Peace and the Coming Two State Alternatives

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As the world stands closer to nuclear catastrophe than it has in years, I believe the Obama administration will be unable to negotiate its way to a solution that successfully ends the conflict between Israel and her neighbors. It is certain that without an American imposition, there will be no diplomatically generated peace agreement that meets the demands of all parties.

Unlike his predecessor, new Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not speak of an “inevitable” two-state solution. In fact PM Netanyahu recently refused to consent to Jordanian King Abdullah’s request to back a Palestinian State at all. Instead PM Netanyahu wants to broaden the circle of parties involved in the negotiation in order to bring about peace.

The Prime Minister correctly wants to change the parameters of the discussion to focus on Israeli peace with the Arab/Muslim world. He recognizes that making peace with a minority faction of Palestinian Arabs, will not lead to a permanent peace.

The change of leadership from PM Olmert to PM Netanyahu creates the opportunity for a true peace-bringing dialogue to begin.

It is now politically safe for thoughtful people to offer common sense proposals without being unfairly tarnished as “extremists.” People ignored or derided by the conventional mainstream for years, will now be given a hearing.

All proposed solutions to problems between Arabs/Muslims and Jews, if they are to be considered seriously, must now take into account an Israeli leadership that won’t simply acquiesce to the “forgone conclusion” of a two-state solution within the limited geography of Israel and the territories.

As I’ve said many times, international leaders want a solution. They don’t really care what the solution is. They will now be open to exploring new ideas that, fortunately, are better for Israel and Palestinian Arabs, alike.

Hats off to Israeli Knesset Member Tzipi Hotovely for spearheading a conference entitled "Alternatives to the Two-State Outlook."

At the conference, Israeli political and military leaders such as Moshe Ya’alon, Robert Ilatov, Eli Yishai, Giora Eiland, Uri Elitzur and Benny Elon advanced various options including a Palestinian confederation with Jordan, maintaining the current situation in the West Bank, annexing all of Judea and Samaria, extending Gaza into Egypt, and delaying dealing with the problem until a better opportunity arises.

I believe my approach is geo-strategically more sound. It is respectful to Arabs/ Muslims (including Palestinian Arabs). It calls for properly dealing with Palestinian Arab hardship, and calls for a Jewish state to be a size large enough to be truly independent and thrive.

Read my book.

There is plenty of room in the Middle East for everyone.

--David Naggar