A bill aimed at shoring up the peace process has been rejected in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, with broad opposition from members of the far-right coalition government.
The “two-state solution” bill expressed support for making a permanent peace deal with the Palestinians, and would’ve forbidden Israel from annexing any land in the occupied territories unless it was done as part of a peace treaty.
The bill aimed to be the alternative to another which aimed to unilaterally annex the Jordan Valley. That bill was pushed by hawks who aimed to derail any peace deal creating an independent Palestine.
Before today’s bill was voted down, it sparked intense debate between opposition factions and coalition hawks, who accused the bill’s proponents of wanting to “give away parts of our homeland.” Such MPs have insisted God granted the whole of the occupied territories to Israel and oppose Palestinian statehood as a result.
"Such MPs have insisted God granted the whole of the occupied territories to Israel"
This is why peace talks are meaningless until Israel declares its borders.
Their tribal "god" is a psychopath, just like them.
You do not declare borders on someone else land that you have occupied.
I agree in principal, however Palestinian reps – for whatever reason – already agreed to certain concessions, like Israel's right to exist in Palestine. Rather than rehash what is already done, if Israel had to declare borders to the "God granted" land, where would they be?
This link (scroll down) http://www.ahavat-israel.com/eretz/future.php shows various claims on land that Israel doesn't even occupy, but claims were "granted" by God in a book written for, about, and by people who existed more than 2,000 years ago, and who are entirely unrelated to the current majority occupants of Israel (Ashkenazi) who converted to Judaism circa 1,000 AD.
Until Israel declares borders Palestinians find themselves with few friends in the region. That could/would change if Israel was required to declare borders, and particularly so if the borders were those "God granted" to the ancient Hebrews. The various maps show there is some disagreement among the "experts" on just how much land that is, and where it is. Until Israel declares borders it's not even clear who should be at any peace talks.
I agree in principal, however Palestinian reps – for whatever reason – already agreed to certain concessions, like Israel's right to exist in Palestine. Rather than rehash what is already done, if Israel had to declare borders to the "God granted" land, where would they be?
This link (scroll down) http://www.ahavat-israel.com/eretz/future.php shows various claims on land that Israel doesn't even occupy, but claims were "granted" by God in a book written for, about, and by people who existed more than 2,000 years ago, and who are entirely unrelated to the current majority occupants of Israel (Ashkenazi) who converted to Judaism circa 1,000 AD.
Until Israel declares borders Palestinians find themselves with few friends in the region. That could/would change if Israel was required to declare borders, and particularly so if the borders were those "God granted" to the ancient Hebrews. The various maps show there is some disagreement among the "experts" on just how much land that is, and where it is. Until Israel declares borders it's not even clear who should be at any peace talks.
The underlying questions, that no one ever addresses, concern the current validity of "God's grant" as recorded by an ancient people, who were not the same people as currently making a claim. Those questions would have to addressed if Israel were required to declare just where "Israel" is rather than letting what land Israel can occupy with troops and settlements define an expanding nation through "facts on the ground.".
If Israel 'claimed their borders' today, they'd just turn around tomorrow and claim different ones if it suited them. That's been Israel's 'm-o' for a long time now.
An Israeli declaration wouldn´t settle the dispute legally, not unless the Palestinians agreed to such a decision – it would take an international court to settle the delimitation of Israeli borders. It´s doubtful that Israel would accept an international decision, so we are back to day one.
It looks like the future will be the Palestinians demanding one-man, one-vote in greater Israel, something the USA would have a difficult time in not accepting as the democratic thing to do. This would be to the Palestinian advantage over a number of years as their population overtook that of the Jewish community. The Jews have the possibility of losing control of their own state, and there would´t be much sympathy from the rest of the world.
It is time the Palestinians dropped the 2 state solution and started demanding one state for all with political equality for all.
And that is why the Israelis will never allow that to happen. The estimated growth rate for Arabs in Israel in 2008 is 2.6% while the rate of growth for the Jewish population is 1.7%. Do the math. Solution: reduce the base population of Arabs in Israel.
Hmmm, sounds like history repeating itself. It's messy work to maintain a pure population.
And once the Palestinians are reduced to a handful then Israel can complete the theft and declare it's borders without complaint from the indigenous tribes. At least that's the plan.
Israel has no intention of declaring their borders, if they do, they won’t be able to bomb Syria, Gaza, or Lebanon without justifying their actions.
Sweden has agreed to take in Israel's unwanted African immigrants. Maybe Israel can get Norway to do the same deal with the Palestinian people.
Bad idea–Sweden and Norway are loaded with them already, much to the detriment of the native European population.
Yours was the point I was trying to make through sarcasm. I'm sure the people of Sweden don't
want nor need anymore third worlders. But what Israel wants Israel gets.
So what is to do with that shitty little state now?
See Poncho Threetrees for ideas. He has a good one.
Let's hope this paves the way to a one-State solution.