In response to the Time magazine article, Barry Rubin wrote a history of the future explaining what could go wrong with the creation of Palestinian state and why it would be perfectly rational for Israelis to wish to avoid such an outcome. Prof Rubin explains his rationale.
It’s simple: Rather reasonably, Israelis want to know whether they would be better or worse off after making a deal to get a promise of peace in exchange for accepting a fully independent Palestinian state.
Making a strategy requires figuring out where things can go wrong and working to avoid or reduce the consequences. Pretending problems won’t happen is the best way to engender catastrophes.
At the first juncture of this future history Rubin writes:
A gala celebration marks Palestine’s day of independence. Some world leaders come bearing promises of financial aid. Arab leaders attending offer little money and, except for Egypt’s president and Jordan’s king, avoid contact with Israel’s delegation.
. . .
Hardly any of the Western media cover statements by some leaders of Palestine’s ruling Fatah group that the new country’s independence is not the conflict’s end but the first step toward total victory and conquest of Israel.
This should come as no surprise. As Elder of Ziyon notes today that Moderate Fayyad can’t stomach “two states for two peoples”
The terminology “two states for two peoples” was controversial when Netanyahu first announced support for that principle last year. It has been emraced for years by the far left, including Gush Shalom. It goes without saying that Western leaders like Tony Blair support that formulation as a given.
Yet this formulation, which “everyone knows” will be the solution, is anathema to the most “moderate” Palestinian Arab. Obviously they feel that Palestine is for Arabs – and that Israel is ultimately for Arabs as well.
The problems with a peace that would result from a Palestinian state are already manifest. One need not look at Israel to find them.
Credit for the image: Elder of Ziyon.
See previous editions: the original, part ii, part iii, part iv, part v, part vi,part vii. and part viii.
Crossposted on Soccer Dad.
