Iran Gives the US Another Chance at Israel Peace
Jackson Diehl, The Washington Post | June 29, 2009
The Obama Administration should use the upheaval in Iran to "creep away from the corner into which it has painted itself in the Arab-Israeli peace process" - that is, insisting on a total "freeze" in Israeli settlements in the West Bank and even
East Jerusalem. ++ This approach of "raising the stakes" even though Israel is making an effort is flawed because it is politically unnecessary. ++ "The best course nevertheless lies in striking a quick deal with Ehud Barak this week under cover of the tumult in Tehran" and press for a regional settlement.
Tue, Jun 30th 2009, 13:59
Lior Petek, University of St. Gallen, Platinum Contributor (216)
Firstly, the Arab-Israeli conflict began long before any Israeli settlements were built in the West Bank so that they cannot be a substantial obstacle to peace whatsoever. It is rather the Arab rejection of Israel's right to exist (as a Jewish state) that is the core cause of this conflict. Just look at what happened in the Gaza Strip after all Israeli settlements were dismantled to illustrate the mock issue of Israeli settlements.
Secondly, assuming a future Palestinian state encompasses the whole West Bank including the existing Israeli settlements there, what exactly is supposed to be the problem with that situation? I mean there are Arab population centers in Israel, too. It is only a problem if the Palestinians want their future state to be "judenrein", hardly a sign of reconciliation and readiness for peace with Israel.