Opinion
Another unilateral disaster?
Sara Reef
Published: 28.10.10, 00:43
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20 Talkbacks for this article
1. Israel has lost its UN Veto
Steve Benassi ,   Silver Bay, MN USA   (10.28.10)
Israel has burned America too many times.
2. THE ILLEGAL SETTLEMENT BUILDING ARE UNILATERAL ACTIONS BY
SINGER ,   SINGAPORE   (10.28.10)
ISRAEL. ABBAS HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TODO THE SAME !
3. I don't get it
Schreiber   (10.28.10)
What is this about? Advice for Abbas? The ones who need advice and very badly are the members of the government, doing nothing while all this is going on. The Israeli government should be making unilateral moves of their own by annexing the land before it's taken away from under their noses.
4. unilateral
Nick ,   Brooklyn USA   (10.28.10)
Making a compendium of Israeli unilateral actions and their detriment for the Israeli people is interesting, but why have unilateral actions strictly confined to the Israelis? Why not include the war of independence (specifically), or any o...f the other wars (excluding the six-day war) as unilateral as well? [The intifida (where suicide bombers were the political pawns, did create a net gain for the Palestinians) and this could be considered a unilaterel engagement] These did not advance the Palestinian people's cause in the least bit as well. In addition, as Israeli unilateral actions were an attempt to mollify the Palestinians and others (Sinai), this unilateral action is an attempt to instigate Israel (as the suicide bombers)? This lack of a fundamental understanding of the conflict is a bit worrisome.See More
5. When Israel is not involved in Unilateral retreat ...
Edward ,   New York USA   (10.28.10)
it has been successful. If Abbas, attempts to unilaterally declare a Palestinian State, Israel should unilaterally annex the West Bank and move the IDF into Judea and Samaria and dismantle the PA altogether and expel it to Gaza.
6. 20 years of negotations and the result?
Nour ,   One State   (10.28.10)
500000 settlers flooding the West Bank, looking for cheap housing and a date with their fantasy of Juda and Shomron. How can negotiations succeed when one party wields a powerful army backed by the US and a a GDP 120 times bigger tham its opponent? That would not be negotiations but dictation and surrender terms. Well, not going to happen as we have no plans to forefeit our full political, human, and economic rights from river to sea. Goodbye Oslo, dont let the door hit you in the bum.
7. what ?
canada ,   Toronto, Canada   (10.28.10)
first of all, lets be honest, if the presumption of negotiation to lead to Independent Palestinian State in the West Bank and create a durable peace agreement between two sides living in peace and security, then why the government of israel still building illegal settlements ? I don't understand it.c
8. Who does Abbas represent?
michael redbourn ,   Arad - Israel   (10.28.10)
Rabin stupidly agreed to recognize a Palestinian people in exchange for Arafat's promise to recognize Israel. Arafat never did of course, and Israel has suffered for the stupidity ever since. Arafat was recognized as leader of a displaced people whereas it's totally unclear who Abbas represents and even less clear if he would keep his word either.
9. I don't get dear Sara Reef.
Observer The first ,   Chrangbegbo, Ghana   (10.28.10)
You'll certainly forgive me for this but, well, Sara Reef, I failed to get your point on this one. Could you, please, elaborate. You wrote: "President Abbas would be wiser to focus his efforts on producing a bridging proposal to be presented to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, rather than making empty threats. Ultimately, only a political agreement will bring true peace and security to ...Palestinians." That I agree with.He sure must; that's as far as he wants peace for his people. But what exact message are you trying to pass across by those examples of unilateral and disastrous moves by Israel in 2000 and 2005?Thanks for replying.
10. Doin' what comes naturally
Gideon Reader ,   USA   (10.28.10)
Doctors heal (or at least try to). Lawyers study and follow the law(or at least try to). Plumbers fix leaks, electriciaans wire, Air conditioning repairmen cool things off. Soldiers march and fight, drunks drink, etv, etc. Palestinian Polititurds do stupid and self destructive stuff, and then beg for assistance and pity and a DO OVER,...over and over, and over again. It;s called the way of the world, or Gump Syndrome: "Stupid is as stupid does."
11. To: Edward at No. 5
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (10.28.10)
And that is precisely what will happen, and everyone knows it ..... except Abbas. I posted this link on another thread, but I'll do it again here. Anyone who would like to read an exceptional accounting of the Arab-Israeli conflict, especially as it deals with so-called "Palestinian refugees" is well advised to read Shmuel Katz's "Battleground: Fact and Fantasy in Palestine." It is exquisitely researched and annotated, with scrupulous citations to documents readily available on line. It is available free on line here: http://asaha.com/download/UNjA1NTQ- I recommend it to anyone who would like a true history of the conflict. It really is a must-read for all YNet bloggers.
12. Edward 5, Sarah 11 - I'm not optimistic at all
Marcella   (10.28.10)
I say this based on what I've observed in the past two years. It has been a steady sequence of acts of surrender. From the PM speech about Two States, to the Freeze, to police withdrawal from eastern Jerusalem, and much more. I hope I'm wrong. But what I see is a political game where the government tries to keep his coalition intact while allowing the empowering of the PA in those key aspects leading to its eventual declaration of independence. There are clear benefits for the government in this. 1) It saves the coalition. 2) It saves itself the trauma, expense and bad PR of expulsions. 3) It saves the cost of compensation for expellees. They'd be left on their own, no police, no IDF, to make their way to pre-1967 Israel. There would be a lot of theatre back and forth between the government and the US and UN, with the eventual acceptance by the government of the old pre-1967 border. Too much pressure, you understand. The PA has been quite open about their intentions to declare unilateral independence - while effectively preparing with infrastructure and an army with Israel and international cooperation. This morning I saw the headline on the Jerusalem Post: "Fayyad: PA will declare independent state in August 2011" But that's not all. From an INN article this week: "General lays out plan for reviving Gaza" "Maj. Gen. Eitan Dangot said Israel seeks to work with Hamas' rival, PA Salam Fayyad, to help revive the economy. Fayyad would set priorities for what Gaza needs and place his people at the borders, Dangot explained." "Israel hopes that the Fayyad government will eventually re-establish a foothold in Gaza, including by deploying its representatives on the Gaza side of Kerem Shalom, the main trade crossing with Israel. " Translation? The ultimate plan is for the eventual union of the Palestinian state and Gaza, complete with a land corridor between them - which would split Israel in two. This was agreed to by Olmert already and Unless Israel annexes the heartland NOW, it's as good as lost. Reacting after the fact would be extremely difficult.
13. A unilateral declaration of statehood before the UN...
seadog1946 ,   Shooters Island, NJ   (10.28.10)
it worked for the PTSD traumatized european refugees in Israel and it worked for the traumatized Albanians in Kosovo.
14. "Peace deal" with P.A. is the worst thing for Israel.
Chaim ,   Israel   (10.28.10)
The author runs with the fiction that reaching a deal with the P.A. is good for Israel. How? How is it good for Israel to lose Jerusalem? How is it good for Israel to lose Judea and Samarua and have her waist trimmed to a suicidal 8 miles? How is it good for Israel to be inundated by terrrorist rockets and hostile Arabs? A "peace deal" with the P.A. is the worst thing for Israel. The status quo is infinitely better in every respect. Let the "Palestinians" proclaim a counterfeit state, which will never get off the ground while Israel annexes and massively settles Judea and Samaria.
15. Israel 1948
Mark of Lewiston ,   Lewiston USA   (10.29.10)
Israel declared independence in 1948, a unilateral move. Some years later there is still no Palestinian state. Since first conceived as coming about through negotiations, Palestine have been prevented from coming into being and stonewalled. Negotiations have produced nothing. Israeli govs have never made an offer that was genuine and could be ratified. Olmert's last offer was on his way out to trial. It never could have been ratified and Netanyahu was already running on a no peace, never platform. Declaring Palestine can not hurt the Palestinian cause more than the status quo. Is will just make it less comfortable for Israel to continue its own unilateral expansion.
16. Unilateral disaster
graczek ,   Maryland, USA   (10.29.10)
The unilateral disaster occurred on May 15, 1948, when the Zionists declared the foundation of their illegal state. The world has paid a heavy price since, for this contravention of the Divine Will.
17. #16 graczek - Wrong
Dallas ,   Canada   (10.29.10)
Why publish lies? Borrow a book, read history. You may have your own opinion but you cannot own facts.
18. Couldn't hurt!
Baruch Atta ,   Baltimore MD USA   (10.29.10)
Man falls on the street, dead. Cop places a blanket over him. Jewish mother runs out with a bowl of chicken soup. "Lady, it won't help, he's dead." "Couldn't Hoit!" So, just like the proverbial chicken soup that couldn't hurt, so too a declaration on the part of the Palies. It would be meaningless until an agreement is done.
19. #16 graczek.. prevaricator par excellence
Mark ,   Lodz, Poland   (10.29.10)
You crave for our demise if we don't turn to Jesus Christ. Israel has every right to be exactly where she is...Historically, Religiously and Politically. You are seriously chewed up because you can't convert us, hate Israel because we can thrive there and permanently hamper you and your mission. It didn't happen in the last 2000 years in the Diaspora when we didn’t even have a homeland and for sure it’s not going to happen in the next. What really warms my soul is that your fantasy will remain just that...a fantasy.
20. To Sarah # 11
Edward ,   New York USA   (10.30.10)
Thanks for the link. The problem with Samuel Katz's book is that it fits in with the PAs definition of the conflict - e.g. that the conflict began in 1967. Read Benjamin Natanyahu's book, " A Durable Peace" its provides a greater historical depth. We need to get the message out that Jews have been living in Israel for 3000 + years uninterrupted. Before Jesus, before Muhammad. It is the Arabs that are new to this area. it is the Arab countries that have systematically intimidated and expelled Jews from their lands, especially Jordan prior to 1947. Judea and Samaria are only being rightfully reclaimed. This is our story, not the version that Abbas, Ahmadinejad, and Obama and many others have proffered. What we hear from them is a complete fabrication contrary to the facts. We must stand up and fight it every single day.
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