I think I finally understand the problem the US State Department has in recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital. It isn't that the US State Department is worried about offending the "sensibilities" of the Palestinians; it is that the US State Department thinks that Washington DC is Israel's capital. Unfortunately for Israel, most of the Israeli government seems to agree. The evidence is the US State Department's contentious belief that eastern Jerusalem should be included in the list of Palestinian townships voting in the Palestinian elections - and the Israeli government's acquiescence to that opinion.
I guess I shouldn't be surprised that the US wants the Palestinians to vote from eastern Jerusalem. After all, the US cities of Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles, Nashville and Washington DC were included in the most recent Iraqi vote; so what's the problem with the Palestinians voting in Jerusalem?
Well, I can safely assume that Iraqi-Americans who fled Iraq to come to the United States are willing to recognize the legitimacy of the US government, they are willing to become citizens or registered aliens in the US, and that they recognize the laws of the United States. This is not an assumption I can make of anyone in Israel who dubs themselves a "Palestinian".
An Israeli Arab is a non-Jewish Israeli citizen of Arab descent. Because Israeli Arabs are considered Israeli citizens, it can be assumed they accept the legitimacy of the country of Israel and they live by its laws. However, those who define themselves as "Palestinian" are, by that simple word, defining themselves against Israel.
The whole point of the word "Palestine" - from its invention as a direct affront to Jews during Roman occupation, to its cooptation as a "neutral" term by the British Authority, to its cooptation by non-native Arabs like Yasser Arafat to show anti-Israel sentiment - has been to deny the rights of Jews on Jewish land, to deny the legitimacy of our country and to refuse to live by the laws of Israel.
Allowing the votes of "Palestinians" in eastern Jerusalem does not compare in any respect to the allowance of Iraqi voting in the US. By allowing that vote to proceed, Israel is accepting the continued presence of her sworn enemies within her borders. It would be something like the US agreeing to allow a vote for Al-Qaeda leadership in a suburb of Washington DC.
So, what should we do about it? Well, I think this is an excellent opportunity to positively identify those who define themselves against Israel. I think Israel should allow the registration of "Palestinians" in the elections in eastern Jerusalem and elsewhere within Israel, then use that registration as proof that they are enemies of the state; and they should be deported immediately.
After all, isn't the use of deportation proceedings the way most countries deal with terrorist and anti-government outsiders in their countries? Why should Israel be prevented from securing her own land and borders from outside forces? Why can't Israel - like France, Spain, Germany and the United States - begin rigorously defending her borders against illegal aliens?
In fact, let's take a page from the current US State Department playbook. If the US wants to act like Israel's capital is Washington DC, then let's do what they would do. We have already begun building the separation fence on our borders, as the US has prescribed to protect her citizens from illegal aliens, so why not adopt the rest of the US policy?
Israel should offer a period of amnesty, when aliens can register with the government to remain within her borders for a period of six months, after which they must be deported. If someone registers as an alien, then they cannot request citizenship until they return to their native land (i.e., Jordan) and go through a lengthy process to establish citizenship in Israel.
All those applying for citizenship either must qualify under the Law of Return, or they must be willing to take an oath of allegiance to the State of Israel, pass a test (in Hebrew) about Jewish and Israeli history, and agree to follow the laws of the State of Israel. They must also have a recognized profession so that they do not become dependent upon welfare, and they should bring a minimum amount of money with them to establish a home (say 20,000 NIS).
This should eliminate most of the problems of Israeli security. Every Arab in the world knows that they cannot simultaneously accept the legitimacy of Israel and be accepted in other Arab countries. If Arab countries see Israelis as enemies, then why don't Israelis see Arabs as enemies? What comes around goes around.
It is time we identify the enemies within our borders and deal with them as any other nation would. After all, what else would Dr. Condeleezza Rice expect of her 51st state?
I guess I shouldn't be surprised that the US wants the Palestinians to vote from eastern Jerusalem. After all, the US cities of Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles, Nashville and Washington DC were included in the most recent Iraqi vote; so what's the problem with the Palestinians voting in Jerusalem?
Well, I can safely assume that Iraqi-Americans who fled Iraq to come to the United States are willing to recognize the legitimacy of the US government, they are willing to become citizens or registered aliens in the US, and that they recognize the laws of the United States. This is not an assumption I can make of anyone in Israel who dubs themselves a "Palestinian".
An Israeli Arab is a non-Jewish Israeli citizen of Arab descent. Because Israeli Arabs are considered Israeli citizens, it can be assumed they accept the legitimacy of the country of Israel and they live by its laws. However, those who define themselves as "Palestinian" are, by that simple word, defining themselves against Israel.
The whole point of the word "Palestine" - from its invention as a direct affront to Jews during Roman occupation, to its cooptation as a "neutral" term by the British Authority, to its cooptation by non-native Arabs like Yasser Arafat to show anti-Israel sentiment - has been to deny the rights of Jews on Jewish land, to deny the legitimacy of our country and to refuse to live by the laws of Israel.
Allowing the votes of "Palestinians" in eastern Jerusalem does not compare in any respect to the allowance of Iraqi voting in the US. By allowing that vote to proceed, Israel is accepting the continued presence of her sworn enemies within her borders. It would be something like the US agreeing to allow a vote for Al-Qaeda leadership in a suburb of Washington DC.
So, what should we do about it? Well, I think this is an excellent opportunity to positively identify those who define themselves against Israel. I think Israel should allow the registration of "Palestinians" in the elections in eastern Jerusalem and elsewhere within Israel, then use that registration as proof that they are enemies of the state; and they should be deported immediately.
After all, isn't the use of deportation proceedings the way most countries deal with terrorist and anti-government outsiders in their countries? Why should Israel be prevented from securing her own land and borders from outside forces? Why can't Israel - like France, Spain, Germany and the United States - begin rigorously defending her borders against illegal aliens?
In fact, let's take a page from the current US State Department playbook. If the US wants to act like Israel's capital is Washington DC, then let's do what they would do. We have already begun building the separation fence on our borders, as the US has prescribed to protect her citizens from illegal aliens, so why not adopt the rest of the US policy?
Israel should offer a period of amnesty, when aliens can register with the government to remain within her borders for a period of six months, after which they must be deported. If someone registers as an alien, then they cannot request citizenship until they return to their native land (i.e., Jordan) and go through a lengthy process to establish citizenship in Israel.
All those applying for citizenship either must qualify under the Law of Return, or they must be willing to take an oath of allegiance to the State of Israel, pass a test (in Hebrew) about Jewish and Israeli history, and agree to follow the laws of the State of Israel. They must also have a recognized profession so that they do not become dependent upon welfare, and they should bring a minimum amount of money with them to establish a home (say 20,000 NIS).
This should eliminate most of the problems of Israeli security. Every Arab in the world knows that they cannot simultaneously accept the legitimacy of Israel and be accepted in other Arab countries. If Arab countries see Israelis as enemies, then why don't Israelis see Arabs as enemies? What comes around goes around.
It is time we identify the enemies within our borders and deal with them as any other nation would. After all, what else would Dr. Condeleezza Rice expect of her 51st state?