By Ted Belman
Arutz Sheva reports that Olmert Willing to Give 90% of Territory
Nothing is conclusive but the rumours are that he wants to retain 8% and the PA is demanding that this be reduced to 2%. There does not appear to be a “dramatic breakthrough” as reported elsewhere. Olmert is prepared to sweeten the deal by offering a land swap of 4% to 6% of Israeli land.
Apparently Israel has agreed to a land corridor linking Gaza to the Westbank.
Thus, if true, Israel isn’t accepting the Saudi Plan which demands a return to the greenline with minor adjustments. And the US is not talking about the Saudi Plan any more. The US seems to be more concerned with lifting roadblocks and reestablishing PA security control.
Jerusalem is not the talk of the town anymore.
There is no chance that the PA will accept this deal. So either Olmert capitulates or we have never ending negotiations until Abbas resigns.
Samson Blinded has posted a new item, ‘Peace, luckily, is not forever’
The peace treaty with the Palestinians doesn’t seem close, unless the
Bush-Rice duo orchestrates a major political assault on Israeli government. Even
so, Palestinian state exists de facto: with president, parliament, and even many
countries’ embassies. Does anyone protest the media calling Abbas Palestinian
president?
Olmert negotiates the borders of Israel which include the settlement blocs. He
is anxious to avoid the Gush Katif-type evacuation trouble. As long as the
settlements remain inside Israel, most settlers won’t protest giving up Judea
and Samaria.
The government might leave the faraway and militant places like Kfar Tapuah
alone, not evicting the settlers. They will be allowed to remain there just as
any Israeli stay abroad, and left to the Palestinians to harass, intercept en
route, and make their life untenable.
Nothing would change when the government signs peace accords with Palestinians.
As long as most settlers are not evicted, the status quo won’t be changed.
Almost no Jews venture into Schem or Ramallah, anyway. The West Bank
Palestinians won’t start shelling Tel Aviv a la Shderot, as they know that
would provoke massive retaliation; Jews hesitate attacking Iran but would have
no qualms about invading a weak Palestinian state.
Bringing massive numbers of Jews into the territories to stem the evacuation is
not an option. Once the border is demarcated and legalized, it would be plainly
illegal for them to cross the state border, and few takers would appear.
Crossing the state border beyond the official checkpoint is not merely an act of
politically inspired civil disobedience but a clear-cut crime.
Moreover, the “front line” of the possible government action in Judea and
Samaria is long. Jewish conservative activists failed defending Gush Katif,
where the confrontation line was minuscule. The army can also wait out the
protestors: tens of thousands of people cannot hold vigils for more than a few
days, as they need to work for living. The army, on the contrary, can stay there
for months, waiting for the human wave to dissolve.
Israel can be as well located in Uganda. The beaches of Tel Aviv are a part of
the Promised Land, but so are Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon. The seashore was
settled by Philistines, then heavily gentilized, controlled by the Romans. Jews
have very little historical connection with the seashore. On the contrary, the
very area Israel abandons to the Palestinian state – Judea and Samaria – is
the core Jewish land. Hebron was King David’s seat of power, Schem conquered
by Jacob; the ancient Jewish state was located specifically in the area that
Jews are giving away now. Ignore the uninhabitable Negev Desert, Galilee and the
Little Triangle near Lod settled by Arabs, and Israel is reduced to a tiny beach
strip 14 by 80 miles; even there, Arabs constitute 34% among the young. Jewish
population shrinks to the Tel Aviv – Netanya strip of the beach and the Haifa
enclave.
But haredi’s influence increases with their numbers, especially as they are a
uniquely coherent and zealous group. As conscription becomes increasingly
unfashionable among atheist Israelis, haredi might become the major force in the
army. As secular Jews emigrate, haredi will become a majority or at least the
largest voting bloc.
Jews lean to the right as they see that every peaceful measure fails with Arabs
from Palestine to Iran, and Arab enemies grow stronger.
Even if Olmert gives up Judea, another leader can take it back
Best regards,
Danny