Speaking in Davos, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted his government isn’t going to move a single Israeli from the occupied West Bank. That was seen as a determination to keep all that territory, but a Netanyahu aide today suggested that rather, the settlers should have the option to stay in Palestine.
“The prime minister believes that in peace, just as Israel has an Arab minority, there is no logical reason why the Palestinian state could not contain a Jewish minority,” the aide added.
The settlers pose some fairly specific problems, however, not the least of which is that much of the land of those settlements, particularly of the isolated “outposts” that would be reverting to Palestinian control, is owned by Palestinians.
Netanyahu’s proposal was immediately condemned by several rivals in the government, including Economy Minister Naftali Bennett, who says that he would never allow any deal that would see a single Jew living under Palestinian rule.
Palestinian officials have previously rejected the idea of settlers staying in Palestine, noting the illegality of the settlements themselves as a problem.
Give the settlers the option to become Palestinian citizens- no dual citizenship- and agree to be resettled where the Palestinian government requires them to resettle. All lands belonging to Palestinian individuals or companies gets returned immediately with whatever facilities presently exist on them, and those landowners have the option of renting or selling to whomever they desire.
If the settlers do not accept the offer to become Palestinian citizens, they may be immediately deported to Israel. Once the borders are drawn and signed on to, that's it- game over for the settlers living there illegally. Time to man up or shut up.
If they become citizens of Palestine and live within the law of Palestine, they could be accommodated. There might have to be negotiations about the occupied property and remunerations arranged.
The Palestinians know there is going to be some sort of accommodation on the settlements. They're not going to like it, but we don't have options anymore. It will be almost impossible to sell anything less than annexation to the religious right.
It is Racist to ask for two sets of rules, example, one for Jews and another for Arabs. If Jews are to be accommodated then Arabs should be too. Israel as a quid pro quo should allow at a minimum, the return of Palestinians in a number equal to the number of Jews allowed in the areas occupied since 1967 and a one for one accommodation for new Jewish immigrants to the West Bank/Gaza and returning Diaspora Arabs. Thus, a balance can be achieved.
Jews in America have made anti-Racism their signature issue. If they fail to apply it to themselves, that is, to Israel, they prove themselves to not be anti-Racists but anti-Whites. And there should be political consequences to this malice towards the Founders of America. Be it AIPAC or J Street it is past time when their should be an honest discussion of motivations and consequences of the parochial pursuits of organized Jewry. It has huge effects on foreign and domestic policies of America and the land between the Jordan and the sea.
Known as the fifth column.
That is a good question – are the "settlers" in Palestine because of their attachment to the land or are they just "attached" to the concept of free land? If their attachment to West Bank land is because their religion says that there they must be, let them become Palestinian citizens, and compensate the Arab citizens from whom the land was taken. This is the very unlikely scenario. Actually, the "settlers" are probably schnorrers (moochers) who given the choice of taking the land plus responsibility or a free ride, will opt for the continuation of their free ride and would soon expect Israel (or more likely, the USA) to move them expense free and to compensate them.
At the very least, we might commend Bennet for his honesty rather than that saucy so and so, Netanyahu who seems to be piously intoning about the Palestinian commitment to multiculturalism, when these jewish settlers are going to be perennial excuse for the Israeli Government to meddle Like the Nazi's use of the Sudetenland Germans.
Wonder what is the diplomatic status of the Jews living in Iran…?
I wonder if Netanyahoo also intends to provide IDF forces to protect these "settlers" who opt to remain in Palestine? Of course, this is only an academic discussion since Israel has no intentions of casting Israeli "settlers" out – Netanyahoo has already stated that he won't up-root a single Israeli from the stolen lands.
Or how bout this Netenyahu allow the Palestinians that were displaced by Israel return, and take their land back! Or Israel could immediately return to the borders agreed to by the UN, when they unilaterally declared Israel should exist! Remember this it isn't JUST Muslims that are part of this Apartheid it is Christians and others like Samaritans!
At least Netanyahu is starting to make some sense or starting to be a little more realistic. Best solution is still one state for all with equal political rights for both groups and some reparations for Palestinians forced out in 1948.
If there is to be 2 states then the Palestinian state must have enough land to be be economically viable..
Why is Netanyahu in Davos? That's far too close to the Iranian and Syrian negotiations for my liking. He'd do better sticking to questions of trade and the global economy.
Mind you, his personal little fulminating ulcer with the palestinians is a source for possible cancer in the world. It doesn't sound like he's interested in seeing that healed, or even treated, anytime soon.
Netanyahu is Right all the way.