Obstacles to a solution
Reader comment on item: Is the road map still relevant?

Submitted by Tracy W (Canada), Jan 19, 2007 at 01:29

Whatever plan is proposed in the future, we need to look at the obstacles to true and long term viability for the state of Israel. Two of the major obstacles involve the Arab population, both inside and outside Israel.

The Israeli Arabs are not only a fifth column, but their numbers are increasing to the point where in a few decades they will become a majority. Bedouins have elements involved in organized unlawful activities, which is disturbing considering their connections to the IDF and the police.

The Palestinians are a society ailing in so many ways that the idea of Palestine is just not viable. There is no civic maturity, not enough infrastructure, too much internal strife and corruption. That added to the fact that they don't want peace, they just want the Jews out of Israel.

Although drastic, the only solution is for the relocation of both the Israeli Arab and the Palestinian population. Jordan could integrate a good number of them. After all, Jordan is Palestine. Other Arab countries could also take in the rest of the population. Proper, even generous, compensation in both cases should be provided. The border with Jordan could be negotiated. This is a very radical idea, not politically correct, but the only one that will allow both the Isrealis and the Arabs to have peace and hope in the future.

The problem of international politics, the very tangled web that connects the Bush administration and other governments with the Arab lobby is an obstacle of a very different sort. Neither reality, nor logic, nor vision of any kind can get through this thick web of interests. We should expect more talk about the roadmap to peace, as we'll as about moderate Arab governments, our anti-terror ally Pakistan, and other fables.

The Arab lobby will continue to press Congress, the White House and the EU for a solution to the Palestinian problem where Israel alone is expected to make accommodations, give up land, and give up security.

Considering the current political situation in the US and in Israel, I don't feel very optimistic about the future. If 9-11 didn't help in broadening the understanding about the Muslim psyche, nothing will. The present Israeli-Palestinian situation will probably continue to drag on for at least another year. Unless it gets worse.

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