There are problems that seem so intractable the only
solution is to look the other way and hope that someday they will somehow be
resolved. For generations the Israeli/Palestinian conflict has been one of
those unsolvable international firestorms. Nobody has suggested a way out, and
no one has been seriously committed to either of the two possible resolutions.
1-Two independent
states living side by side with mutual recognition and in relative peace. Despite
the political rhetoric, there are few who really believe this scenario is
possible. Hamas is still committed to Israel’s ultimate destruction, and its
leaders have affirmed again an unwillingness to admit that Israel has a right
to exist. At the same time the occupation of the west bank and the blockade of
the Gaza strip denies any Israeli claim that it wants a peaceful two state
agreement. While the US continually calls for it, politicians in both political
parties are bought and paid for by the Israeli lobby, backed up by hordes of Christian
fundamentalists.
2-One state including
both Jews and Palestinians. Even a cursory look at the demographics would
suggest that it is just a matter of time until Palestinians would become a
majority, and Israel, as the world’s only Jewish nation, would be no more. No
one I know is seriously floating that possibility.
So we seem stuck with the status quo, which is essentially
the continuation of apartheid and a perpetual threat of war. Despite loud denials, that is what we have now, even while no one
suggests it is an acceptable outcome.
Practically everyone,
however, realizes what would bring about a solution! If it is ever to be
solved, the conclusions will include at a minimum something like this:
1-Hamas must recognize Israel’s right to exist. It must
abandon all rocket attacks and consolidate its resources with the larger
Palestinian Authority. Hamas must eventually give way to the wider Palestinian
interests. Its intransigence, backed up with rockets and tunnels, has proved
massively counter-productive.
2- Israel must lift the blockade on Gaza, cease all
bombardments, see that the Egyptian border is made permeable, end the
occupation—perhaps the major issue, cancel the development of all new
settlements, tear down the obscene wall, allow the “right of return” and turn
over Jerusalem to an international body, making it the joint capital of the two
states.
Both Israel and the Palestinian Authority must permit an
international consortium to secure a land swap in which Palestine ends up with
a contiguous territory and Israel is secure within newly defined borders. Both
areas would be protected by international forces.
The possibilities of either side agreeing to any of this are
zero. Secretary of State Kerry is engaged in a futile mission if he hopes to
bring the parties to any legitimate negotiating table.
If there is to be a solution it will only come when the
world community, led by the continued power of the United States, enters the
ring not as a referee but as the decisive voice. How do we do this? By
exercising our enormous economic clout.
America can no longer try to solve conflicts by the use of
bombs and troops. That strategy hasn’t worked for decades anywhere. Nor does
our strength lie in our power to persuade, thus luring warring sides to the table.
Perhaps it is time we called an international conference, probably through the
United Nations, to authorize an economic solution to these issues. No one would
be forced to capitulate to any of the matters to be spelled out, but any
economic support would depend on doing so. If we are currently making it clear
to Russia that this is a legitimate use of force, why not to Israel/Palestine?
The alternative? A perpetual conflict, which would eventually
expand far beyond Israel/Palestine, and would threaten the whole Near East and
finally the rest of the world. No economic sanction will work if nobody makes
the demand, and we have tried everything else!
Charles Bayer
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