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Place the Ball in Their Court

Reader comment on item: Arguing over "Does Israel Need a Plan?"

Submitted by Ben Hogan (United States), May 2, 2003 at 15:04

I really enjoyed reading both the Pipes' article and the letters in response. I wonder, however, whether the "unilateral pullback" option might not work. This option is the one that calls for Israel to pull back to its pre-1967 borders, with some small adjustments.

My proposal takes into account the nature of world public opinion and the power it wields today to either support or obstruct national foreign policy.

Thus, if Israel decides to unilaterally pull back to pre-1967 borders, this puts "the ball in the Palestinians' court," in terms of world public opinion. Essentially, Israel and the world could then say to the Palestinians: "Okay, you got what you wanted. Now it's your turn to desist from further violence."

If the Palestinians then continue violence, with a view to destroy Israel, then Israel's responses would be more likely to have the support of world public opinion.
Submitting....

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Reader comments (15) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Commenter Steven Spiegel missed the point [156 words]Mel FechterJan 29, 2005 21:1219982
Response to Alan Goldstein, Plainfield, NJ [99 words]Jeremty A. LifseyMay 13, 2003 11:279026
Anticipating the Role of Religious Leaders [128 words]Mel MillerMay 7, 2003 12:258926
Jihad and its eradication [55 words]S.C.PandaMay 6, 2003 02:428874
AFHU Media Panel [77 words]s nusenbaumMay 4, 2003 14:308861
Place the Ball in Their Court [144 words]Ben HoganMay 2, 2003 15:048841
Road Map [9 words]muhammad siddiquiMay 2, 2003 12:558839
The Road Map to Hell [186 words]Arlinda DeAngelisMay 2, 2003 00:238834
A Different Roadmap [108 words]Gamaliel IsaacMay 1, 2003 22:258832
Road Map Comments [281 words]Shlomo ben Avraham PinheroMay 1, 2003 19:298828
Right on Mr. Pipes [82 words]Arthur SagotskyMay 1, 2003 18:588825
Reality vs. self-deception [144 words]Mel FechterMay 1, 2003 18:458823
Television [224 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Jonathan MilnerMay 1, 2003 18:428822
Support [13 words]Marvin JohnsonMay 1, 2003 16:168820
Middle madness [27 words]Ken BesigMay 1, 2003 14:348818

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