Binationalism?
One of the main stated aims of the Palestinians and many of their left-wing supporters is to replace Israel with a "binational state," i.e. a state in which Jews and Arabs will supposedly live together in peace, rather than the "two-state solution," in which a Palestinian State and Israel will (according to the mantra) "live side by side in peace." I wish they would make up their minds.
Currently the Swedish Government is pushing for EU policy to support the division of Jerusalem between Palestinian and Jewish states, notwithstanding the fact that united Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Sweden also supports a unilateral declaration of a Palestinian State, even though the Palestinians have explicitly excluded recognizing Israel as a Jewish State and even though that might trigger unilateral Israeli countermoves, and the whole situation could end in war.
So it would seem that Sweden officially supports the two-state solution. Yet, ask most Scandinavian politicians what they would prefer and they will of course say a "binational state." This is based upon the myth of universal human brotherhood and multiculturalism. But, go ask the Swedes if they prefer to have a binational state with Denmark? Not too many people realize that what is now southern Sweden was once part of Denmark and that several wars in the 17th century were fought by Sweden to wrest control of this area from Denmark. In fact the Swedish dialect in the south is similar to Danish (according to Danish friends).
Also, Norway was once a part first of Denmark and then Sweden, but the Norwegians wanted their independence and finally gained it only in 1905. Why wasn't Stockholm equitably divided into a Swedish and a Norwegian half? Why couldn't they live together in a binational Swedish-Norwegian state?
Over the past century the three Scandinavian countries have manged to gain for themselves the reputation of being pacifist, but that was only after the vicious blood-letting that preceeded that period. Now within the EU these national distinctions seem to fade, no passport is required to pass from one country to another, but suggest that they merge into a binational or trinational state and see what response you get, Scandinavian leftists don't even mention that. If such a combined state is so "sacred," Jews and Palestinians should consider it only after the Scandinavians merge again. Jews know that in such a binational state they would once again be treated as second class citizens as they have always been throughout the Arab world ("dhimmi" status) and the whole reason for founding a Jewish State was to regain our sovereignty and self-respect! So a binational state is a non-starter and the leftist ideologues should give it up!
So if we are left with a "two-state solution" as envisaged by the UN partition plan of 1947 (Resolution 181), then why has it taken so long for the Arabs to come around to this solution. After all they tried for the better part of 50 years to destroy Israel in 5 wars (1948, 1956, 1967, 1973, 1982) and then there were the two Palestinian intifadas (1987, 2000). Now they want to return to what they rejected for 60 years!
It is the Iranians who have now taken up the anti-Israel "cause" as the leaders of the so-called rejectionists, supporting their proxies Hamas and Hizbollah, that gave us the Second Lebanon War of 2006 and Operation Cast Lead in Gaza in 2008.
At the same time the leadership of the PA is paralyzed between trying to retain popular support by not dealing with the Netanyahu Government of Israel and trying to appear as peace loving to the Obama Administration. Why should they even raise a finger towards peace or reenter negotiations when they can sit back and have the US and the Swedes do the heavy lifting for them. If they can gain national status without doing anything why should they risk their anti-Israel reputation.
One final point, it is not surprising that the UK is supporting the Swedish move in the EU, given the degree of anti-Israel (and anti-Semitic) rhetoric that is prevalent in Britain today (and always was, which is why I left). But, it is disgusting that a Jewish Foreign Minister, David Milliband, is supporting this anti-Israel campaign. He should rather resign than do this, but unfortunately some Jews prefer foreign kudos and power (like Goldstone) before their own self-respect and the interests of their own people.
Currently the Swedish Government is pushing for EU policy to support the division of Jerusalem between Palestinian and Jewish states, notwithstanding the fact that united Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Sweden also supports a unilateral declaration of a Palestinian State, even though the Palestinians have explicitly excluded recognizing Israel as a Jewish State and even though that might trigger unilateral Israeli countermoves, and the whole situation could end in war.
So it would seem that Sweden officially supports the two-state solution. Yet, ask most Scandinavian politicians what they would prefer and they will of course say a "binational state." This is based upon the myth of universal human brotherhood and multiculturalism. But, go ask the Swedes if they prefer to have a binational state with Denmark? Not too many people realize that what is now southern Sweden was once part of Denmark and that several wars in the 17th century were fought by Sweden to wrest control of this area from Denmark. In fact the Swedish dialect in the south is similar to Danish (according to Danish friends).
Also, Norway was once a part first of Denmark and then Sweden, but the Norwegians wanted their independence and finally gained it only in 1905. Why wasn't Stockholm equitably divided into a Swedish and a Norwegian half? Why couldn't they live together in a binational Swedish-Norwegian state?
Over the past century the three Scandinavian countries have manged to gain for themselves the reputation of being pacifist, but that was only after the vicious blood-letting that preceeded that period. Now within the EU these national distinctions seem to fade, no passport is required to pass from one country to another, but suggest that they merge into a binational or trinational state and see what response you get, Scandinavian leftists don't even mention that. If such a combined state is so "sacred," Jews and Palestinians should consider it only after the Scandinavians merge again. Jews know that in such a binational state they would once again be treated as second class citizens as they have always been throughout the Arab world ("dhimmi" status) and the whole reason for founding a Jewish State was to regain our sovereignty and self-respect! So a binational state is a non-starter and the leftist ideologues should give it up!
So if we are left with a "two-state solution" as envisaged by the UN partition plan of 1947 (Resolution 181), then why has it taken so long for the Arabs to come around to this solution. After all they tried for the better part of 50 years to destroy Israel in 5 wars (1948, 1956, 1967, 1973, 1982) and then there were the two Palestinian intifadas (1987, 2000). Now they want to return to what they rejected for 60 years!
It is the Iranians who have now taken up the anti-Israel "cause" as the leaders of the so-called rejectionists, supporting their proxies Hamas and Hizbollah, that gave us the Second Lebanon War of 2006 and Operation Cast Lead in Gaza in 2008.
At the same time the leadership of the PA is paralyzed between trying to retain popular support by not dealing with the Netanyahu Government of Israel and trying to appear as peace loving to the Obama Administration. Why should they even raise a finger towards peace or reenter negotiations when they can sit back and have the US and the Swedes do the heavy lifting for them. If they can gain national status without doing anything why should they risk their anti-Israel reputation.
One final point, it is not surprising that the UK is supporting the Swedish move in the EU, given the degree of anti-Israel (and anti-Semitic) rhetoric that is prevalent in Britain today (and always was, which is why I left). But, it is disgusting that a Jewish Foreign Minister, David Milliband, is supporting this anti-Israel campaign. He should rather resign than do this, but unfortunately some Jews prefer foreign kudos and power (like Goldstone) before their own self-respect and the interests of their own people.
posted by Jack Cohen at 8:08 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home