The problem is what to do. Other than eliminating the Arabs you will have to find a solution. One would be to abandon the "settlements" and draw Israel's borders such that they can be defended solely by Israel. IMHO Israel, AIPAC and other supporters are in the early phases of losing US public support for the current situation. A younger generation of American politicians is unlikely to give the same arms and money as in the past. A further problem is that almost 20% of the populatin of Israel is Arab. They have a higher birth rate than the Jews. How loyal these Arabs are to Israel and how loyal to Israel they will be in the future is unknown to me; however, as things now stand, the loyalty would seemingly be shallow to non-existent. Time is not on Israel's side: the longer the solution is postponed the worst the conclusion.
You and I may recognize this, but I don’t think most people do. Israel’s existence, and the threat to it, is rarely discussed in most media coverage.
Even a guarded discussion with any American (naturalized or American born) will affirm this conviction in most instances.
I think you are wrong about this. I think most American’s, including many here on FR, view the solution to the problem as one of getting Israel out of the territories (which they took in an aggressive war), not the destruction of Israel. In fact, I doubt most Americans know much about the issue, or it's history, at all. This may well be because American’s (unlike the Arab world) view Israel as an accomplished fact, however this does not nullify her neighbors long term objectives, and in fact may make them easier to accomplish.
One would be to abandon the "settlements" and draw Israel's borders such that they can be defended solely by Israel.
That’s one solution. Abandoning the settlements costs Israel a bargaining chip (about the only one they have left). Probably accomplishes nothing else. A defensible border, every country has the right to defend its citizenry. But if the lines are drawn in the context of an autonomous Palestinian State, Israel will be facing a far more dangerous enemy. An independent state could (would) raise and equip and Army and conduct foreign relations. Israel could easily be facing Iraqi or Iranian tanks on its borders. A viable settlement has to recognize Israel’s right to exist and to defend herself. Retaliation or hot pursuit would no longer be possible, except in the context of a full blown war.
Unfortunately, if the Palestinians are to achieve a state, I think the movement has to come from them. They have to accept the existence of Israel. Their children have to be taught some purpose to living other than hatred. The PA has to turn its attention to the betterment of their population. This would surely take a change of leadership within he PA.
If Israel has a settlement forced on them, redefines its borders without a genuine change in Palestinian objectives, and without the ability to respond against terrorism, we will be revisiting war in the Middle East in the not too distant future.