FEATURED JOBS
One would excuse Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for seeking medical relief after the self-induced pain of political deja vu.
On Sunday, June 14, he did it again – gaining a coveted pat on the back from a U.S. president, and angering Israel’s right and left (and their supporters abroad) for respectively selling out and not going far enough. Meanwhile, the Palestinians’ predictable “not good enough and violence is coming” quickly followed.
The same thing happened back in 1998 when Mr. Netanyahu was prime minister and he negotiated the Wye Accord, which promised to give 13 percent more of the West Bank to the Palestinians (which never occurred as the deal imploded Mr. Netanyahu’s governing coalition).
The new flare-up came after the Israeli leader’s speech at Bar Ilan University – interestingly the political home of the religious nationalist camp, including its most infamous student, Yitzhak Rabin murderer Yigal Amir.
Bibi’s speech deserves serious attention by American Jews for what was said and what it means in our efforts to help the Jewish state as we have more power than we often believe.
For starters, Mr. Netanyahu called for immediate, unconditional negotiations with the Palestinians, talks that will eventually lead to a Palestinian state aside Israel. This was the long-awaited (by the Obama administration) endorsement of a “two-state solution.” It is anathema to the right-wing roots that watered Mr. Netanyahu’s intellectual upbringing.
Not so fast, critics cry. Mr. Netanyahu dumped heavy conditions into the mix, merely making this a long delaying tactic. They include: the Palestinian state being demilitarized, Jerusalem being recognized as Israel’s undivided capital, the end of the Palestinian refugees’ demand to return to pre-1967 Israel and formal Palestinian agreement that Israel is “the Jewish state.”
On West Bank Jewish settlements, Mr. Netanyahu said “natural growth” in existing communities would go on, but new settlements will not arise.
The predictable Palestinian response from P.A. President Mahmoud Abbas: “The speech has destroyed all initiatives and expectations.” For good measure, a top aide added, “in the aftermath of this speech, we are headed toward another round of violence and bloodshed.”
In such quick denunciation, the Palestinians sadly proved an inability to negotiate even before the process begins. No one expects them to embrace Israel’s opening positions any more than vice versa. Would they need the dialogue were they in agreement?
Rather than offer a knee-jerk defense toward Israel’s positions, American Jews and their organizations should go beyond their general congratulating Mr. Netanyahu on his historic two-state concession. They also must push him on the details. In particular, they need him to outline – and then to politically and financially support – economic progress for the Palestinians.
Most of all, they need to keep asking: Why the delay in dismantling the 101 West Bank outposts? These small clusters of ramshackle homes are often populated by the “hilltop youth,” the current vanguard of the settler movement. But Bibi and his immediate two predecessors have agreed the outposts are illegal. Likewise, they have to date lacked the political will and strength to move against them.
We also need definitions of “natural growth” for existing settlements. It is a valid concept, and this week – surprise, surprise – even former President Jimmy Carter agreed that many Israeli settlements around Jerusalem would not leave Israeli control, which means they can grow within their borders.
At the same time, American Jewish groups need more outreach to Palestinian groups and their allies in this country. And we need to deliver this message:
“There are more words than ‘no.’ Stop negotiating through the media, and start doing it with Israel. Make the West Bank a `Hamas-free zone.’ Build bridges with American Jewish groups. U.S. support is critical and no one follows your plight more closely than we do and, yes, we do know how to work the political system, and for the right reasons.
“So drum up a realistic list of confidence building measures. Yours start with stopping incitement toward Jews, a cesspool that breeds violence; Israel’s starts with the maximum freedom of movement possible (within legitimate security limitations) on the West Bank, and encouraging development projects that will employ Palestinians.
“Do this, and push us to realistically push Israel. In doing so, you will dare Netanyahu, the Jewish state and the Jewish people into trusting you, which will be a path toward peace.”
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