But for Peres, it was a leap of faith.
Since I have been reading this thread, and reading more extensively on Palestine, I have become more and more of a hawk. The Israelis have believed, because of their cultural heritage, in Socialism on economic and Social issues. This has hurt them economically. They have also believed they can make a just peace with the Arabs by negotiating. That has really stopped their ability to get peace in the Middle East, IMO. I think they agree, at the moment, that the only "peace" available to them is at the point of a gun.
They have now moved, temporally, to the right. I hope they can maintain that outlook. I fear that once the Arabs realize that they are losing with the present strategy, and move back toward a "peace" solution, the pressure will build back up in Israel to move to the left again.
The Israelis I met and worked with in LA were very tough people. I would not have wanted to get into a altercation with them. If they were representative of the ones in Israel, I would not worry about Israel's future.
But, from what I read of the left in Israel, who agree with John and want to still try to make peace with Arafat, an "Olive Branch" from Arafat will cause a move to the left in Israel, and they will be back in the same old Arab box again. |
