By Shimon Z. KleinÂ
The problem between Israel and the Palestinians is existential. Once both sides recognize the rights of the other to exist then achieving peace between Israel and the Palestinians is possible. The problem between Israel and the Palestinians is existential. Once both sides recognize the rights of the other to exist then achieving peace between Israel and the Palestinians is possible. The Palestinian leadership speaks with two voices:
The problem between Israel and the Palestinians is existential. Once both sides recognize the rights of the other to exist then achieving peace between Israel and the Palestinians is possible. The Palestinian leadership speaks with two voices:
- The Hamas voice of non-recognition of Israel’s right to exist and non-negotiation with Israel.
- The Fatah voice of recognition of Israel’s right to exist.
The national unity government that will be formed eventually in Palestine will speak with both these voices. How they will achieve peace with Israel when both mindsets exist remains to be seen. A situation like this as an opening negotiating gambit has never existed in the history of peace making between warring parties.
Assuming that the Palestinians solve this two voice policy of these towards Israel, then Israel must show a willingness to negotiate and this includes all outstanding thorny issues including the right of return of refugees and the compensation of Jewish refugees from Arab countries whose property was confiscated.
Israel must also show more empathy towards the Palestinian people and refrain from using the usual clichés and stereotypes in order to white wash the problem. Withdrawal of illegal settlers from the occupied territories, as well as discussion of the Saudi Plan for Peace of 2002 should be the basis for an end to the state of war.
The Arab-Israeli conflict dates back to the end of the 19th century. The conflict became a major international issue after the Ottoman Empire in 1917 lost power in the Middle East, and in various forms it continues to date. The Arab-Israeli conflict has resulted in at least five major wars and a number of “minor conflicts”. It has also been the source of two major Palestinian intifadas (uprisings).Â
The wars and intifadas are:Â
1. 1948 Arab-Israeli War, known as the Israeli War of Independence or al-Nakba, 1948–1949. The British withdrew from the Palestinian British mandate and the State of Israel was declared on May 15. 1948.  The Arabs had formally rejected the United Nations Partition Plan of November 1947, which proposed establishment of an Arab and a Jewish state in Palestine. Jewish and Arab militias had begun a campaign to control territory both inside and beyond the partition-designated borders. Joint Jordanian, Egyptian, Syrian, Lebanese and Iraqi troops invaded Palestine, and fought to prevent the establishment of a Jewish state. About 2/3 of Palestinian Arabs fled or were expelled by Israeli forces, from the territories which came under Jewish control (see Palestinian Exodus); Arabs also expelled Jews from the territories which came under their control. In addition, many Arab countries’ Jewish populations fled due to anti-Jewish sentiment and, in some cases (e.g. Iraq) legal oppression. About 700,000 Palestinians and 600,000 Jews became refugees. In a few cases, (e.g. in Morocco) local Arab governments strongly encouraged Jews to stay, and some Jewish leaders (e.g. in Haifa) encouraged Arabs to stay. Jewish refugees were absorbed by Israel; Palestinians were neglected by most Arab nations, which by some were blamed for the poverty and hatred prevailing in some Palestinian camps, while others blamed Israel for their expulsion. The fighting ended with signing of the Rhodes Armistice, but only two states eventually signed a peace agreement with Israel: Egypt (1978) and Jordan (1994).Â
2. The 1956 Suez War. began as a joint Israeli-British-French operation, which they justified as an attempt to stop attacks (see the Fedayeen) upon Israeli civilians, to abolish the Egyptian blockade of the Straits of Tiran, and to recapture the Suez Canal which Egypt had nationalized. Though the campaign to recapture the canal was successful, the invading forces agreed to withdraw under U.S. pressure, and Israel withdrew from the Sinai as well, in return for the installation of U.N. separation forces and guarantees of Israeli freedom of shipment. The canal was left in Egyptian (rather than British and French) hands.Â
3. The Six-Day War in 1967. began as a strike by Israel, often considered preemptive, against Egypt following the Egyptian closure of the Straits of Tiran (a casus belli, according to a possible interpretation of international law), expulsion of U.N. peacekeepers from the Sinai, stationing some 100,000 Egyptian troops at the peninsula, and a public announcement by President Abdel Nasser of Egypt. He intended to destroy Israel [2]Â (http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/5/newsid_2654000/2654251.stm). Surprise Israeli air strikes destroyed the entire Egyptian air force while still on the ground. A subsequent ground invasion into Egyptian territory led to Israel’s conquest of the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula. In spite of Israel’s request to Jordan to desist from attacking it, both Jordan and Syria began to shell Israeli targets; Israel responded by capturing the West Bank from Jordan on June 7th, and the Golan Heights from Syria on June 9th.Â
4. Yom Kippur War, 1973. Started as a simultaneous coordinated attack, which Egypt and Syria claimed was to recapture Sinai and the Golan Heights, respectively. Despite early successes for the Arabs, and the eventual support of the U.S. in the form of an emergency airlift of arms, intelligence support and diplomatic pressure assisted Israel in turning them back. After three weeks of fighting Israel destroyed the Syrian army and encircled the Egyptian army with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in position to threaten Damascus and Cairo. International pressure and prospects of Soviet intervention resulted in a ceasefire.Â
5. 1982 Lebanon War. Israel attacked Lebanon, justified by Israel as an attempt to remove the Fatah militants led by Yasser Arafat from Southern Lebanon (where they had established, during the country’s civil war, a semi-independent enclave used to launch terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians). The invasion was widely criticized both in and outside Israel, especially after the Sabra and Shatila massacre and ultimately led to the death of 20,000 Lebanese. Although the attack succeeded in exiling Arafat to Tunisia, Israel became entangled with various local Muslim militias (particularly the Hezbollah), which fought to end the Israeli occupation. By 1985 Israel retreated from all but a narrow stretch of Lebanese territory designated by Israel as the Israeli Security Zone. In 2000 Israeli forces left this area, completing its withdrawal from Lebanon.Â
6. The First Intifada, 1987–1993. This was the uprising of Palestinians, particularly the young, against the Israeli military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The exiled PLO leadership in Tunisia quickly assumed a role, but the uprising also brought a rise in the importance of Islamist Palestinian groups such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad. The Intifada ended with the signing of the Oslo Accords by Israel and the PLO.Â
7. The al-Aqsa Intifada. In late September, 2000, around the time Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon and a large contingent of armed bodyguards visited the Temple Mount/Al-Haram As-Sharif complex in Jerusalem and declared the area eternal Israeli territory. Widespread riots broke out in Old Jerusalem, and Israeli authorities killed several Palestinians in the first hours of the uprising. The killing of Muhammed al-Dura, a 12-year-old boy, was videotaped and broadcast around the world, triggering further rioting. This conflict is on-going. (Based on information from http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Arab-Israeli-Conflict – History)Â
The reasons for the conflict are many. Some Israelis say that it is due to anti-Semitism. My personal feeling is that this is not the case at all. After all, the Arabs are a Semitic people as well so it is unlikely that this is the reason. Hypothetically, had there been another power that occupied Palestine, and not the Jewish People, the scorn of the Arabs would be directed on that occupying power irrespective. A modern comparison would be the Iraqi occupation by the U.S. because of the Iraqi War of 2003. Here, there is great anti-American sentiment. The mess that the US made in Iraq in the aftermath of the downfall of Saddam Hussein has resulted in the US losing much credibility in the Middle East. It has also created animosity towards the US and a weakening of its influence in peace making in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. The US had bungled in Iraq in a similar way their bungling in the Vietnam War over 40 years ago. When the US steps in, they win wars but lose peace.Â
According to Sharia (Moslem Law), any area belonging to Moslems historically, and is taken over by non-Moslems is unacceptable. This includes Palestine which became Israel. The basic problem between Israelis and Palestinians is existential. Palestinians and Israel’s Arab neighbours are not prepared to recognize Israel’s right to exist nor are they prepared to negotiate a peace settlement with Israel. The problem between the two peoples is two fold. First, the land of Israel (Palestine) is an historical dispute between the two peoples. Both sides lay claim to the same strip of land. Second, the religious aspect as mentioned earlier in this article, that Moslems will never allow Jews, Christians or other non-Moslems to lay claim to land which according to sharia is illegal.Â
Since the territory of the British Mandate of Palestine once was part of the Ottoman caliphate, some Islamic clerics believe that it is unlawful and unacceptable for any portion of it to be usurped by non-Muslims. Palestinians sometimes counter this claim by pointing out that Palestinians lived peacefully in their own country, with Muslims, Christians and Jews coexisting, and their resentment of Israeli Jews emerged only because of the Zionist enterprise in Palestine.Â
When the Al-Aqsa intifada began, there was the spate of regular suicide bombings from 2003 until 2005. This had placed a terrible strain on the Israeli citizen who felt that his/her personal security had been compromised. So many Palestinian suicide bombers made their way into Israel during this period with dynamite belts strapped onto them. They crossed into Israel from the occupied territories almost unhindered. They entered buses, shopping malls, market places and other areas where there were many people going about their daily business. They detonated themselves, killing and maiming hundreds of innocent people. Their bombs contained flesh-ripping shrapnel, bolts and metal beads in order to carry out as much human slaughter as possible. The suicide bomber very often received the blessing of his parents who was promised a large sum of money for every child that they sent on this cruel suicide mission.Â
Naturally, the Israeli Security Forces beefed up their activity on the Israeli border in order to protect Israel’s citizens. They went into the territories and blew up the homes of suspected terrorists and their families as a deterrent. They established numerous check posts  and, in many cases, conducted humiliating body searches of Palestinians. Even ambulances that were used to take emergency patients to hospital were used occasionally as conveyers of suicide bombers into Israel. All vehicles, including ambulances, became suspect and this resulted in many delays to get seriously ill Palestinian patients to hospital. There were cases of critically ill Palestinians dying on route to the hospital because of these delays. Naturally, under these trying circumstances, Israel was viewed as the aggressor and innocent Palestinians suffered because of the deeds of a few fanatic terrorists. Trust between the two peoples (which was never high between Israelis and Palestinians at the best of times) had reached a new low. The situation between the two peoples deteriorated as lines of communication ceased to exist. There were excesses committed by the Israeli Army towards innocent Palestinians. There were reports of torture of innocent Palestinians.Â
The results of Israeli Security Forces activity in the Palestinian Territories had resulted in a substantial decrease in suicide terrorism directed against Israelis. Another factor that contributed to this was the construction of a Security Fence separating Israel from the Palestinian territories. This fence became very controversial as the Palestinians claim that it encroaches on their lands resulting in division of their agricultural lands into pockets of farmland with tremendous logistical problems for the Palestinian farmer, who has to pass through a large number of road blocks within his own land in order to cultivate it. Five minute journeys from one point to another within the Palestinian territories become an intolerable and difficult few hours journey. This also resulted in further animosity between Israelis and Palestinians. Â Â Â
An added factor is the illegal settlements established since the 1967 Six Day War in the occupied territories. The Israeli government at that time had encouraged settlements in the territories captured during the Six Day War. Many Palestinians view the Israeli as some kind of a monster – either a soldier who is out to humiliate him and deny him basic human rights or a religious settler who is always destroying his olive trees and abusing him at the same time. There is no doubt that the establishment of Israeli Jewish settlements amongst the Palestinian population was a great mistake and it is one of many factors that was responsible for the first and second intifada.Â
Since Hamas won the Palestinian elections in 2006, there has been infighting between the two main political groups (Hamas – the uncompromising Islamic movement, who does not recognize Israel and the more moderate pragmatic Fatah who supports negotiations with Israel as well as its recognition). This has resulted in a state of civil war between the two parties. However, in February, under the auspices of Saudi Arabia, the two sides met in Mecca to sign the Mecca Agreement in order to halt hostilities between the two parties and to pave the way for a National Unity government to rule Palestine with Fatah Mahmoud Abbas as president and Hamas Ismail Haniyeh as prime minister. The formation of a national unity government has still not succeeded. The Palestinian Authority under Fatah rule was corrupt and the Palestinian people showed their disapproval by voting for Hamas in elections. They did not realize that by doing this they were cutting off their noses to spite their faces. Hamas is considered a terrorist organization by the US and EU and this has resulted in an economic boycott of the Palestinian Authority.Â
The economy in the Palestinian territories is poor and the boycott has made the situation even worse. There is massive unemployment and the Palestinian people have become even more despondent as the younger generation loses hope of ever gaining a viable independent state. This will create very severe problems in the future and it will cause the Palestinian leadership to turn to Iran for financial assistance. Latest reports are that Palestinians are sending young people to train in Iran in order to overthrow the Israeli occupation by force. President Ahmadinajad of Iran has stated on many occasions that he would like to destroy Israel and many fear that his nuclear programme may be used for that end.Â
There are signs, however, that Hamas may be showing some desire to have a long term cease-fire with Israel. The economic boycott is taking its toll on the Palestinian population and Hamas has not achieved anything to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people whose economy is moribund.Â
What happens in this part of the world in the next five years does not bode well at all for the Palestinians. The Israeli economy is doing well and there are even signs of foreign investment in Israel’s high tech industries, which is one of the most developed in the world. Much world famous software chips such as Intel and even Microsoft technology was developed in Israel. However, despite this, Israel is bogged down by corruption scandals in government and this in itself is causing the Israeli people to lose confidence in their rulers. The Lebanese War of July-August 2006 was a total fiasco and the Israeli Defense Force was unable to curtail the firing of Katyusha rockets into Israel by Hezbollah. The Vinograd Commission of Enquiry was established in order to investigate the conduct of the war and it looks as if heads will roll when the findings are concluded. The Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Amir Peretz and the Chief of Staff, Dan Halutz will be on the firing line. The latter has prematurely smelt the coffee and has resigned before his head goes on the block literally. It remains to be seen whether the Prime Minister and Defense Minister will follow suit when the conclusions are finalized by the commission of enquiry.Â
If the Palestinians do not cease their terrorist activity and organize their affairs, their immediate and long term economic future will be bleak indeed. Hamas has been involved in hate propaganda and terrorism – not only against Israel, but against their own people as well. They have shown no capability of being responsible rulers or legislators. They have not attempted to rebuild the infrastructure of their future Palestinian state or establish institutes that are responsible for good government and development of their economy. They seem to prefer to blame Israel and the West for their failures. Israel is responsible for many problems in the Palestinian areas, but not for all. The illegal settlements and humiliation of the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation is Israel’s responsibility and for that they paid a heavy price. However, the stubbornness of Hamas and its allied terrorist groups to continue the armed conflict against Israel and not to come to terms with Israel’s existence is a factor that prevents the development of the Palestinian economy and creation of jobs for Palestinians.Â
This situation will remain the same for many years to come until the Palestinian Hamas leadership changes their attitude and ceases terror. No country in Europe will be prepared to invest in Palestine while the mindset remains as it is with terror and the armed struggle remaining the top priority in the minds of the Hamas-oriented Palestinian leadership. The situation will only deteriorate further posing a threat to the stability of the Middle East and world peace generally.  Â
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Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackThis letter regarding a Comprehensive Mideast Peace Plan has been sent to the following; Palestinian National Authority President, Palestinian Liberation Organization, all Israeli Knesset Members, Israel Embassy in Washington DC, President of Lebanon, Lebanon Embassy in Washington DC, US President, US Vice President, US Secretary of State, All US Senators, US House Speaker, Pope Benedict XVI, UK Prime Minister, Russian President, Egypt Embassy in Washington DC, Jordan Embassy in Washington DC, Saudi Embassy in Washington DC, Saudi Arabia Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Various European Union Contacts, European Union Presidency, Foreign Minister of Finland, Foreign Minister of Jordan, Chancellor of Germany, United Nations, Brookings Institute, Nobel Peace Prize Director, Nobel Peace Prize Committee Members, Elie Wiesel Foundation, The Carter Center, The Clinton Foundation, Foundation for Middle East Peace, International Crisis Group, James A Baker III Institute for Public Policy, United States Institute of Peace, International Atomic Energy Agency, Muhammad Yunus of Grameen Bank, and Nelson Mandela Foundation.
The “Quartet’s” Road Map to Peace is doomed for failure because all parties know that the Road Map has no adequate final solution regarding the city of Jerusalem. The “Quartet’s Road Map to Peace does not adequately address security of the Israeli nation and fails to solve the isolation and destitution of the Palestinian nation. Peace in the Middle East region will not happen until we have a resolution solving the Israeli/Palestinian dispute and resolve the internal problems in Lebanon. Peace will never take hold until all the different parties are integrated and learn to live together. Keeping these factions segregated will never result in a peaceful solution. Most likely, segregation will create hardships and increase tensions. Keeping Palestinians isolated will most likely bring about further economic hardships. For peace to take place, the three major religions of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity that hold Jerusalem to be their holy city need to be involved in the peace process solution. The areas of Israel, Gaza Strip, West Bank, Golan Heights, and Lebanon should be incorporated as one entity known as the United Nations of Jerusalem (UNJ). The United Nations of Jerusalem will consist of three nations; The Nation of Israel (Jewish Government), The Nation of Palestine (Islamic Government of Palestinian Muslims and Lebanese Muslims), and the Nation of Lebanon (Christian Government).
The United Nations of Jerusalem will be one territory where all Jews, Muslims, and Christians have the right to live anywhere they desire. This will address the concerns of the Palestinian people regarding their right to return to their homeland from which they were exiled. The United Nations of Jerusalem will be one geographic territory occupied by three nations, where the city of Jerusalem will be the national capital of Israel, Palestine, and Lebanon. The United Nations of Jerusalem will consist of three nations that operate as one government. For any law to pass, a minimum of two of the three nations (religious governments) need to approve the legislation. Each nation will consist of a president, vice president, cabinet, and a congress. So there will be an Israeli Nation consisting of a Jewish President and a Jewish Congress, a Palestinian Nation consisting of an Islamic President and an Islamic Congress, and a Lebanese Nation consisting of a Christian President and a Christian Congress. The three nations will meet in joint session with their members present to discuss issues of importance. After the joint session, each nation will go to its own chamber to discuss and vote on the matter. For any law to pass, it takes a minimum of two of the three nations to approve the legislation.
Each nation will function in a similar manner as the United States government operates concerning the executive and legislative branches of government. Security of the United Nations of Jerusalem shall be secured by a peace treaty with the European Union of Nations and the United States stating that these nations shall defend any of the three UNJ Nations if so attacked. The Israeli President would have sole authority of the UNJ Defense Force for the external defense of the United Nations of Jerusalem and would have sole control of the armed forces and of its armaments designated for that defense purpose for the first three years. UNJ Defense Forces shall gradually be integrated with Muslims and Christians. During the fourth year, the UNJ Defense Forces shall be under the sole control of the Palestinian President then on the fifth year the Defense Forces shall be under the sole control of the Lebanese President. Starting on the sixth year, annual rotations will be made on which National President shall be in charge of the UNJ Defense Forces. The UNJ Internal Forces (police and national guard) would be under the control of all three nations. During the first three years of the existence of the United Nations of Jerusalem, an international coalition of armed forces from the United States, European Union, and other interested nations will help in the creation, formation, and maintenance of this new internal army. During the formation of the UNJ Internal Force, the Nation of Israel will be responsible for its own defense within the pre-1967 borders for the first two years to enable its own security while the rule of law is being established in Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territories by the international forces. By the third year the UNJ internal forces shall be placed within the pre-1967 borders of Israel. By the fourth year, all of the international coalition forces shall reduce the level of troops within the United Nations of Jerusalem, but that the European Union of Nations and the United States shall always maintain bases in the UNJ. The Internal Forces of the UNJ shall consist of collective groups of Jews, Muslims, and Christians that operate as a single unit. There shall be no segregated militia groups based on religion. Militant militias such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and Islamic Jihad will be disarmed. The internal army shall be an integrated force of different religious groups working as one. The UNJ Internal Forces shall answer to all three nations. The Internal Forces will answer to the three defense ministers (cabinet members). The action of the UNJ Internal Forces will only occur when at least a minimum of two of the three defense ministers approve such action. There will be an Israeli Defense Minister, Palestinian Defense Minister, and Lebanese Defense Minister. Each of these defense ministers answer to their own national president and may be removed by their respective president. Each nation’s cabinet members shall be appointed by their respective national president along with the majority consent of their respective nation’s congress (Note, judges shall be selected in the same manner). Any cabinet member may be removed by their respective national president as that president sees fit (Note, judges may only be removed by a 2/3 vote of their respective nation’s congress).
The judicial system in the United Nations of Jerusalem would be represented by the three nations. The Supreme Court shall consist of three Jews selected by the Nation of Israel, three Muslims selected by the Nation of Palestine, and three Christians selected by the Nation of Lebanon. The United Nations of Jerusalem shall be governed by a doctrine of “Freedom of Religion” (one’s right to choose their religion freely). Each lower court shall consist of three judges; one Jewish judge, one Muslim judge, one Christian judge. The jury of any trial shall consist of three Jews, three Muslims, and three Christians. A decision or conviction by a jury shall take place only upon a vote of two-thirds (6/9) or more.
The election process shall be overseen by the three election commission ministers (cabinet positions). Again, an international coalition shall oversee the election process during the first four years. All United Nations of Jerusalem citizens shall register under their religious affiliations as either a Jew, a Muslim, or a Christian (subject to approval of election commission). All poling places throughout the United Nations of Jerusalem shall contain voting facilities for Jews, Muslims, and Christians no matter what the population size of that religious group shall be in a particular area. For example if a person is a Muslim, they will only vote for the Palestinian President, Palestinian Vice President, and Palestinian Congress. Each national presidential and vice presidential term shall be four years. National congressional terms shall be four years. Each national congress shall be elected on an at-large basis where each citizen votes for a political party. Each political party will receive its pro-rata share of congressional seats based on the percentage of votes received. Congressional elections will be based on the model that the Israelis use in electing Knesset Members. Such an election process ensures that minority factions will obtain seats in their respective national congress.
Many innocent people are suffering and dying over a conflict that can be settled. History tends to show that two sided conflicts are not easily resolved and usually result in bloody wars. The peace plan that I am presenting is a novel approach of creating a political process where there can be no stalemate. This situation creates an atmosphere of dialogue whereby all three nations know that they must compromise or be endangered of being left out if the other two nations vote against them.
A peace process referendum should be put to a vote to all peoples located in Israel, Gaza Strip, West Bank, Golan Heights, and Lebanon. Also, all the citizens of Lebanon who emigrated from that country since 1975 at the onset of the Lebanese Civil War should be part of the voting process concerning the “United Nations of Jerusalem” peace proposal and that these people should be allowed the choice to repatriate. The estimate of Lebanese leaving since 1975 is 70% Christian and 30% Muslim. Also, Christian minorities throughout the Middle East should be allowed to emigrate to the United Nations of Jerusalem (Such as the Assyrians, Copts, and other Arab Christians). Peace is a real possibility if people put an effort in attaining it. I pray that there may be a solution for peace and that the suffering will cease for all Jews, Muslims, and Christians. Let everyone pray for the peace in this area of the world and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Respectfully Yours:
Mr. Jon Allen Dolen
PO Box 67
Green Valley, IL 61534-0067 USA
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