Opinion  Aviad Kleinberg
Israel must seize the opportunity for a deal with the Palestinians
Aviad Kleinberg
Published: 30.04.15, 00:42
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1. Inaccurate 'analysis'.
Bob K ,   Orlando FL US   (04.30.15)
Aviad Kleinberg abandoned analysis for propaganda when he claimed that "inaction" has been Israel's policy vis-à-vis the PA since the Oslo Accords. He ignored two serous offers of 'land for peace' - the basis of the 1993 Oslo accords - first from then PM Ehud Barak in 2000 which was rejected by Arafat who with hamas launched a suicide-bombing and drive-by shooting terror war which has claimed some 1150 Israeli lives. The second offer made by then PM Ehud Olmert from 2006-8 was neither accepted nor rejected by Abbas who simply kept talking as Olmert and Tzippi Livni offered more and more land. Both Barak's and Olmert's offers included well over 90% of Judea and Samaria and east Jerusalem which the PA say they want as a capital. Putting the final nail in the coffin of any deal, Abbas declared that the PA would "never" recognize Israel as the Jewish state even though that is its population makeup and the UN's intention in the 1947 vote to divide western British Palestine into two states, one Arab and one Jewish state. As for the alleged scary scenarios of a binational state or an undemocratic Jewish state, Kleinberg like so many on the left ignores the fact of two Palestinian governments, one recognized internationally and the fact that these two governments rule some 98% of Palestinians west of the Jordan. The PA freely entered into the PA accords which call for two states based on ;land for peace' - where is the peace from hamas or the PA ?and the implicit mutual recognition of Israel's legitimacy as a Jewish state alongside another Arab state - a second Palestinian Arab state in former British Palestine. Analysis without factual reality is worthless.
2. Recognising Palestine is good tactics
Dan   (04.30.15)
We fear the Arabs only want a Palestinian state for tactical reasons — as a base for further attack on Israel. But we too should see such a state as a tactical advantage in our ongoing conflict with the Arab and Muslim world. If we say no, we're the villain and are abandoned by the US, the EU, etc, while Iran is embraced. If we say yes to Palestine we look rational and will be supported. We then make sure thenworld is very well informed about every Arab transgression, and if the new state is used for war, then the world will be on our side, and once we have won that war, that is the end of the game: Shomron and Yehuda are Israel's and no more questions will be asked.
3. Would Netanyahu be Believed?
Mark ben Josef ,   USA   (04.30.15)
Would anybody in the Arab world believe Netanyahu has actually changed his mind after he was elected on being the Anti-Palestinians, anti-Arab? He has opposed any accommodation his entire political life. Would Israelis believe him if he spelled out a proposal that would permanently remove all IDF troops from a real Palestinian state that had actual independence and sovereignty?
4. Israel must annex Judea and Samaria
Chaim ,   Israel   (04.30.15)
Leave it to the infallibly wrong leftist author to urge Israel to follow the lunatic Oslo path. He has no clue about what is right for Israel or who wins elections. Hint: not his disastrous left. Now is the time to stop playing dangerous ganea with our mortal "Palestinian" foes and annex Judea and Samaria.
5. were you paying attention when BIBI said "NO 2 STATES"
Jew 6Pack ,   America is beautiful   (04.30.15)
and EVERYBODY SIGHED A DEEP BREATH OF RELIEF... HEY, SQUATTERS GO HOME TO PALESTINE... IN JORDAN which is 80% PAL and has a PAL queen. made to order.
6. As I recall, BIBI got elected when he said "NO 2 STATES"
Jewish Doctor ,   ATLANTA USA   (04.30.15)
It was BIBI's last statement of "NO 2 states!" that got him elected...AND by a landslide. That tells me ALL the Israelis do not want to (or will NOT) give half their nation away to horrific savages and ignorant perpetually raging arab peoples who have publicly called for, and for a very long time, openly and consistently declared they want all Jewish people dead and gone and Israel wiped off the map. SO, Imagine the Jews giving the finger to the invented society of squatters. And a boot in the posterior to those who buy into the arab's invented SOB story that in reality never existed, does not exist and obviously now, NEVER will exist. btw/ If the arabs didn't constantly threaten all Jewish familes/people and Israel with violent elimination, I bet Israel would've found a method, a formulae, a way to accomodate and integrate and SAVE the entire arab community into a wealthy healthy state system...Jews are extremely good at that. But arab ignorance prevailed.
7. bi-national state
Fred Willis ,   Chicago, Illinois   (04.30.15)
I saw clearly in 1987 on my first trip to Israel, that Israel was headed for and will become a bi-national state. Why? Because no one I know in Israel can conceive of a future where the status quo is maintained and no one is willing to make the decisions required to change the status quo because everyone posits the future based on some large portion of the Israeli demographic leaving the country or otherwise disappearing and thus "solving the problem". . Sorry, no one is going anywhere. But in most Israeli's heads, Israel's entire future is based on some kind of ethnic cleansing and what particular kind depends on who you are talking to. Therefore, no one is thinking rationally and the status quo will continue by default. Get used to it
8. Makes too much sense
Ed ,   USA   (04.30.15)
for the typical online poster to be able to understand. All in all though, it's important to stand up and tell this truth, no matter how much abuse the right wing can muster.
9. ghetto thinking. you are the past. still in the desert
ralph   (04.30.15)
10. responsibility on the PA side
Larry ,   LA (formerly)   (04.30.15)
Let us see first if the PA can control their population. If they are interested in peace let them open their borders to us lowly Israeli citizens to come shop in Ramallah, Jenin and Bethlehem. Let us see if we can walk in, purchase something and still get out alive. If we can do this, then they are ready for peace, but until then the only cross border visits will continue to be Arabs coming to our side, visiting our stores and returning in peace to their homes in Ramallah, Jenin and Bethlehem. Until there is a desire for peace not only on our side but also on their side, signing a document in front of cameras and getting handshakes on front pages will not bring peace.
11. nonsensical article
Khalid Amayreh ,   Hebron, Occupied Pal   (04.30.15)
First of all, the two-state solution strategy is over. It has been killed as a result of settlement expansion. Second, the Israeli-Jewish society keeps drifting to the right, and no prospective government in Israel would be able, let alone willing, to give up land or indeed dismantle settlements. Finally the US is too weak to pressure Israel due to the massive clout of US Jewry on American politics. Hence, we are left with two alternatives: either one state for all, or open-ended conflict.
12. You still live on another planet. How
DT ,   TA Israel   (04.30.15)
does it feel to be divorced from any sense of reality
13. Israel must seize the opportunity to pay all Arabs to leave
ADL   (04.30.15)
the Jewish land.
14. Negotiations with Palestinians
Michael Kalman ,   Haifa, israe   (04.30.15)
Both sides want to negotiate. Neither wants to make a deal.
15. #11: Khalid Amayreh
Israeli 2   (04.30.15)
Khalid, great analysis and you ARE very correct except for one major thing. Hebron never was nor is neither will be occupied Palestine. Occupied, yes but by Arabs on Israel's territory.
16. The working of Leftist Tools/Useful Idiots' mind never
(04.30.15)
ceases amaze!
17. Radical Leftist Kleinberg will use any condition for agenda
Steve Benassi ,   Silver Bay, MN USA   (04.30.15)
Israel will pay the heaviest price after it makes the concessions that Kleinberg advocates. This guy can't see farther than the tip of his nose. Even if it is a long one it is vastly insufficient to foresee the kind of disaster that awaits Israel if Arabs get independence to launch rockets a couple of miles from Jerusalem and suburban Tel Aviv.
18. Plain simplicity
Moshe ,   Israel   (04.30.15)
One thing left-wing pundits fail to understand – As long as the culture in Arab states continue to be conservative on various grades, with elements like strong religious faith and women oppression, they will never accept a country with western culture on their doorstep. For them, it is a danger to the fabric of their societies. In addition, many Arabs believe that "descendents of apes and pigs" are not equal people who deserve a state of their own.
19. time for deal with palestinians
richard sherwin ,   herzliyah israel   (04.30.15)
a nice essay and mostly accurate as far as any of us can tell. but it's wasted on us. it should be addressed to the palestinians (i dont know which group --PLO or Hamas)... there are de facto 2 palestines, or 3 if we include the jordanian one, or 4 if we include the various diasporas in arab countries, or 5 if we include westernized palestinians. good luck.
20. One or Another.
Luiz F Haddad ,   Niteroi, Brazil   (04.30.15)
Israeli friends, listen. It is impossible to send Arab people to Jordan, like some "posters" want. Your State was founded through Democracy and Humanism. Hence, if Palestinians are placed in One State, they must have equal rights and duties. It looks like good, but your State will lose its main Jewish identity. Because of it, "Two States"are better,with new secure borders and a demilitarized Arab Palestine, only having police forces. Negotiations are important. Don't disregard them.
21. No deal, without credible Palestinian leaders!
i-credibility   (04.30.15)
There are plenty of credible Palestinians, but their leaders are failing them. No deal is possible until the Iranian proxis are in leadership.
22. Whoever believe in miracles is a real thinker..
Peacemaker   (04.30.15)
why not to create a government non political portafolio (not member of the coalition neither political partys activist as representative for Peace achievements? You can post too who could be suitable: -Could be interesting someone like Rosenberg or Rips, a mathematician Phd from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem / (the Bible Code Theory)...
23. #6
Adler   (04.30.15)
i found very interesting that Nepal for instance never was conquered by British, Arabs, frenchs, germans etc
24. Great article!
arne ,   chicago usa   (05.01.15)
Now let him draw up a plan that will work for both peoples--The Arabs (both West Bank & Gaza) will sign on and the Israeli's as well. Simple--so let's get his "plan" and we can go from there.
25. re response to Khalid Amayreh - there is a solution
Yardena   (05.21.15)
there is another great solution! Khalid Amayrehs of Previous Jordanian rule you were all citizens of Jordan. So In order to keep peace and calm, the best solution for "Palestinian STate" is to be incorporated under present Jordanian monarch. He and his army will keep peace and quiet without any sneaky attacks on Jews and Israelis. You cannot govern yourelves as is proven already. One State for all??? You are joking?
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