Saturday, November 22, 2008

Peace moves?

Some things do change. For example, for the first time the PA took out ads in four Israeli newspapers (three in Hebrew and one in English) describing the Saudi/Arab peace plan. This is clearly an attempt to persuade Israeli public opinion that the "moderate" Palestinians of the PLO and PA really want peace, and to try to influence the outcome of the coming election. Whether or not this will have any effect remains to be seen, but it is certainly a new approach, much better than using terrorists and gunfire to persuade us.
But, have no illusions, this Saudi-Arab plan is not generally in Israel's interests, since it requires Israel to return to the 1949 ceasefire lines (what Abba Eban called "Auschwitz borders"), give up all the areas mainly on the West Bank that were "occupied", and accept the return of millions of Palestinian so-called "refugees." But, it has one very positive aspect, that all Arab countries would make peace with Israel if the Palestinian problem were solved. However, once again it requires Israel to make real on the ground concessions for unenforceable steps with enemies who can hardly be trusted. FM Tzipi Livni criticized it as a "take it or leave it deal."
Also, it does not include Hamas in Gaza, Hizbollah in Lebanon, and of course Iran. So we can go on making peace with Abbas and the PA and the others for as long as we like, while still coming under rocket fire from Gaza and possible destruction from Lebanon and Iran.
In a related move, PM Olmert and FM Livni went to Amman secretly to meet with King Abdullah. Of course, the King asked them to stop the blockade of Gaza to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe there and not to invade Gaza. So did the UN Secty. General, Ban-ky Mun. But, Israel has pointed out that there is no "humanitarian crisis" in Gaza because they are freely importing goods thru thousands of tunnels under the Gaza-Egyptian border, and we are not supplying goods thru the border gates with Gaza because they are bombarding us with rockets and mortars and trying to kill our people. However, since noone has so far been killed, Defense Min. Barak has issued threats, but has not followed up on them. This is the usual pattern, we take their rockets, their breaking of the so-called ceasefire, and issue threats and do nothing. As a consequence they don't fear our threats and continue to hit Sderot and Ashkelon on a daily basis. They have made us (or at least the Kadima Govt.) used to this situation.
Meanwhile in London, Pres. Shimon Peres was given an honor by the Queen and made a member of the Order of St. George. He gave speeches at the House of Commons and the London Town Hall, and weathered the storm of the debating society at Balliol College Oxford, where he was constantly interrupted and heckled by members of the audience. Nevertheless the vast majority gave him a rousing reception.
Since the Govt. is actually a lame-duck caretaker Govt., that is not supposed to make any major steps, it is not suprising that Pres. Peres (who is not supposed to set policy) gave a strong endorsement of the Saudi Plan, and the visit to Jordan and the continuing meetings with the PA seem to also endorse this. We hope that Olmert (who is still not yet under indictment) will not try to carry out a major "peace move", before the elections which are scheduled for Febrary 10, 2009.

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