The Real Situation in the Middle East
Netanyahu stated today that moderate Palestinians should be strengthened and radicals should be weakened. According to him it is impossible to discuss the possibility of holding negotiations for a two states solution currently. Netanyahu stated again that strengthening the Palestinian economy is the best step which he plans to make regarding the Israeli – Palestinians conflict.
Levni said that Israel must give up land to remain Jewish and democratic. Levni said that no Palestinian refugees should be allowed to return to their lands in Israel because their real national aspiration exists in another place; the Palestinian territories. This is the second time Levni discusses the importance of keeping Israeli a Jewish state and empty from any kind of other national identities inside it.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stated today that any negotiations with Israel in the time settlements are being built are a waste of time. Abbas, who is considered a moderate Palestinian, insists on repeating that no Peace agreement could be made without an Israeli withdrawal from the 1967 occupied lands, East Jerusalem, the refugees’ case, and the Palestinian prisoners. Abbas’s demands are similar to the Palestinian Authority demands, and the Arab offer for peace with Israel.
Reading through what Netanyahu said, it is clear that he has no intentions in starting a new round of negotiations with the Palestinians. According to him, the Palestinians’ division is the reason. Netanyahu deals with the Israeli Palestinian conflict by trying to direct the conflict instead of finding a solution for it; he wants to end the Hamas control on Gaza, suggests the possibility of strengthening the Palestinian Authority forces in the West Bank for one purpose which is protecting the security of Israel, and replaces the solution of two states with an economical support to the West Bank Palestinians. It is clear that even a moderate Palestinian leadership will never accept such a strategy.
Levni, who stated that Israel should give up lands to protect its Jewish identity, does not seem to be clear about which lands she exactly talks. Recently Kadema party stated that the majority of Lieberman demands were approved. Lieberman is known as an extreme Israeli leader. Levni participated in negotiations with the Palestinians under Ehud Olmert‘s government. Neither she, nor the Palestinians did reach together any kind of an agreement regarding Jerusalem, and the 1967 occupied lands.
However, Israelis and Palestinians do not seem to agree with each other on any point in the negotiations, especially when Jerusalem or lands are discussed. The problem is not in finding a real partner or strengthening a moderate and weakening an extremist. The real problem is deeper in which both communities are not ready to disclaim anything of what they consider a right for them. The culture and education which was taught since the establishment of the Israeli state, on the 1948 Palestinian lands, in both the Jewish and the Arab community, were only about teaching the new generations of their duty to keep on being associated to their legacy, rights, and land.
Levni stated today that she knows that Israel will fight for its existence not only because it is the only democratic state in the Middle East, but also the only Jewish state in the world. This shows the reality of Levni’ vision about the land and the compromise she could agree on. The majority of the Israeli leaders whether they were moderate, extreme, or left do not believe in security which can be made through negotiations and Peace agreements. Israel, according to them, should always have a strong army and control the whole land in order to protect its existence.
Palestinians from the other side do not believe that Israel is ready to sacrifice anything for Peace. The Palestinian’ suffering and miserable life started from the first day the Israeli state was established; they lost their lands, were never given an opportunity to rule themselves independently, and lost faith in the Compromise solution leadership. The new Palestinian generations are taught about their Nakba and Naksa which are the most painful periods which the Palestinian people went through, exactly like the Israeli new generations who are taught about the Holocaust which was a disaster and one of the worst periods that any people could go through, and the victims which were lost in wars with Arabs and the conflict with the Palestinians.
The Past of both Israeli and the Palestinian peoples, keeps on following them, and the Rights which each side claim make it impossible to reach any kind of compromise. Their Despair, past experience, and suffering, made them reach a level of being ready to fight, get killed, and stay in war mode to prevent any kind of another material loss. Anger which fills their minds and souls encourages them to choose the option of facing each other with force in order to prove that they exist and can turn the life of each other into hell.
Both peoples lack a central element which can invest in reaching a Peace solution; this element is a true leader who can lead his/her people and make them support the decision which can end the ongoing misery. Economy and fake intentions towards peace will not serve the case of bringing real security; indeed it will only create more generations who will one day completely forget the choice of peace. On one side, any people should be given the right of living independently and must be treated fairly like any other people. On the other side, the existence of one people should be recognized in order to make real peace. Use of Violence by any side will never bring any kind of victory or real security; this is a conflict about real values and rights which differ from temporary wars that can be ended with one battle.
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