Does Israel have a partner for Peace?

Netanyahu speech before congress last week resonated with all Americans, the international community, but more specifically, with the Palestinians who took his speech as a declaration of war.1 The realities on the ground, which Netanyahu presented to the world, are true.

“The Palestinians have been unwilling to accept a Palestinian state, if it meant accepting a Jewish state alongside it”.2

If Netanyahu did not tell his story, then he would be leaving others to tell their own version creating conflicting versions of history and facts on the ground, which will be the only ones that will resonate. That is why, it was important for Netanyahu to tell what is really taking place on the ground.

Senior Palestinian Authority negotiator Saeb Erekat said it all after the speech, Netanyahu has "no vision and nothing to offer," and the PA chooses unity with Hamas" rather than "lies and distortions."3 So we can see that the real issue is not statehood, but the very existence of a Jewish state.

Does genuine peace require the giving up of the Jewish homeland like Netanyahu said? The answer is NO! Since the PA is unwilling recognize a Jewish state and chooses a partnership with Hamas and to proclaim an independent state in September, then the only alternative is to annex all of the disputed area of Judea and Samaria [West Bank and Gaza].

Genuine peace never requires the giving up of an ancient homeland to enemies who want to destroy you. This was done before and the result was death and destruction. Israel now is at a crossroads in life, it can continue the false concept of giving up land for an artificial peace or annex her historical homeland. The most pragmatic thing to do, to end this cycle of violence and false hope, is to annex and incorporate the disputed land from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.

Netanyahu must go back to what he always believed in, a Palestinian state exists and that state is Jordan. This is the reality, and true peace can only be achieved if two sides come together and talk. Then and only then will there be peace.

ⓒ Abraham J. Santiago 

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1 Washington post.com May 24, 2011

2 Congressional speech before Congress- Benjamin Netanyahu, May 24, 2011

3 Haaretz.com May 25, 2011

Netanyahu and America

On May 24, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel will address Congress in Washington. DC. This will be his second appearance before congress and perhaps the most important speech to the American people. He will attempt to present his view for stability in the Middle East, the threat of Iran and the issue of Palestinian statehood. Netanyahu is under extreme pressure from the left in Israel and the Obama administration, to make concessions for peace and that may include giving up land and communities.

How will Americans respond if Netanyahu decides to give up Israel’s historical homeland to the very people who want to exterminate Israel and remove their presence from the Middle East? If he decides to give up land for peace, the American public would view his undertaking as a negative, because most Americans believe that the land of Israel is connected to the Jewish people. This basic deep-seated concept is ingrained in most Americans who practice Christianity or any semblance of Christianity. By giving up land for peace, he would be undermining his position that Israel has a historical claim to the land. Netanyahu will be giving his enemies a legitimate and historical claim to all of the land of Israel even though they have no claim. Perception and facts is everything, he must convey to all Americans that there can be no peace with an entity that wants to destroys the Jewish people and wipe them off the map.

Americans still values courage and strength in times of diversity. Netanyahu greatest moment will be when he stands before congress and speaks to America. If he flinches and takes the path of appeasement and giving up land, or agrees to a terrorist state inside Israel, it will eventually result in his demise and it will create more deaths and destruction on the people of Israel.  Also, it will embolden his enemies to continue their slogan “from the river to the sea”. Israel has the upper hand because she controls all the land. It doesn’t matter what the UN or the US thinks about an independence state of Palestine. Palestinians have shown through their actions, that they are not partners for peace. It is the duty of Netanyahu to protect his citizens and future citizens from harm and destruction. Capitulating to the demands of the US or the international community at the expensive of Israeli lives will not work.

The most pragmatic move is to annex all the land of Judea and Samaria and brake the cycle of concessions and false hope. Since Israel has a historical and legal claim to all of the land of Israel and Palestinians do not, this will put an end to this debate. Bible believing Christians in private opposes the creation of a two state solution plan for peace. Most believing Christians maintain that a creation of a new state in Jordan or a partnership with Jordan is the best answer for peace. If this can be worked out, if Palestinians would focus on moving to Jordan and working with the Jordanian government on some type of dual citizenship.1 Netanyahu will not win the support of the US if he thinks that giving up land for peace will work. Netanyahu must do something audacious and reclaim the land of his forefathers as our land. By doing so he will win the respect and admiration of the American people.

ⓒ Abraham J. Santiago   All rights reserved

1. http://christianactionforisrael.org/isreport/janfeb04/jordan.html

 

The PLO"s desperate defenders

The PLO"s desperate defenders