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What Price for Peace - Freedom?

Reader comment on item: One Cheer for Obama's Arab-Israeli Policy

Submitted by M. Tovey (United States), Sep 16, 2009 at 12:40

While there is still the antipathy of the indigent Arab population towards the State of Israel possessing a sovereign domain in the Middle East, and the rhetoric of Mssr's Nasrallah, Mashaal, Abbas, Erekat, and others like the recently re-invigorated disposition of enmity from the Lebanese like Mr. Jumblatt, coupled with the decidedly other-worldly squeaky voice of 9-11 notoriety, there is a great deal of wondering if the American Administration can indeed be effectual in accomplishing some semblance of peace for Israel, thereby the Middle East. One may assess a minor advancement for the cause in what Dr. Pipes observes as potential progress, but it is so little if one compares it to the photo op of President Clinton shaking hands with representatives of both Israel and the 'Palestinian' opposition over the supposed peace deal of Clinton's Administration (even if it was still-born), or of the deals that cost Mr. Sadat and Mr. Rabin their lives. What price, freedom?

If reluctance, ambivalence, or just plain skepticism seems subliminal in this observation, let us be plain. Israel is in the throes of a dilemma from which, were it any other country in any similar circumstances, would be representative of the calm just before the storm, and the signs of impending hostilities are rife with ready and willing participants. The America Administration needs to shift from a mentality of thinking it can barter Israel's peace by negotiating from an Arabist's perspective, and see the practical implications of the real intent from inside and outside Israel's borders.

There is the correct observation of Dr. Pipes giving Israel a nod for its seemingly one sided posturing of giving concessions without substantial return of the gesture, a minor view in consideration of what Israel has given up in lives and land, while the enemies of Israel who were the beneficiaries of such concessions sat around the receiving table waiting to see what else they can come away with before raising another tantrum, saying 'not enough, not enough.'

Sending letters to the various Muslim governments deemed by the American Administration as moderate enough to be considered approachable for the purposes of negotiations in some form of Middle Eastern peace was in consonance with the posturing seen by the American Administration's earlier overtures to the Middle East Muslim communities, and with good reason. By adopting the moderate Arab mindset of attempting negotiations from their perspective, the idea that terms with Israel would be from an Arab position rather from one that guarantees Israel's sovereignty was seen as a means to push just exactly what Israel's malefactors desired, marginalizing Israel's national stature. Hence, the push to hedge in Israel regarding the settlements became the token effort to keep Israel continuously off balance.

Now Dr. Pipes does indeed incorporate the reasons in his post why this reader is unwilling to acknowledge this vestige of hollow diplomacy, for it is either a mimic of earlier attempts at placating the 'Palestinian' situation with the homogenous mindset of peace at Israel's cost; or it is at worst, being used by the enemies of Israel during 'hudna' while they finalize their preparations for the next intifada, coming soon to your local bazaar. Check out the wares coming from the booths under the colors of Hamas, Hizbollah, the Brotherhood, et al. They come at a price the world will come to find out it cannot afford. Salaam alecum?

Submitting....

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Reader comments (84) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
1What's in it for Israel? [452 words]Michael SJun 14, 2016 07:55229992
JORDAN IS THE PALESTINIAN STATE [206 words]Ilene RichmanJun 25, 2010 09:35174813
What the heck is a terrorist organization doing on the UN Security Council [48 words]Adam EylatOct 18, 2009 08:59163204
Reason to Cheer Rescinded for Lack of Creditable Momentum for Peace [253 words]M. ToveyOct 19, 2009 11:59163204
Arabs and Muslims [79 words]JimmyDaGeekOct 18, 2009 08:05163202
What about Iran? [110 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
NikolajOct 11, 2009 11:38162945
Reason for More Cheers - Anyone? [404 words]M. ToveyOct 9, 2009 13:50162858
Response to M. Tovey [86 words]ArlindaOct 18, 2009 14:00162858
Peace Comes Not from a Golden Idol of a Wanton World - But From a World that Seeks True Peace From Israel [368 words]M. ToveyOct 19, 2009 14:29162858
No Cheer for Obama's Foreign Policy. [17 words]Gavin DemboOct 9, 2009 10:02162834
One Cheer for Obama's Foreign Policy [176 words]Burt GoldsteinOct 7, 2009 13:50162746
THE ONLY FOUNDATION FOR DEMOCRACY [361 words]Susan BrowneOct 9, 2009 09:44162746
Do the Palestinians need to be defeated? [256 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Susan BrowneOct 7, 2009 10:38162734
Obamas' policy get one hand clap. it is a good start [109 words]Phil GreendOct 5, 2009 23:24162663
Long term memory loss. [120 words]LynnSep 29, 2009 09:34162301
Go to Egypt then [30 words]Abdulkarim Al-HabsiSep 30, 2009 00:38162301
Map Quest [11 words]LynnSep 30, 2009 19:08162301
Read the book of exodus [11 words]Abdulkarim Al-HabsiOct 1, 2009 00:47162301
rubbish! [49 words]kid berthaOct 2, 2009 12:07162301
I stand corrected [40 words]Abdulkarim Al-HabsiOct 4, 2009 03:46162301
The departure of the downtrodden, [6 words]LynnOct 4, 2009 12:28162301
Yes.... [92 words]kid berthaOct 5, 2009 09:38162301
The Israelites [141 words]LynnOct 6, 2009 10:19162301
Read the Book of the Beginnings - of the Promise to Abraham [171 words]M. ToveyOct 6, 2009 19:29162301
I agree [77 words]kid berthaOct 7, 2009 11:36162301
Naw! Mr. Al-Habsi, you are wrong! [130 words]Susan BrowneOct 9, 2009 10:39162301
Hey Abdulkarim [28 words]Seamus Dafydd Dives MacNemiOct 9, 2009 21:18162301
And go where exacteky [42 words]Abdulkarim Al-HabsiOct 14, 2009 10:02162301
Nazis??? Which ones are you talking about? Haj Mohammed Amin alHusseini? [54 words]Seamus Dafydd Dives MacNemiOct 15, 2009 18:22162301
Short term memory loss [89 words]Abdulkarim Al-HabsiSep 27, 2009 09:58162183
This definitely justifies rockets and suicide bombs [26 words]pdmSep 28, 2009 14:59162183
Not Exactly a Huge Accomplishment, Ya Sayyed AbdulKarim [84 words]AlexSep 28, 2009 19:04162183
why dont you pass a resolution welcoming Jewish people back to Mecca/Medinah [39 words]HarrySep 29, 2009 15:14162183
Palestinian oppression by power hungry Arab and Iranian Jew Haters [81 words]ClaireSep 29, 2009 21:45162183
No it does not justify it [29 words]Abdulkarim Al-HabsiSep 30, 2009 00:40162183
So what will be a huge accomplishment? [28 words]Abdulkarim Al-HabsiSep 30, 2009 00:45162183
Response [42 words]AlexSep 30, 2009 23:33162183
Horrible occupation [45 words]pdmOct 2, 2009 11:54162183
Jewish People be allowed back to Mecca/Medinah [56 words]jamesOct 13, 2009 04:44162183
validity of the claim [286 words]the Grand Infidel of KafiristanOct 14, 2009 17:02162183
The only thing Islam understands is [12 words]Sylvia ScottSep 27, 2009 03:20162175
Another circle within circles. [200 words]LynnSep 24, 2009 08:49162013
Dr Pipes analysis is correct [661 words]Amitabh TripathiSep 24, 2009 03:20162003
Israel's nuclear capability [104 words]pdmSep 22, 2009 11:41161910
King Ibn Saud explains the relationship between the Jewish people and mohammedans [258 words]pdmSep 22, 2009 11:30161907
Only the Israelis [124 words]Arlinda DeAngelisSep 20, 2009 13:14161789
I've changed my mind [27 words]Peter HerzSep 20, 2009 10:03161782
the iranians were right [25 words]lionSep 19, 2009 09:00161756
Lyin' lion [48 words]portuguesamericanoSep 20, 2009 12:07161756
Dr. Pipes, Your Article Leaves an Important Question Unanswered [129 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Aymenn JawadSep 19, 2009 06:09161754
An Israeli and Saudi in a Mens Room [215 words]Jay1Sep 18, 2009 23:29161748
Let the iranians launch an attack [55 words]pdmSep 22, 2009 11:34161748
Something Missing [34 words]Peter HerzSep 18, 2009 05:41161720
Real Need for Dramatic Change in American Administration's Policy Towards Israel [218 words]M. ToveySep 17, 2009 19:13161709
One Cheer for Obama's Foreign Policy [81 words]AnneSep 16, 2009 23:41161666
Obama keeps his mouth shut when there is a call to fight for the rights of Jews and Israel. [262 words]batya daganSep 16, 2009 23:20161664
One Cheer, but Don't Take Another Bow! [67 words]AlexSep 16, 2009 18:13161651
One Cheer for Obama's Foreign Policy [87 words]Kenneth S. PerlmanSep 16, 2009 18:01161650
What Price for Peace - Freedom? [563 words]M. ToveySep 16, 2009 12:40161631
How does even the one cheer part make any sense for Israel? the deal is your kids can't build a house when they grow up, but you'll be able to get a tourist visa to Bahrain [29 words]P BergSep 16, 2009 11:18161625
trickle-up quiet [180 words]HarrySep 16, 2009 10:41161621
Missed the Boat [311 words]Edward HalperSep 16, 2009 10:33161620
Bravo [119 words]attaturkSep 16, 2009 08:58161617
This is a spot of straw-clutching methinks [160 words]Paul in EnglandSep 16, 2009 08:40161614
good point, but i disagree [96 words]LionSep 16, 2009 02:13161601
Is Pipes going soft? [144 words]LionSep 16, 2009 02:12161600
Arab states will never agree to negotiate with Israel. [94 words]Ben ZalmanSep 16, 2009 00:58161598
The only real solution [386 words]Seamus Dafydd Dives MacNemiOct 10, 2009 15:58161598
Dreamland [90 words]Ralph C. Whaley MDSep 15, 2009 21:35161585
april 4th 2006 HOW ISRAEL CAN WIN [234 words]JACQUES HADIDASep 15, 2009 21:06161584
Hope springs... [51 words]Doug CorriganSep 15, 2009 20:15161582
The real debate - where is it? [146 words]G.VishvasSep 15, 2009 19:53161579
One Cheer for Obama's Foreign Policy [65 words]steven LSep 15, 2009 18:44161575
No cheers for Obama's foreign policy. [60 words]M.D.Sep 15, 2009 18:07161570
A three state solution [258 words]jerry krasnowSep 15, 2009 17:39161568
1MD and Krasnow are both right [362 words]Abu NudnikSep 16, 2009 01:59161568
Why are 57 Muslims countries against a single secular Jewish country ? [66 words]HarrySep 18, 2009 14:18161568
Response to Harry [180 words]ArlindaSep 21, 2009 21:51161568
The nature of the beast [56 words]donvanSep 23, 2009 21:52161568
To Arlinda and Donovan [1001 words]Seamus Dafydd Dives MacNemiOct 10, 2009 20:12161568
so what... [46 words]donvanOct 12, 2009 19:03161568
To Donvan-- That's precisely my point [153 words]Seamus Dafydd Dives MacNemiOct 14, 2009 19:29161568
The U.S. not merely a Nation State. [106 words]LynnOct 16, 2009 08:05161568
so true... [117 words]donvanOct 17, 2009 20:52161568

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