The conventional wisdom of our chattering classes holds that the key to Middle East peace is more Israeli territorial withdrawals will pave the way for a two-state solution. That will end the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. But as Palestinians mark the anniversary of Israel’s birth with Nakba Day demonstrations, border incursions, and terror attacks, even those Palestinian leaders who say they will accept a two state solution can’t afford either to accept Israel as a Jewish state or give up on the right of return. Millions of Arab who claim to be descendants of refugees from Israel’s War of Independence are still kept stateless in countries around the borders of Israel. Their plight is the driving force behind the Arab war on Israel, and the refusal of the Arab world to accept any resolution of their situation that does not involve their “return” to what is now the state of Israel remains the primary obstacle to peace.
Showing posts with label Nakba. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nakba. Show all posts
Sunday, May 15, 2011
George Mitchell and Nakba Day
From: Commentary Magazine
As Rick recalled earlier today, when George Mitchell assumed the role of President Obama’s Middle East peace coordinator on the second day of the administration’s existence, he bragged about his success in brokering the Good Friday peace agreement in Northern Ireland and said that there was no reason why similar persistence would not be rewarded with a Palestinian state living in peace alongside a Jewish one.
Two years later, we can dissect the Obama foreign policy team’s mistakes, such as its foolish decision to pick fights with Israel over settlements that ensured that the Palestinians would dig in their heels and refuse to even negotiate with the Netanyahu government.
Two years later, we can dissect the Obama foreign policy team’s mistakes, such as its foolish decision to pick fights with Israel over settlements that ensured that the Palestinians would dig in their heels and refuse to even negotiate with the Netanyahu government.
The Nakba Day Tragedy?
From: Commentary Magazine
The Palestinians have institutionalized the establishment of Israel as their “Nakba,” their catastrophe, but it is important to remember that the 1948 war actually started not with the Israeli declaration of independence on May 14, 1948 (the day the British Mandate ended), but six months earlier—on November 30, 1947, the morning after the UN endorsed a two-state solution.
But for the Arab rejection of even a miniscule Jewish state, and the Arab war commenced in response to the UN resolution, there would not have been a single refugee, and Palestinians would today be celebrating the 63rd year of their state. There would also never have been, as Jonathan observes, an even larger number of Jewish refugees created in 1948, who have never been compensated for their losses.
But for the Arab rejection of even a miniscule Jewish state, and the Arab war commenced in response to the UN resolution, there would not have been a single refugee, and Palestinians would today be celebrating the 63rd year of their state. There would also never have been, as Jonathan observes, an even larger number of Jewish refugees created in 1948, who have never been compensated for their losses.
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