The US has set five conditions for the Gaza retreat:
1) The plan must not replace the US Road Map plan;
2) The US will not bear the costs of evacuating and resettling the nearly 8,000 residents;
3) The expelled residents must not be relocated in Judea and Samaria;
4) The evacuation must be not only of civilians, but of all military residents; and
5) Israel must not annex any areas of Judea and Samaria.
The Americans have also asked that the withdrawal be carried out only after the US elections almost eight months from now. They also concluded that it is important to the Bush Administration that the planned withdrawal not appear as a surrender to terrorism.
Furthermore the US is demanding that the fence stay close to the armistice lines and that it not circle the airport, preferring to expose Israelis to terrorism rather than Palestinians to inconvenience.
On the other hand Israel is seeking to get a compensation package from the US in exchange for the disengagement, whereby the US agrees to the annexation of the major settlement blocks, including Ariel, the US guarantees no right of return and underwrites the cost of resettlement.
Not only are the Americans saying "no" to the package, they are making demands. To make matters worse, Prime Minister Sharon says he won't disengage without America's blessing and, for that matter, he won't do hardly anything without its blessing.
Where does this leave Israel? In big trouble.
America's position couldn't be clearer. It is protecting the Palestinians at Israel's expense. America believes that it can better calm the Middle East if it forces Israel back to the '67 armistice lines, rather than by forcing the Palestinians to accept major territorial adjustments.
Israel accepted the Roadmap subject to fourteen conditions that the US is required to take into consideration. These include:
1) The absolute cessation of terror and incitement before anything is required of Israel.
2) "The future settlement will be reached through agreement and direct negotiations between the two parties, in accordance with the vision outlined by President Bush in his 24 June address."
3) "The removal of references other than 242 and 338 (1397, the Saudi Initiative and the Arab Initiative adopted in Beirut). A settlement based upon the Roadmap will be an autonomous settlement that derives its validity therefrom. The only possible reference should be to Resolutions 242 and 338, and then only as an outline for the conduct of future negotiations on a permanent settlement."
We haven't heard about these redlines since they were set out and it would appear that the US is doing everything it can to get Israel to refrain from bettering its negotiating position.
We hear about American demands, but never about Israeli demands.
We hear from Bush and Sharon that they will never jeopardize Israel's security, but we never hear from either about Israel's right to the land or Jerusalem or any other right.
We hear from both of them that the Roadmap is still the way to go.
I urge you to reread this Roadmap if you can stomach it. It is absolutely oppressive to Israel. Absolutely nothing has been done pursuant to the plan by any Arab country or by the Palestinians. In effect, all Arabs have rejected it by their actions, as opposed to their words. Mind you, even their words reject it or the obligations under it. Nevertheless, Bush blindly enshrines it as the way to go and Sharon pays lip service to it in deference to the US.
Israel has no choice but to get off the Road and end the peace process. Everyone agrees that Israel has no partner in the peace process, so in effect there is no peace process. It is time for unilateral moves by Israel not only in relation to the Palestinians, but also in relation to the US.
Israel cannot retreat from Gaza without an agreement with someone who will enforce security. But whom can Israel trust to prevent arms build-up through smuggling via tunnels or ships, or the manufacturer of weapons, other than itself.
So forget about the pipe dream of bettering your position by retreating from Gaza. And when Israel does accept an arrangement, it should not include the evacuation of all the settlements, for fear of establishing the principal of evacuating every inch. When Sharon suggested retreating from all of it so that there would be no reason for further terrorism, as Sha'aba Farms was and is, I was horrified. If that's not appeasement, what is?
Israel should formally declare an end to the Roadmap. In deference to Bush, it can wait until after the elections. At such time as the Palestinians get their act together and form a responsible government, negotiations can start without preconditions. Israel doesn't need a roadmap to negotiate a deal. Nor does it need Oslo or Resolution 242. Nor does it need the involvement of the Quartet, including the US. Especially if the US doesn't want Israel to do a "land grab" or if it doesn't want to underwrite the cost of the evacuation. Just think, no evacuation, no cost.
If the Palestinians should choose instead to continue in the path of violence, Israel should invite them "to bring it on" and deal with it accordingly.
Meanwhile, the Middle East is not standing still. American pressure is mounting on Syria and Saudi Arabia to join the war on terror and Iraq is being stabilized. This will progress regardless of what is happening in Israel. Israel should not allow the payment for such progress to be Israeli blood or land.
As for the fence, build it where it wants to build it, not where America dictates. If America wants to go so far as to allow a mandatory resolution to be passed by the UN, Israel can always negotiate a deal afterwards. But what are the chances of the US government or people doing so? Nil.
As for fighting terror, forget about world opinion and do what is necessary. Hold the Palestinian people collectively responsible for what the PA permits. There are no innocent Palestinians. They have a government that they elected and continue to support. They also support terrorism in the service of their cause. They must be held accountable, and I mean the people and not just the leaders.
Now that Israel has regained the upper hand, it should press its advantage rather than make a stupid deal, as it did when it had the advantage prior to Oslo It is not too late to take control of the situation.
Don't take orders, take charge.
1) The plan must not replace the US Road Map plan;
2) The US will not bear the costs of evacuating and resettling the nearly 8,000 residents;
3) The expelled residents must not be relocated in Judea and Samaria;
4) The evacuation must be not only of civilians, but of all military residents; and
5) Israel must not annex any areas of Judea and Samaria.
The Americans have also asked that the withdrawal be carried out only after the US elections almost eight months from now. They also concluded that it is important to the Bush Administration that the planned withdrawal not appear as a surrender to terrorism.
Furthermore the US is demanding that the fence stay close to the armistice lines and that it not circle the airport, preferring to expose Israelis to terrorism rather than Palestinians to inconvenience.
On the other hand Israel is seeking to get a compensation package from the US in exchange for the disengagement, whereby the US agrees to the annexation of the major settlement blocks, including Ariel, the US guarantees no right of return and underwrites the cost of resettlement.
Not only are the Americans saying "no" to the package, they are making demands. To make matters worse, Prime Minister Sharon says he won't disengage without America's blessing and, for that matter, he won't do hardly anything without its blessing.
Where does this leave Israel? In big trouble.
America's position couldn't be clearer. It is protecting the Palestinians at Israel's expense. America believes that it can better calm the Middle East if it forces Israel back to the '67 armistice lines, rather than by forcing the Palestinians to accept major territorial adjustments.
Israel accepted the Roadmap subject to fourteen conditions that the US is required to take into consideration. These include:
1) The absolute cessation of terror and incitement before anything is required of Israel.
2) "The future settlement will be reached through agreement and direct negotiations between the two parties, in accordance with the vision outlined by President Bush in his 24 June address."
3) "The removal of references other than 242 and 338 (1397, the Saudi Initiative and the Arab Initiative adopted in Beirut). A settlement based upon the Roadmap will be an autonomous settlement that derives its validity therefrom. The only possible reference should be to Resolutions 242 and 338, and then only as an outline for the conduct of future negotiations on a permanent settlement."
We haven't heard about these redlines since they were set out and it would appear that the US is doing everything it can to get Israel to refrain from bettering its negotiating position.
We hear about American demands, but never about Israeli demands.
We hear from Bush and Sharon that they will never jeopardize Israel's security, but we never hear from either about Israel's right to the land or Jerusalem or any other right.
We hear from both of them that the Roadmap is still the way to go.
I urge you to reread this Roadmap if you can stomach it. It is absolutely oppressive to Israel. Absolutely nothing has been done pursuant to the plan by any Arab country or by the Palestinians. In effect, all Arabs have rejected it by their actions, as opposed to their words. Mind you, even their words reject it or the obligations under it. Nevertheless, Bush blindly enshrines it as the way to go and Sharon pays lip service to it in deference to the US.
Israel has no choice but to get off the Road and end the peace process. Everyone agrees that Israel has no partner in the peace process, so in effect there is no peace process. It is time for unilateral moves by Israel not only in relation to the Palestinians, but also in relation to the US.
Israel cannot retreat from Gaza without an agreement with someone who will enforce security. But whom can Israel trust to prevent arms build-up through smuggling via tunnels or ships, or the manufacturer of weapons, other than itself.
So forget about the pipe dream of bettering your position by retreating from Gaza. And when Israel does accept an arrangement, it should not include the evacuation of all the settlements, for fear of establishing the principal of evacuating every inch. When Sharon suggested retreating from all of it so that there would be no reason for further terrorism, as Sha'aba Farms was and is, I was horrified. If that's not appeasement, what is?
Israel should formally declare an end to the Roadmap. In deference to Bush, it can wait until after the elections. At such time as the Palestinians get their act together and form a responsible government, negotiations can start without preconditions. Israel doesn't need a roadmap to negotiate a deal. Nor does it need Oslo or Resolution 242. Nor does it need the involvement of the Quartet, including the US. Especially if the US doesn't want Israel to do a "land grab" or if it doesn't want to underwrite the cost of the evacuation. Just think, no evacuation, no cost.
If the Palestinians should choose instead to continue in the path of violence, Israel should invite them "to bring it on" and deal with it accordingly.
Meanwhile, the Middle East is not standing still. American pressure is mounting on Syria and Saudi Arabia to join the war on terror and Iraq is being stabilized. This will progress regardless of what is happening in Israel. Israel should not allow the payment for such progress to be Israeli blood or land.
As for the fence, build it where it wants to build it, not where America dictates. If America wants to go so far as to allow a mandatory resolution to be passed by the UN, Israel can always negotiate a deal afterwards. But what are the chances of the US government or people doing so? Nil.
As for fighting terror, forget about world opinion and do what is necessary. Hold the Palestinian people collectively responsible for what the PA permits. There are no innocent Palestinians. They have a government that they elected and continue to support. They also support terrorism in the service of their cause. They must be held accountable, and I mean the people and not just the leaders.
Now that Israel has regained the upper hand, it should press its advantage rather than make a stupid deal, as it did when it had the advantage prior to Oslo It is not too late to take control of the situation.
Don't take orders, take charge.