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Olive Branch or White Flag?

by Rebekah Maxwell

The Palestinian State slouches toward Jerusalem to be born…and the last lion in Judah says, ‘let’s make a deal.’

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to peace talks with the Palestinians, using pre-1967 borders as “a baseline” for the final treaty.

After gaining attention of the world (and no small admiration in some circles) for all but laughing in President Obama’s face over the pre-1967 limitation, Netanyahu is now extending a perceived olive branch, the one that Palestinians (or Israel’s Muslim Arabs, as they are culturally and linguistically specified) have long shoved forward as the minimum they will accept.

Some strategists say it’s a good move. Now Israel’s agreeing to play ball by the other team’s rules, so they come off looking sincere, forcing their opponent to stay at the negotiating table. I can’t say I agree, since the strongest move has already been played: a complete refusal to acknowledge claims on your nation’s sovereignty from your closest enemy, and denying any attempt from outside forces to impose arbitrary limits on your nation’s borders.

By all accounts, Netanyahu has been facing pressure in recent days, as the wave of Muslim-led protests in the Middle-East has been slamming his administration as well. This latest move could be an effort to gain control in the face of Palestinian threats to obtain UN recognition as a sovereign state next month.

This solution has technically been tried before: Israel has offered almost all the land up to the pre-1967 borders as a possible territory agreement…but it’s been on their own terms. The reason Israel has not openly accepted those borders for bargaining (until now) is that it grants the other side (and outside meddlers) their argument, and requires Israel to give up claims to Judea and Samaria.

What do they gain in this deal? Netanyahu’s administration says the proposal is a package that would recognize Palestinian statehood, but requires Palestinians to likewise recognize Israel as a Jewish state…something the Muslim leadership has fervently refused to do.

Don’t know much about geopolitical diplomacy, but if I were trusting in the honesty and integrity of the PLO…I’d hope I had an ace up my sleeve.

  • Mac Mckoy

    GOOD writting Rebekah.  On Point and excact.  There is a troubling a brewing is The Homeland…both here, and abroad.

  • http://twitter.com/daakardior Christian Ucles

    I’m going to trust Bibi’s actions on this. Difference between Israeli politicians and American politicians, is that they have actually shed blood for their country and have seen many loved ones die in combat or through terrorist attacks. (like he has) Unlike many of our current crop of elected officials, whom have never experienced combat or never served a day in the military. Just look up PM Netanyahu combat experience and his track record as being one of the most hawkish Israeli PM’s in the past 20 years, if he is willing to sit at the negotiating table…There must be something up his sleeve. 

    • Anonymous

      Who I trust is the Bible. Netanyahu can sit at the negotiating table all he wants, it is clear who’s land it is and it is very clear that giving up land for peace WILL NEVER WORK and has NEVER WORKED.  If Netanyahu tells the Americans he will never agree to the 67 boundaries then why negotiate from that starting point? I know that I do not know what it is like to get bombarded like they do – it still does not make it right to give up what is rightfully yours.  That would be like giving up our rights (not laws – rights) over here just because we get attacked we do not give up our freedom to those who want to destroy us.

  • Henry T.

    I don’t think most of you understand what a liberal and socialistic society Israel has become.

    It’s certainly not something I want to support with my tax money.

    • Anonymous

      As a Christian it isn’t up to us as to what we think about Israel, it is whether we will follow what the Scripture says. God clearly says what happens to those countries who do not support Israel. My believe is that we are seeing that come to fruition now in this country and in this world.

  • Henry T.

    Netanyahu has lots of problems at home.

    Check this article out.

    http://olehgirl.com/?p=8742

    There has been a Doctor’s Strike and a lot of other stuff that has made the average Israeli mad.

    They are really a socialist country over in Israel.  And decadent.  I think most of you who are so “pro Israel” really don’t understand what this country is all about. If you did I can’t believe you would like it.

    Read some Israeli blogs. You will be shocked to find out who these people really are. 

  • Henry T.

    Hundreds of cab drivers join protest for “social justice”.

    http://olehgirl.com/?p=8731

    Yep, it looks like Bibi has some problems at home. I wonder if he will survive.

  • Henry T.

    All Politics is Local.

    And locally Bibi has LOTS of problems.

    Read Israeli Blogs and Newspapers. Many of them are in English.

    Municipalities declare general strike in solidarity with protests

    http://olehgirl.com/?p=8671

  • Henry T.

    Bibi might lose his job in Israel regardless of what we might think of him in America.

    All politics is local.

    And of course pocketbook issues are most often what rules the day. Especially in socialist countries like Israel.

    Israel may swing back left (nothing to do with the “peace process” but cost of living!)

    http://olehgirl.com/?p=8646

  • Henry T.

    Here’s the Israeli Decadence that I am talking about. I know the risks of using that term but unfortunately it is the case.  Decide for yourself.

    I swear most of you who are so “pro-Israel” know nothing about Israeli society.

    “Non-Jewish same-sex partner of Israeli diplomatic given citizenship”

    http://olehgirl.com/?p=8497

  • Henry T.

    Remember this is a small country so such numbers will have an effect. And don’t mistake these people for “Israel Tea Partiers” as they want the exact opposite than what the Tea Party wants in America.

    http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/tens-of-thousands-gather-in-tel-aviv-jerusalem-for-mass-protest-rallies-1.377295

  • Henry T.

    There’s that term “social justice”.  How would this ‘distraction” effect the so called “peace process” it’s hard to tell.

    Thousands march throughout Tel Aviv for ‘social justice’

    http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=232723

  • Henry T.

    And of course Israel has their own “enemy within” just like America does.

    Time to read up on what Israel IS REALLY all about. The Internet does give one that ability!

    http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4105065,00.html

    Opposition  Chairwoman Tzipi Livni told
    the US-based Atlantic Magazine that the American Administration must keep pressuring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to
    endorse the two-state solution.  

    “When Obama pushed Bibi, Bibi made some steps forward,” she said,
    adding “The American pressure led those who don’t believe that time is
    of the essence to a better understanding that there is no status quo
    option.

  • Henry T.

    Most Israelis see socio-economic issues as the country’s top concern,
    while only 11% see talks with the PA as the most pressing issue.

    http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/146419

  • Anonymous

    Israel is no different than what is happening here in America. They have forgotten God. They are going down the wrong path, they are thumbing their nose at God. Why don’t we just abandon America too then? God will judge Israel according as He sees fit, not us.  We are to follow Scripture and continue to defend Israel. Period. 

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