| starcraft said: That is a woefully naive view to take. Everyone has a bias, but I would wager yours is far stronger than mine. I have no love for an enormous amount of the things Israel does. But re-read what you just posted. You believe that against the will of their own people (a will they themselves stoked), dictatorial monarchs will agree too and then ENFORCE a peace that would risk their own perceived legitimacy? Furthermore, you believe that a comprehensive and effectively stabilizing peace deal wouldn't have to either involve or substantially incapacitate Iran? There was a big war, like it or not, Israel won it. I may not be a fan of Israel's foreign policy, but I can recognize when a large number of nations is ganging up because it wants to have it's cake and eat it too. I believe that Israel SHOULD give back that land, all of it, especially the Golan Heights to help sway Syria towards peace and away from Iran. But for them to give up all of that strategic land without FUNDAMENTAL change from the other nations, not just a piece of paper, would be stupidity on their part. |
I think you need to relook at history, I'm not being biased. Egypt unilaterally forced peace between themselves and Israel. Israel wasn't even prepared when Sadat flew into Tel Aviv. Granted it cost him his life eventually as some other radical in Egypt killed him, but the peace agreement remained.
All Arabs status, except I think Libya, agreed to this doctorine. It would have given 100% normal relations with everyone of these nations. That means full trade, normal movement, diplomatic exchange, etc. It was by far the closest thing to ever being a complete squash of the entire issue. Israel didn't even consider it.
Syria also tried the same deal later in regards to just Golan Heights and Barak couldn't agree to all of it; it broken down over a few meters of distance. Pretty stupid really.
The dictators in all of those regions could have accepted that peace agreement they put forth a lot easier than Israel's government; meaning without any change to the original offer. Had Israel went to the Arab League (as requested) they could have negotiated out the right of return (rightfully so as I agree with your children of refugees comment mostly) and probably the biggest ISraeli settler camps.
I'm sure Israel knew this. However, they don't want peace, they want land and especially Jerusalem. THey want to keep stealing land and expanding the settlements to force a complete impossibility of Jerusalem ever being split between two nations as well as create enough other facts on the ground to make the % of land that is left for Palestinians far too small for any potential nation.
