right’s alternatives as little more than hot air because Israelis have been trained over the past decade by an idealistic peace movement to view such proposals as wildly unrealistic. How many times over the past three years alone have we heard Olmert and Ariel Sharon before him lament that holding on to the full Zionist dream has become an unfeasible and even irrational notion?
The truth is that the concept of land-for-peace has become unrealistic, just as the insistence that this is a purely political and nationalistic struggle that has nothing to do with religion has become untenable. The lesson Israelis should have learned over the past decade as a result of continued Palestinian intransigence and Hamas gains is that concessions and goodwill are clearly not going to lead to peace, and offering them will only embolden an enemy that has no intention of relinquishing its quest to ultimately regain all that was once under Islam’s dominion.
Lapid is right in seeing no practical solution to the conflict. He is wrong in thinking that Israel has no choice but to go along with this moribund process anyway, to the detriment of its own cause and the well being of its citizens.
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18 comments so far ↓
1 ERIC METZEGR // Oct 22, 2007 at 11:10 pm
IT IS TRUE THAT ALL THE PALESTINIANS WANT IS DEATH OF THE JEWISH STATE. TO ALLOW THE RETURN OF THE PALESTINIANS WHO FLED ISREAL WOULD IN ITSELF ELLIMINATE A JEWISH STATE. LET THEM LIVE IN THE COUNTRIES THEY ARE IN NOW SINCE THEY ALREADY HAVE TURNED MOST OF THEIR LANDS INTO A SEWER. THE GAZAN WILL ULTIMATELY LIVE IN DIRT AND EXPECT EVERY OTHER COUNTRY TO KEEP SUPPLYING THEM WITH CASH. GIVE THEM MORE LAND, AND RECEIVE THE SAME THING THE ISREALIS RECEIVED WHEN THEY PULLED OUT OF GAZA. GIVE THEM NOTHING, WITHOUT A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING THAT HIDING BEHIND INNOCENT PEOPLE WILL NOT GIVE THEM FREEDOM TO KILL ISREALIS. WHEN THEY LEARN TO LOVE THEIR CHILDREN INSTEAD OF TEACHING THEM TO KILL AND DIE THAN MAYBE THEY WILL FINALLY REALIZE THAT THEY MAY POSSIBLE MAKE SOMETHING OF THEMSELVES AND FOR THEIR CHILDREN. NOT UNTIL THEY REALIZE THAT SHOULD ANY CONSIDERATION BE MADE OF ALLOWING THEM TO LIVE AS A FREE INDEPENDENT NATION ALONGSIDE OF ISREAL. IT IS EASY FOR ME TO SAY SINCE I LIVE IN THE BEST NATION IN THE WHOLE WORLD, USA, AND AM NOT NEAR THE KILLING BUT I BELIEVE THAT IS THE ONLY COURSE TO TAKE. YOU HAVE THESE LOWLIFES LIVING IN SYRIA , LEBANON AND GAZA WHO ONLY THINK OF KILLING AND NEVER RECOGNIZING ISREAL SO IT REMAINS FOR ONLY ONE THING TO BE DONE AND THAT IS KILL THEM BEFORE THEY HARM ANOTHER ISREALI CITIZEN. THEY HAVE MADE THEIR MARK IN LIFE, AIRPLANE HIJACKING, BLOWING UP BUSSES AND BUILDINGS AND KILLING CHILDREN AND WOMEN. YES THEY CAN BE PROUD OF THAT BUT ONCE THE ENTIRE WORLD FINALLY SEES WHAT THESE LOWLIFES ARE ALL ABOUT THEN MAYBE THE ENTIRE WORLD CAN FINALLY UNIT AND PUT PREASURE ON THEM TO REJOIN THE HUMAN COMMUNITY. THIS IS MY OPINION
2 Nathan // Oct 23, 2007 at 1:26 am
Mr. METZEGR you are a genius. I could not agree more.
3 Big observer // Dec 1, 2007 at 12:06 am
The problem lies in our ignorance. These who are in the conflict should leave their wepons and start to learn. What is right and what is wrong. Someone from these two sides should act by saying, we are willing to take a break to learn-
4 Charles // Dec 4, 2007 at 1:36 am
Big Observer ,
If you read the Bible you will understand why these distant cousins will never be at peace . Genesis chapter 16 will get you started . You will soon see that God has a plan , and all of this falls within that plan . You will also see who these people are and where the conflict originated . Our life is but a Vapor , but God is Eternal . Praise God
5 Alex // Dec 7, 2007 at 7:39 pm
And what do you think of Obadiah Shoher’s arguments against the peace process ( samsonblinded.org/blog/we-need-a-respite-from-peace.htm )?
6 Prophet of Zoom // Dec 14, 2007 at 2:45 am
Shall Israel sow to the wind and not reap a whirlwind? Was it not with the blood of innocent Brits, Arabs and even Jews that the Lehi and the Urgin forged the foundations of a political state through terrorism and bombings of civilian targets? The master mind behind the bombing of the King David Hotel became prime minister of Israel and others of these Jewish terrorist militias went on to take national office yet you wail and moan that Hamas has come to power in Gaza. Israel claims legitimacy under U.N. Resolution 181, yet that same resolution granted Arabs their own territory as well. The violence and terror of the Palestinians is abominable. Their intolerance of an Israeli state is abominable. Yet it is Israels disobedience to God that has spawned this abomination. It will take a miracle on Israels part to spawn a miracle in the heart of the angry Arabs. Such a miracle can only come when Israel realizes her Messiah has come and He is Jesus Christ of Nazareth!
7 Marylin // Feb 7, 2008 at 3:05 pm
prophet of zoom,
Israel doesnt claim legitimacy under U.N resolution….
The nation of Israel does not need some organization or the world for that matter to validate its ownership of the land, they embrace their land and that what makes Israel legitimate.
btw, the U.N is a corrupt organization, and is known for its anti- semitism, it tends to have this anti-Israeli, pro- palestinian agenda,
i can tell you this much, i absolutely have no regard for the U.N
They have been proven to be ineffective all through out history, anti- semetic, and sometimes they even get in the way
And another thing “palestine” is a myth, research the facts if you dont believe me.
There are no “palestinan” people, it is pure fiction.
The so called “palestinians” are no more different than the arabs in Jordan, Egypt.. etc..,
They are %100 the same arabs!
The whole creation of a “palestinian” people can be summarized in one word- a pawn!
A pawn used for political purposes by the arab league to destroy Israel.
It is the arab states that displaced their fellow “palestinans” by not letting them establish their actual identity, that is the arab identity, not letting them return to where they actually belong.
Arab leaders purposefully maintain the “palestinan” refuge problem in Israel as an open soar. Essentially the “palestinians” are just as responsible for their displacement, they made their own choices, and allowed themselves to be used as weapons against Israel. And they have no reason to be angry! Israel, however, has much reason to be angry! Israel needs to get angry! Israel needs to treat its enemy as an enemy!
prophet of zoom,
your views are derailed, Israel should not make peace with someone who intends to destroy it and focused in destroying it.
Take no offence, but im seeing a little anti- semitism between the lines.
It doesnt look like the middle east conflict concerns you much,
but you have made your point clear- Jews need to convert and abandon their religion, that much you have made clear at the end of your post.
I think it is somewhat paradoxical that you offer salvation to the state of Israel- the JEWISH state, in the mean time you ask that this nation in return abandons its Jewish identity, and im assuming take on the Christian one… so in effect there would no longer be an Israel- a Jewish state… And iv seen a lot like you on this board, but it just seems a little inconsistent that you want to save the nation of Israel, who is at large Jewish, at the same time you want this nation to change what it is…. are you really trying to save us, or merely give us a choice between the death of a people and a death of who they are…
(sorry iv been cut off, continue reading below..)
8 Marylin // Feb 7, 2008 at 3:51 pm
what im trying to say is, if you really support Israel ***Accept us for who we are, dont try to change us… let us be!
Dont get me wrong, i appreciate all of these who are in support on this board, you too- prophet of zoom, but what i dont appreciate is people going around trying to convert other people.
No one should be persuaded to change their faith.
If you convert it should be genuinely out of the heart and not by means of somebody else’s persuation.
The conversion of the Jews would simply contradict the whole point of saving Israel. Israel was born by the hand of its Jewish mother, figuritivly speaking, and they are simply inseperable!
Judaism has always been the sole foundation of the state of Israel, since its very inception!
You take that a way, you might as well rename Israel…
All im saying is we need to be more sensitive towards one another and not call on people to convert.
It is quite arrogant when i get people knocking on my door trying to convert me and they keep returning even after i tell them i have no interest. These people were hounding my grand mother, finally it got to the point where she had to pretend she is not at home and hide upstairs… it sound bad and it is indeed insensative also violating privacy.
I feel like people treat religion as a product, something they must promote and sell, walk from door to door trying to find customers.
But religion and faith is not about buying and selling. It is about following the light, and one should not be persuaded to follow the light…
Make no mistake, i fully acknoweldge Jesus as an important figure, having said that i have no intention of converting.
It is human nature.
No one likes charity, when it is not asked for! Some may even find it offending.
Similarly, no one like to be “saved” in the way that they didnt ask for.
Sometimes we might think we help but we are wrong.
Everyone should be able to decide what is best for them.
Again i want to thank all of you who support Israel, no matter who you are, and the Christian Zionists, you have been our backbone, and it is important that we continue to work together, and recognize that we are both different and have something unique to offer to one another.
God Bless, Israel!
Shalom to you all.
9 Al // Feb 8, 2008 at 5:52 am
Marylin,
There are two misunderstandings that continue to happen. On the one hand you have Christians who fail to understand just Who they are following. The One they are actually following is Yeshua ben Yoseph. Some (not all) forget they actually follow a Jew. I happen to be a gentile who follows this Jew. I do so because I believe He is Israel’s promised Messiah Who would be born out of the house of King David. The God Who created the universe is the same God Who sent Yeshua into the world as Messiah. This is the same God Who established the nation of Israel as His prized possession and apple of His eye.
This is not about “converting” to a different religion and stop being Jewish. No matter what, you must remain Jewish because God created you to be Jewish. This is about finding the Messiah that God promised to Israel. The Messiah Who is the very fulfillment of the Torah. That is Who Yeshua is.
I support Israel not because you deserve my support. I support Israel because God made an irrevocable covenant with her. Those that bless her will be blessed and those that curse her will be cursed.
How I view Israel and the Jewish people is contingent on how God views Israel. But He loves Israel and that is why I do. If it were not for Him, I would still be an antisemite. The truth is the majority of Israel has rejected her Messiah at least temporarily. In fact the prophet Isaiah predicted this rejection. It is found in the 53rd chapter of the book he wrote. Interestingly enough, it is the one passage in the Tanach, the Hebrew Scriptures that is omitted in all of the Haftorah readings throughout the course of the year.
Why is that?? Because it clearly spells out who the Messiah is. A man rejected by His own people. Despite this rejection, He stills loves Israel and will one day return to rescue her when she is about to be destroyed by the antimessiah and his followers. Israel will look upon Him Who was pierced and will realize Who Yeshua really is, the Messiah. He will not return until Israel cries out for Him. Not only is Israel’s redemption at stake but the entire world as well. It is in the best interest of gentile believers like myself that this event take place.
Somehow I truly hope you will understand what I am saying.
Peace,
Al
10 Jason // Mar 1, 2008 at 1:38 am
I believe that a land that has been built on blood and rape, is a land that can never be free.
It is due to this bloodshed that there will never be peace until the land of the innocent, has been handed over to there owners.
There owners being the ancestors of the land.
Come with a fig leaf, and their hands will be open to forgive and forget.
Live everyday to give instead of take and their will be everlasting happiness.
I hope you have read this with an open and clear mind.
Thank you,
Jason
11 DARREN // Apr 30, 2008 at 10:06 am
This war -arabs and israel ,is not gonna end with peace initiatives.it
has been all along for the past 1400 years ,with the arrival of muhammad and will continue till yeshua stands on the mount of alives .amen.
jesus christ is the same yesterday today and forever heb:13:8
meet you in heaven
12 ang // Feb 15, 2009 at 1:04 am
how can you guys all talk about god when all you believe in is war.
war in you hearts, on ur tv screens, in your books, in your homes even…
nothing will change so long as people dwell on the past. present time is all we ever have, and all of you guys would rather spend it fighting to prove your egos who’s right or whose wrong….
all of you must realize that the same blood runs through your vains may you be palestinian, israeli, polish or british….and that “The salvation of mankind lies only in making everything the concern of all”( Alexander Solzhenitsyn ).
13 berg // Feb 16, 2011 at 8:19 pm
Thank you ang for your sensible comment.
But what a bunch of other delusional brainwashed people.
Marylin – “The so called “palestinians” are no more different than the arabs in Jordan, Egypt.. etc..,
They are %100 the same arabs!”
Wow!! THAT is the real antisemitism and a total ignorence. Seriously? Do you think you are somehow different from all these “same arabs” in the Gods eyes?
14 MOHD. QAMAR QURAISHI // Mar 6, 2011 at 12:32 pm
I think it is a good step, it should be continue.the time has come when thay come togather and think about peace in this region. we are tired enough to hearing such a news that Arab killing the jewish and Jewish killing the arabs. bloodshading should be stop. The Prophet Mohd. did never allow to kill anyone without any reason.The Palestinian Arabs need to show respact toward jewish people so as Jewish should do same. so, please go ahead with peace mission. God bless both of you.
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