We at J Street were encouraged to read The Washington Post's David Ignatius indicating that the Obama Administration is "seriously considering proposing an American peace plan to resolve the Palestinian conflict."
This is exactly the kind of bold American leadership to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict we've been urging in full-page ads in The New York Times and in the over 220,000 actions J Street supporters taken in the past year.
The big headline of the piece is that this "American Plan" approach was suggested by a bipartisan group of six former National Security Advisors from the Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, and Carter Administrations during a recent impromptu meeting with President Obama.
If any group would be in a position to judge that, in addition to being fundamental to Israel's security as a Jewish, democratic home, a resolution to the conflict is a core American national security interest, it would be this gang of six.
Add to the mix the Central Command Commander General David Petraeus' written testimony to the Senate Armed Services committee last month, and you've got an even clearer picture of the consensus position of the American national security establishment -- resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a two-state solution is a fundamental American national security interest.
More from the Ignatius column:
"Incrementalism hasn't worked," continued the second official, explaining that the United States cannot allow the Palestinian problem to keep festering -- providing fodder for Iran and other extremists. "As a global power with global responsibilities, we have to do something." He said the plan would "take on the absolute requirements of Israeli security and the requirements of Palestinian sovereignty in a way that makes sense."
If there is any lesson from the last 20 years of Middle East peacemaking (or the last year of the Israelis and Palestinians talking about possibly talking about talks, for that matter), it is that the parties themselves are incapable of resolving this decades-long conflict on their own. They will need a strong American presence at the table, suggesting bridging proposals to resolve impasses and providing the political support for the hard choices that will be necessary. And as the window for achieving a two-state solution grows ever smaller, there is no time to lose.
Since the President committed the United States to the near-term achievement of a two-state solution at the beginning of his presidency, J Street and the pro-Israel, pro-peace movement have urged him on -- knowing that only through a two-state solution would Israel finally know real peace and security as a Jewish, democratic home and that it was a crucial way for the United States to advance its own national security interests in the Middle East.
Yet with the status quo's echo chamber undermining his efforts, President Obama needs pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans who are committed to Israel's security and the necessity of a Palestinian state to stand with him. You can rest assured that the attacks on the views presented in this Ignatius piece are already underway, and J Street will be loud and proud in our defense of this sensible approach.
In our defense, we'll continue to push back against anyone arguing that a bold approach to Middle East peace making will hurt the President political standing with the Jewish community. According to a poll J Street commissioned just two weeks ago, over 71% of American Jews support pressuring both parties to make the hard compromises necessary for peace. Despite sustained political attacks from defenders of the status quo on Israel, the President's approval rating remains high at 62% among American Jews, 15 points higher than his popularity in the general population.
Our community is thirsty for real leadership on the Middle East, both to secure Israel's future and to advance American interests. After nearly decades of a wilderness full of violence, strife, and hopelessness for Israelis and Palestinians, it is high time that the United States boldly lead the parties to the promised land of real peace and security through a two-state solution.
Crossposted at J Street's Blog at JStreet.Org/Blog
Follow Isaac Luria on Twitter: www.twitter.com/isaacluria
The obstacle to peace in the region is the unwillingness of the Palestinian Arabs to accept Israel as a Jewish state.
An imposed solution will not work. Just ask Hamas and Hezbollah leadership if they will sign on to an imposed plan?
Another American, former President Jimmy Carter, wrote a book about Israel and Israel's government. I forget the title but Carter's book had something to do with apartheid. I believe that the government of Israel did not like Carter's book. I did like Carter's book.
I read Rachel Shabi's book; We Look Like The Enemy . This is an excellent book. Everyone should read it.
Then, there is a 1980 publication by The Middle East Institute that was extracted from a book titled; The United States In The Middle East: Interests and Obstacles; by Seth Tillman. I have the extract of the book in my library.
In my opinion, Israel is wrong in wanting a Jewish State. Arab nations are wrong in wanting an Islamic state. Toss in the numerous wars that Israel has been involved in and you get a large population in the Muslim world that is angry at Israel. Without the assistance of US military and economic aid and aid from American NGO's, Israel would have been destroyed a long time ago.
I do not think that President Obama will be any more successful than any of our past Presidents.
in the world of hardcore wars-weapons & extremists, the CRUCIAL issue is ETHICAL yet STRONG leadership;
if we don't show US leadership, we'll end up with is a huge blinking NEON sign: HELLO all u haters & extremists: PLEASE be emboldened ...& go tell
ur warlords & pals the US is UNABLE to take a stand PRECISELY because of all the gimmicks you've used to
scare us from doing so."
The vacuum is created & it *suks*
SURE i get ur point re: "stop playing Daddy-policemen" to the world; But we do that ANYWAY thru
our annual $$ & weapons & aid.
Either the US shows sound leadership OR
the USUAL SUSPECTS
(i.e. haters + extremists on all sides) will CONTINUE to make profit$
on weapons sales in un-ending wars.
Modern WMD's & connected digital world puts everyone in the position in which we have to treat ALL conflicts as if
we actually suffered ourselves.
WOULD u sit on some insulated-fence IF it was freinds, neighbors or family being killed
or
deprived of rights?----ever watch STAR Trek?
--this is about the PRIME DIRECTIVE.
We're influencing all these cultures (just like
the ethical-quandry on TREK) each
time we cut big-industry "sweet deals"
or do-business with other nations.
It just SOUNDS nicer & less intrusive yet its all inter-related to a huge degree.
This is the last hope for a two state solution. Neither Israel nor the various Palestinians have the ability to pull this thing together and give security to the region.
The only other alternative is a one state solution so the Israeli cheerleaders on this blog better take this seriously.
If it was up to me I would run this thing through the United Nations and use troops to back it up. Imposing one state or two states but a definite end to the regionally, if not globally disruptive bickering.
Or, as the article suggestion we can do this the easier way.
In any event the slow grind of expansionism behind the we're the victim/you terrorist/those dirty Arabs smoke screen has got to stop.
This country needs to be the broker in peace negotiations because it doesn't appear likely that either side is seriously interested in peace.
Finally, the Palestinians who have had their homes stolen should be fairly compensated.
The good news for sane Zionists is that the rejectionists will hate it.
The good news for sane Palestinians is that rabid Zionists like LIeberman (who is his own kind of rejectionist) will hate it.
A "green line" plus swaps plan could fill the bill and thrown in a firm defense pact with the U.S. and legitimate security exists.
And legitimacy for Israel and a national identity for Palestinians.
And world peace no longer held hostage by the fanatics on both sides.
How is this not good news?
Don't do it Obama. Don't try to force a US peace plan. It is tempting but it's a mistake.
3rd world + MidEast.