Now that the deed is done, unless HaKadosh Baruch Hu miraculously changes facts on the ground, Gaza is now the de facto nucleus for a Palestinian state. This creates new opportunities.
It is evident that there is not enough physical space in Judea and Samaria to absorb three million Arabs into a so-called nation. The world wants to see a Palestinian state, although the Palestinians are not up to the task. Palestinians themselves recognize that the prospect of an actual sovereign nation is principally an academic one, but the Disengagement has created the delusion that they may just be able to build and maintain a state. For this reason, I am proposing a plan that is "off the wall".
Why not purchase from Egypt desert land and beaches, equivalent in size to Judea and Samaria in the Sinai Peninsula, contiguous to Gaza? In addition, let us provide them with "reparations" for their displacement, at a certain number of dollars per family. Being that a unilateral precedent has already been established and that the Palestinians have embraced it, many can now be made to accept the idea of "transfer" of Palestinians to this de facto Palestinian state. The state of Israel itself was anchored by purchasing land from Arabs.
Why should we pay for it? Well, we would be the originators of the mortgage, but all the European and Arab nations so eager to assist the Palestinians would pitch in. Where will we get the money? With the use of bank guarantees and bank trades, it is possible to achieve without depriving our future generations of any livelihood or life. We are already paying the price in Jewish lives, supporting and arming the Palestinians and building a costly wall.
Here are some reasons why we should adopt this strategy:
Demographics of Israel are such that Muslims and other non-Jews will eventually outnumber Jews. Fifteen years from now, there may be more than five million Arabs in Israel. Even if we could multiply fast enough to remain demographically ahead of the non-Jews, there is not enough space in Judea and Samaria to accommodate non-Jews reproducing at such rates. The idea of "transfer" has been raised in the past and now Gaza may be an opportune pretext for it.
The Sinai Peninsula can conceivably accommodate 100 million Palestinians. We would be happy to assist them in developing that desert into orchards, farms and world class resorts on those beaches. Other Arab states can assist in the desalination plants for water and other infrastructure. France and Germany can pour money into their universities and industrial parks. Nations of the world can all pitch in to establish the Palestinian state. This will create plenty of jobs for Palestinians; and a busy, working Palestinian is a peaceful one.
It is true that the Sinai Peninsula is indeed part of greater Israel, but for now, we can allow the Palestinians to trash it until they get the nerve to invade Israel again with their Egyptian brothers. In the meantime, they will be contained and outside the heartland of Eretz Yisrael.
It is evident that there is not enough physical space in Judea and Samaria to absorb three million Arabs into a so-called nation. The world wants to see a Palestinian state, although the Palestinians are not up to the task. Palestinians themselves recognize that the prospect of an actual sovereign nation is principally an academic one, but the Disengagement has created the delusion that they may just be able to build and maintain a state. For this reason, I am proposing a plan that is "off the wall".
Why not purchase from Egypt desert land and beaches, equivalent in size to Judea and Samaria in the Sinai Peninsula, contiguous to Gaza? In addition, let us provide them with "reparations" for their displacement, at a certain number of dollars per family. Being that a unilateral precedent has already been established and that the Palestinians have embraced it, many can now be made to accept the idea of "transfer" of Palestinians to this de facto Palestinian state. The state of Israel itself was anchored by purchasing land from Arabs.
Why should we pay for it? Well, we would be the originators of the mortgage, but all the European and Arab nations so eager to assist the Palestinians would pitch in. Where will we get the money? With the use of bank guarantees and bank trades, it is possible to achieve without depriving our future generations of any livelihood or life. We are already paying the price in Jewish lives, supporting and arming the Palestinians and building a costly wall.
Here are some reasons why we should adopt this strategy:
- Gaza will give the Arabs some satisfaction and hubris that they did "win" a piece of the Zionist entity, for now.
- The desired contiguity of a Palestinian state will be achieved.
- We have already evacuated Yamit and relinquished the Sinai "occupied" territories for peace; annexing it to the Palestinian state would be Egypt's peace dividend (New Ramallah would have a nice ring to it).
- Palestinians will be starting with a clean slate in developing their state. They will have unlimited water for desalination and they will be beneficiaries of know-how from all over the world on building their nation from scratch.
- Judea and Samaria would be formally annexed by Israel. Ramallah, Jenin and other former Arab/Palestinian communities would be bulldozed.
- It will give Egypt the opportunity and prestige of being the definitive player in the Arab-Israeli peace process. Hosni Mubarak might even win the Nobel Peace Prize for it (if Yasser Arafat could, any Arab leader can).
Demographics of Israel are such that Muslims and other non-Jews will eventually outnumber Jews. Fifteen years from now, there may be more than five million Arabs in Israel. Even if we could multiply fast enough to remain demographically ahead of the non-Jews, there is not enough space in Judea and Samaria to accommodate non-Jews reproducing at such rates. The idea of "transfer" has been raised in the past and now Gaza may be an opportune pretext for it.
The Sinai Peninsula can conceivably accommodate 100 million Palestinians. We would be happy to assist them in developing that desert into orchards, farms and world class resorts on those beaches. Other Arab states can assist in the desalination plants for water and other infrastructure. France and Germany can pour money into their universities and industrial parks. Nations of the world can all pitch in to establish the Palestinian state. This will create plenty of jobs for Palestinians; and a busy, working Palestinian is a peaceful one.
It is true that the Sinai Peninsula is indeed part of greater Israel, but for now, we can allow the Palestinians to trash it until they get the nerve to invade Israel again with their Egyptian brothers. In the meantime, they will be contained and outside the heartland of Eretz Yisrael.