In a new film—released both on DVD and Youtube–Jimmy Carter, James A. Baker, Brent Scowcroft and Zbigniew Brzezinski make the case that it is time for the Obama administration to put forward a conflict-ending resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The senior statesmen make the case that a U.S. plan will not address all Israeli or Palestinian interests, but that if the U.S. exerts leadership and its allies support the plan, the majority of Israelis and Palestinians will see the opportunity for a genuine and long-lasting peace.
The Foundation for Middle East Peace supported the production of the film–New Hope for Peace: What America Must do to end the Israel-Palestine Conflict–and described its release as coming â€at a time when the Obama administration and Mitchell risk repeating another failed ‘peace process’ by pushing interim ‘confidence-building’ measures like a settlement freeze and goodwill gestures by Arab governments which are not making much progress.â€
At a time when the Netanyahu government and its allies in the U.S. have urged the Obama administration to back off its push for an Israeli-Palestinian peace settlement, this bipartisan intervention by four elder statesmen demonstrates that there is still a strong constituency within the foreign policy establishment for aggressive U.S. leadership in the peace process.
Carter, Baker, Scowcroft and Brzezinski argue that a U.S. led plan which supports Israel’s right to exist, engages Hamas and Palestinian leadership, and provides a clear road map based on “land for peace†would be pivotal in winning over the majority of Israelis and Palestinians as well as gaining the support of Arab regional partners and allies around the world.
Although perhaps overly simplistic—which is unavoidable in a twenty minute film—it give one pause to think about what would happen if the US proposed a comprehensive plan for a two-state-solution which the rest of the world could support. Would Israel or the Palestinians be able to resist such an offer?
They mean well, but it is too late. Forward thinking Palestinians and Israelis are working on the one country solution. Accept Israel control over the West Bank and Gaza, work for enfranchisement of Palestinians and the right of all to live anywhere between the river and the sea according to universally applied standards of property rights. Overcome Israeli apartheid, and let's not waste time working for independence of Palistinian bantustans.
They mean well, but it is too late. Forward thinking Palestinians and Israelis are working on the one country solution. Accept Israel control over the West Bank and Gaza, work for enfranchisement of Palestinians and the right of all to live anywhere between the river and the sea according to universally applied standards of property rights. Overcome Israeli apartheid, and let's not waste time working for independence of Palestinian bantustans.
Once out of the office some American politicians find some courage to speak out!
What you really mean is once out of the clutches of the Israeli lobby.
You got it right, HP. Let everyone live there who wants to. Live there in a multi-ethnic democracy. Dump the exclusively "Jewish state" idea. It's an antique "tribal" notion from an era where one's own tribe/religion was right and good, and "the other's" tribe/religion wrong and evil.
It's either that or a continuation of the present course: continued violence and escalating anger leading inevitably to industrial-level bloodshed — at some point nuclear-mediated.
Sadly, for 5000 years the Jews have been trying to commit suicide. Barring some innovation, they're almost certain to repeat, once again, that 5 millennium-long pattern. As a Jew, it pisses me off. What a waste.
Homeingpigeon is quite right in that the solution to Israeli/Palestinian conflict is one country not two. I think that will work but not for the politically correct reason. There will not be brotherhood but rather a dash for the door. A combined state will of necessity be a Mid Eastern country with lots of Arab culture. Many, if not most, Jewish Israelis will leave as they really don’t want to live in a Mid Eastern country. They are seemingly only happy if living in a westernized colony with high walls keeping Arab culture out. Apartheid is the only glue holding Israel together.
I think you are quite right in your assessment.
“You got it right, HP. Let everyone live there who wants to.”
Regarding the Youtube clip: These people are all out of their mind thinking that by a two state solution they can achieve peace. It is only a wishful thinking. This conflict needs generation to resolve. Don't forget who's talking here. The same people who armed the Muslim fanatics and the suicide bombers! And one day they just site down and say let's put our emotions aside and have peace! Yeah that will work just because you say so, especially in the Middle East. I come from Muslim background and am a pro Israeli because I am Persian. I know how these lunatics think and suggest to the Pro Israelis to resist such sweet talks and deal with their own realties on the ground after all these are the same people who destroyed my country and as a matter of fact the whole region by what they don't know and never ever understand and that is Islam! Their next plan is not only to destroy Israel but America itself.