2 min read
Israel and the Arabs that live between the river and the sea are in a relationship no matter how much one or other or both may wish it wasn't so.
It is a broken relationship that is not directly fixable, and this is true of all relationships. Like a marriage one party can only improve themselves and be receptive to and open to efforts made by the other party. It's stupid to say, well I try but she still keeps on squeezing the toothpaste tube at the top.
Tough you cant't do anything about that, she will do what she will do,and be what she will be. You can only keep on improving yourself and remain open. The analogy breaks down of course because you ultimately have the option of leaving.
This option isn't open to the middle eastern Arabs and Jews.The Arabs aren't going anywhere despite jon cohens fantasies, and the Jews aren't going anywhere either which makes it all the more urgent
The genius of The New Israel Fund is in recognising this and focussing on working toward a better Israel,so that it might become emotionally and psychologically capable of making peace with it's neighbours.At the moment Israel isn't so emotionally and psychologically capable.
If the people charged with negotiating on the Arab side are not engaged on a similar exercise then too bad. Nothing you can do about that except keep on improving and practising receptiveness.
Unfortunately Israel is content to deteriorate rather then improve by whatever criterion you choose, in particular in respect of social and liberal values. It is content to justify its deterioration by comparing itself to the worst possible cases beyond its shores, and saying " but look those guys over there are worse "
This blog site is a microcosm of the whole thing. Look through the blogs, they are all bout Iran did this, Turkey did that, Saudi Arabia did the other.
SO WHAT ? WHO CARES ? Look at one of the blogs posted today and see Jon Cohen ask what would have happened to the Israeli demonstrator had this been Iran ? How stupid, how irrelevant can it all get ?
We all know what any workable situation is going to look like. There will be two states. The Palestinian States borders will roughly reflect the border situation prior to the six day war.Jerusalem will be shared either by division or by common sovereignty, in either case the Holy Basin will enjoy some kind of special arrangement probably under international supervision.
EVERYONE KNOWS AND ACKNOWLEDGES THIS. The EU, The US EVERYONE.
Whether the green line is a border or something other than a border is irrelevant. It became a de facto recognised border. Again EVERYONE including every publisher of every atlas,and every overseas Ambassador to Israel KNOWS THIS.
The Palestinians , the majority at least, are moving into a psychological state that would facilitate what everyone knows is the only viable outcome. And please don't quote me what Abbas said 20 or 30 years ago. Otherwise I may remind you that Netanyahu was elected on a " no Palestinian state" platform two short years ago
Some more irrelevant observations
" There never was a country called Palestine "
" There already are 23 Arab States in the middle east and only one Jewish state"
I'll think of some more later