Brent Scowcroft just presented a very pragmatic solution:
washingtonpost.com
It's crucial to note 4 things:
1. The Palestinians, Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, etc. have endorsed this plan continuously since 1976.
2. This gives Israel 3/4 of the land, Palestine 1/4 of the land. The populations are about equal and the Palestinians were there first. Thus, it is a demonstrably generous offer coming from the Palestinians.
3. Aside from Palestinian statehood, this is all simply a matter of enforcing international law (various UN resolutions). Also, Israel committed to this solution in writing when they signed the Camp David Accords in 1977.
4. Israel has steadfastly refused to accept this solution. As far as I now, their only acknowledgement of its existence is when they bombed Lebanon in 1976 as the PLO presented the plan to the UN and when they sent fighter jets over Saudi oil fields when the Saudi Prince presented the plan to the UN in 1981.
One final note: Putting moral issues aside, it's unequivocally in America's interest to execute this plan. This would DRAMATICALLY increase our leverage in the Middle East, and massively undercut those who oppose our interests.
Tom |
