If I were Israel’s PM. . .
Posted on January 3rd, 2009
by Scott McConnell |
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Bill asks: <<If you were [Israel's] PM what would you do? And do you have any thoughts about what the Arabs, including Iran might do? Or are they obligated to do nothing.> >
I’d make a speech in the Knesset. I’d invite Arab diplomats and significant Palestinian notables, representing a wide spectrum of Palestinian opinion. And cameras. I’d say I didn’t become Israel’s leader to oversee the destruction of the Jewish state. I’d say that while Israel, like virtually every modern nation, was founded on an injustice, its founders were no strangers to injustice themselves. That It wasn’t my job or those of the present generation of Israelis to right all the wrongs of the past, which couldn’t be done anyway. But it could present and work to bring about a vision for the future that was much closer to fair for both the present generation of Israelis and for their Palestinian victims. That prospect was much better than the present course–which seems headed towards some sort national annihilation, either of Israel, the Palestinians, or most likely both.
I’d acknowledge the importance of the Saudi peace intiative, and the explicit recognition of Israel within its 1967 borders–now formally acknowledged by all (or almost) the Arab states. I’d point out how huge a step this is– how we all know that the Arabs long refused to accept Israel in any form, and now they do.
I’d also acknowledge that many Israelis, including the state’s founders, wanted all of Palestine, and no recognition of Palestinian national rights at all., though they ultimately realized it was “practical” and diplomatic to accept partition–at least on a provisional basis. So I’d acknowledge the mutual intolerance that existed in the 1940’s was a two-way street. I’d say that there are still people on both sides who want to deny national rights to the other side– Israel has its settlers, and its Likud; the Arabs have its Hamas. But even within those extremist camps are practical men, who could be brought into a two state solution coalition, if there was no alternative. I’d say that the Americans who have given us a blank check for forty years to colonize the West Bank are almost certainly not going to that for another forty years–that American perspectives are changing, there are Arab students in American universities, and a new President who has actually been a close friend of Palestinian intellectuals. So our ability to count on America to always use its UN veto to shield us from world opinion and its wallet to support us unconditionally will, this decade or the next, pass away. I’d say, neither friend nor foe should mistake our quest for a practical and fair solution as a sign of weakness: we have the most powerful armed forces in the region, and many dozens of nuclear weapons, and could destroy anyone we want. But we have more to offer as a peaceful, intelligent and scientific people than a war-like oppressor and colonizer. And our sense is that the Arab world does now, finally, understand this. I’d say we’re ready for a two state solution the way we weren’t in 1948, or 1967, or 1992. . As a start, we’re pulling out of the settlements of the West Bank: apartheid in Hebron will end, the checkpoints and settler only roads which strangle Bethlehem will end.
Anyway, Bill, that’s the general idea–if you know anyone in Jerusalem who wants me spend a longer time working on this, I’d be glad to. What would the Arabs do? Most of them would jump at the chance–as they did after Oslo before they realized that the “peace process” just meant more settlements. Iran? I think even the present regime has said that any solution acceptable to the Palestinians is alright with them. For much of recent history, Iran has been reasonably friendly to Israel, and I suspect that tendency would re-emerge. This speech, you have to admit, would be really big.
Filed under: Foreign policy, Uncategorized
I agree with much of this, and I wish it were tried. But I very much doubt there will be the acceptance of Israel you hope for, particularly by Iran and its Hezbollah/Hamas proxies. On the other hand, it would strengthen Israel’s moral case against those who would scuttle any agreement. And perhaps finally get you folks off their backs.
Good response, but I can’t resist mentioning that the Iranians aren’t Arabs.
On a more practical level, I can’t help thinking that any solution to the problem must hinge on a high level of disengagement by the Israeli’s from involvement with the Palestinians. That is, The Israeli’s need to wall themselves in behind legitimate borders and let the Palestinians work with the Jordanians to create their state. I’m assuming that this will involve a good deal of American money as anything touching on this question eventually does, but it will be money well spent if it ends the conflict.
Unfortunately, as I write, Israeli tanks are rolling into Gaza. Israel’s long term plan is unclear but one thing is certain. What will happen next will create massive international anger against Israel and us. The only way for the the Jewish state to make certain that no rockets are fired from Gaza is to occupy Gaza. The occupation of Gaza will entail the suppression and killing of many Gazans, which in turn will fuel a never ending underground resistance. Since this state of affairs was instigated by Israel’s deliberate strangle hold on Gaza as a tool to topple the elected government of Gaza, a war crime is now in progress.
Unfortunately our government is a co-conspirator.
Golly Wow ! And that coming from one whose family once lived in Palestine and owned a lovely piece of it. I only wish these things could happen. If only everyone could be made to understand that ALL people in the area need equal protection under the law of Israel TODAY and stop rehashing old atrocity stories . We all know they happened on both sides and are continuing on both sides. When the Israeli government owns up to the fact that they have committed wrongs in the past and are willing to set things as right as can be expected, the onus will then be on the Palestinians to step up to the plate. I’m afraid that can’t happen though–too simple- and would require that all needs on both sides be given equal consideration. I suggest an Israeli State where all three religions and nonbelievers as well are given equal protection under the law–you know, like a real democracy. Great article.
My simple solution: http://www.scriboergosum.org.uk/revamp/2044
My not so simple solution: http://www.scriboergosum.org.uk/revamp/2088
I’m not deeply into these “perspectivist” approaches (although there is some call for the relentless barrage of “But what if you were an Israeli” to be backed with the fairly obvious: “But what if you were a Palestinian?”) but even when engaging in one I can’t really see the long term advantage for Israel.
Short term for a centrist party needing to hold out against the right, though? Most definitely. Kadima is in a tricky situation and hopes to bomb their way out. Electorally, it could well work. On any other level…
[...] Scott McConnell, contributing editor of The American Conservative magazine, criticizes Israel’s disproportionate force: If I were Israel’s PM [...]
Regarding the extremists in Israel and the general Middle East - it always seems to be they that holler the most diabolical get the most airtime, much like the US with the Rushes, Sharptons, Hannities and Coulters. I’m sure all the moderates sit idly by and pontificate and analyze about how good commerce could ultimately win out over idealogy.
Israel has been closing settlements for a while now and have been trying to play nice and it still gets rockets dumped on it and young Palestinian women strap bombs on their bodies to go off in Israeli civilian areas. Some brute force may just be what the doctor ordered to bolster the Arab countries to come together with Israel to broker a political deal once and for all.
Someone once told me that there was a software distributed by the ADL that immediately notifies supporters of Israel that anti Israeli comments are appearing on a particular website. These supporters then start complaining to the website’s manager about these messages in hopes of getting them censored.
I think I saw this software used on this site a few hours ago. Apparently the trigger world was the name “Israel Shahak” that appeared in a message.Shahak, who has now passed away, was a chemistry professor at hebrew University who wrote several books that are on the top of the Israeli hate and censorship list.
I have been told that simply typing the worlds “Israel Shahak” will get a blog message immediately targeted for removal by the ADL software. Apparently it just happened here.
“Israel has been closing settlements for a while now ”
Incorrect. They made one move against the West Bank settlements and that almost brought down the government. Since then they have been meek towards the immense Israeli Right and MORE settlements are planned. If anything the situation is worsening and it would take a radical peace-seeker willing to put up with a lot of ear-ache to improve upon it.
That man or woman does not exist, accordingly the “Two State” solution is about to become a piece of history (or perhaps fantasy).
That is already true of the suicide bombings, by the way. They haven’t happened for years, the last one being during the intifada.
Dom Perkins, I have read about that software too, wish I had saved the link. And then there is this: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article693911.ece
Israel’s Government has thrown its weight behind efforts by supporters to counter what it believes to be negative bias and a tide of pro-Arab propaganda. The Foreign Ministry has ordered trainee diplomats to track websites and chatrooms so that networks of US and European groups with hundreds of thousands of Jewish activists can place supportive messages.
In the past week nearly 5,000 members of the World Union of Jewish Students (WUJS) have downloaded special “megaphone” software that alerts them to anti-Israeli chatrooms or internet polls to enable them to post contrary viewpoints. A student team in Jerusalem combs the web in a host of different languages to flag the sites so that those who have signed up can influence an opinion survey or the course of a debate.
…
Doron Barkat, 29, in Jerusalem, spends long nights trawling the web to try to swing the debate Israel’s way. “When I see internet polls for or against Israel I send out a mailing list to vote for Israel,” he said. “It can be that after 15 minutes there will be 400 votes for Israel.
“It’s very satisfying.”