THE END IS IN SIGHT:

Olmert's realization (Ha'aretz, 12/08/03)

The new position on the Palestinian question expounded by Minister Ehud Olmert is quite significant. In a series of well-calculated statements, climaxing in an interview with Yedioth Ahronoth on Friday, Olmert revealed a revolutionary change in his perspective on the future of the territories. Departing from devout adherence to the Likud's traditional ideology of maintaining control of the territories, Olmert now calls for disengagement from most of these territories. We must say, "Better late than never" - but we must also add, "Too little, too late." [...]

A person who finally accepts the sober conclusion that Israel cannot realize its dream of a Greater Land of Israel, must then follow this realization to its logical conclusion - Israel should return to the Green Line and leave the lands it conquered in the Six Day War to the Palestinians, so that they can establish a state there. There may be border revisions based on agreements with the Palestinian side. Moreover, in order to avoid the type of faulty thinking that has led the State of Israel to its current multi-faceted crisis, Olmert should jettison the idea of taking unilateral steps.

The painful concession of part of the biblical homeland must be done in a framework of an agreement with the Palestinian people. A unilateral withdrawal from part of the territory will not win the State of Israel the quiet it longs to achieve. Arbitrary decisions by the government on the type of arrangements to be implemented in regard to the Palestinians will not bring peace.

Mr. Olmert's realization is inevitable and the editorialists view naive. Complete disengagement should mean just that. All unilateral with no negotiations to borders determined by Israel. If it's taken a a peace-loving and prosperous Israel this long to accept that it won't win all the territory it wants, just imagine how long it will take the destitute and demoralized Palestinians to arrive at the same point. In such a situation, to keep negotiating is not just futile but dangerous, because it maintains Palestinians hopes for more.

Posted by Orrin Judd at December 8, 2003 8:37 PM