November 27, 2006

TO ACCEPT NEGOTIATIONS IS TO ACCEPT STATEHOOD:

Olmert offers 'serious' plan for new state (Stephen Farrell, 11/27/06, Times of London)

Twenty-four hours after Palestinian militants began a ceasefire in Gaza, Israel’s Prime Minister sought to maintain the momentum yesterday by offering peace talks leading to the creation of a Palestinian state.

Ehud Olmert said that Israel would release prisoners, withdraw from West Bank Jewish settlements and ease checkpoints if Palestinians abandoned violence.


Pretty good test for the Palestinians--if they sit down it's over.

Posted by Orrin Judd at November 27, 2006 7:24 PM
Comments

They won't.

The "ceasefire" lasted about an hour before a missile wafted its way into Israel. If Israel responds in any way, it will be universally considered "their" fault.

Anyway, I thought you had the view that any agreement should be placed on the Palestinians unilaterally, so any agreement that pivots on the Palestinians doing or changing anything at all is a poor one.

Posted by: Just John at November 27, 2006 8:21 PM

The cease fire and negotiations don't matter--they're just dog and pony shows. Statehood matters and Palestine can accept it voluntarily or have it imposed. Which hardly matters in the long run, though in the short run they'd fare better psychologically by seeming to be partners in the deal.

Posted by: oj at November 27, 2006 8:36 PM

The Palestinians have lived in their version of the theater (of the absurd) for so long that it will take a generation or two just to get over the past 10 years, not counting everything since 1967.

Israel's best bet is to turn the first 200 yards of the border between Gaza and Egypt into a free-fire test zone for bunker-buster weapons, finish the fence, and find some woman to run the PA. Then turn around and say good-bye. And if the US has the stones to turn Syria upside down, then perhaps the Palestinians will make better decisions. But perhaps not.

Posted by: ratbert at November 27, 2006 9:57 PM

Still waiting for that cold day in hell?

Posted by: erp at November 28, 2006 10:04 AM
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