Posted on 01/31/2020 6:24:51 AM PST by SJackson
I view it much differently. I see it as the end to the futile and hopeless attempt on the part of the U.S. to foster a peace agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Past administrations have tried to be the "honest broker" trying to appear fair to both sides. By siding firmly with the Israelis this puts and end to that. By recognizing Jerusalem as the sole, undivided capital of Israel future administrations will never be able to take a different position. By allowing Israel to annex whole parts of the West Bank future administrations will never be able to pretend those parts of the West Bank are open for negotiations. This puts the situation solely in the hands of Israel and the Palestinians to make peace, make war, do whatever they want to each other. We're out of it.
“I view it much differently. I see it as the end to the futile and hopeless attempt”
I think your analysis is good, but I think Trump will keep an eye open for opportunities to decrease the hostility between Israel and its neighbors.
On the tangible questions I can empathize with Abbas a little bit. That map is really bizarre. I understand why it was carved up the way it was but if I were Abbas I’d reject it too.
But, he should sit and negotiate. He’ll get a better deal, more land, more land swaps, more money.
There are other problems though. This article brings up the ideological hurdles. There are practical problems unaddressed - there is no Palestinian government to speak of. Gaza is ruled by Hamas. The rest has Abbas and the P.A. in a titular role, but they don’t have or enforce a monopoly on the use of force which is a fundamental requirement of any government. Trump is correct to insist on many reformations in their government, human rights, justice system, education etc. Meanwhile, realize that to this day the Palestinians are highly dependent on Israel for things like tax collection, currency, utilities, imports/exports and more. They do work together on many issues already. It’s time to settle the conflict and move on instead of burning another generation of Palestinians to old grievances.
OK, so if he sits down and counters with an offer of a Palestinian state comprising all of the 1967 borders, Jerusalem whole and undivided under Palestinian control, and Israel receiving territory in the Gaza desert equivalent in size to the West Bank settlements Israel will give up how far do you think such negotiations will get?
Recall Clinton offered an acceptable framwork for a deal at Camp David, but Arafat smiled bigly and said ‘No thank you’
Arafat was thrilled with the status quo, or better stated Arafat was happy to bank all the foreign aide into his Swiss account.
Recall when Arafat suffered a stroke, was whisked away to France, his trophy wife admandt that no one but her be allowed in his presence, she had to protect her exclusive access to the swiss bank accounts where our tax dollars were stashed. Lol
Abbas doing the same, cut off the funds, their hearts and minds will follow.
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