One of the most egregious signs of western irrationality and bigotry over the issue of Israel is the way in which its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is routinely scapegoated for causing the breakdown of the so-called peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.
This charge is based on the widespread fallacy that the ‘peace process’ has stalled because Israel keeps building more Jewish ‘settlements’ on ‘Palestinian land’. This reasoning is not only totally wrong but utterly perverse on the following grounds:
1) The actual reason for the collapse of the ‘peace process’ is that Mahmoud Abbas repeatedly maintains that he will never accept that Israel is entitled to be a Jewish state, hails Palestinian terrorists as heroes for murdering Israelis and does nothing to end the incitement to murder Jews disseminated in schools, mosques and media under his control. In other words, Abbas is not a legitimate interlocutor in any civilised ‘peace process’ since he remains committed to the eradication of Israel. Yet Netanyahu is blamed for the impasse.
2) It is only Israel that has made concessions in this ‘peace process’ (as noted here). The Palestinians not only failed to deliver what was expected of them under the Road Map but now, with their UN gambit, have unilaterally reneged on their previous treaty obligations. Yet Abbas is given a free pass while Netanyahu is blamed instead for the impasse.
3) The claim that the ‘settlements’ are the key to resolving the dispute is ridiculous. First, they take up no more than one or two per cent of West Bank territory. Second, even when Netanyahu froze such new building for ten months as a sign of good will, Abbas still refused to negotiate. Yet this is all ignored, and Netanyahu is blamed instead for the impasse.
4) The claim that the establishment of a Palestine state would end the dispute is also ridiculous. Such a state was on offer in 1948; Israel offered to give up more than 90 per cent of the West Bank for such a state in 2000; and an even more generous offer was subsequently made by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. The Palestinian response was in every case war and terror. Yet all this is ignored, and Netanyahu is blamed instead for the impasse.
5) Whatever land Israel may choose to give up in its own interests, under international law Jews are entitled to settle anywhere in the West Bank. There is no such thing as Palestinian land and never was. The West Bank and Gaza never belonged to any sovereign ruler after the British withdrew from Mandatory Palestine; before that it was part of the Ottoman empire. Israel’s ‘borders’ are in fact merely the cease-fire lines from its victory in 1948 against the Arab armies that tried unsuccessfully to exterminate it at birth. It is therefore more correct to call the West Bank and Gaza disputed territory. Yet this history and law are denied and Netanyahu is blamed instead for the impasse.
6) The Jews alone have the legal – as well as the moral and historical -- right to settle within the West Bank and Gaza, a right given to them by the Great Powers after the First World War on account of the unique historical claim by the Jews to the land then called Palestine. This Jewish right to settle anywhere in that land was entrusted to Britain to deliver under the terms of the Mandate for Palestine – an obligation which it proceeded to break. Yet this history and law are denied, and Netanyahu is blamed instead for the impasse.
It is therefore as absurd as it is malicious to blame Netanyahu for the breakdown of talks between Israel and the Palestinians. Yet this is precisely what many in the west do – principally because, unlike Israeli politicians on the left, Netanyahu (who certainly has his flaws) is less prepared to play fast and loose with truth, justice and history while offering up Israel’s throat to be cut.
For this inconvenient obduracy he is branded as ‘right-wing’ and therefore beyond the pale and impossible to deal with.
That is presumably what lay behind the now infamous overheard exchange between Presidents Sarkozy and Obama – Sarkozy: ‘I cannot bear Netanyahu, he is a liar’; Obama: ‘You’re fed up with him, but I have to deal with him every day!’
This exchange tells us many things, none of them good, about the attitude of the Presidents of France and the US towards the Prime Minister of the country that is in the front line of western defence.
But in the UK, the Times showed yesterday morning that it too has now drunk the Kool-Aid over the Middle East. For just whom did it blame for this horrible exchange between Sarkozy and Obama about Netanyahu? Why – Netanyahu. Its leading article opined:
‘In fact the man who should be most worried by the Cannes table talk is not either of the participants, but the object of their complaint. For what has been exposed is that the leaders of two of the most important allies that Israel has not only dislike Mr Netanyahu intensely, but distrust him too.
‘... Though trust and good personal relationships are hugely important in diplomacy, they are not everything. Israel has existential worries, and understandably feels sometimes that it can rely only on itself. But this “ourselves alone” mentality has become distorted under Mr Netanyahu into what might be called “Millwall diplomacy”, after the famously belligerent soccer fans whose slogan became “no-one likes us, we don’t care”.
‘Israel needs to win friends, not lose them; to be sustained by its allies, not to alienate them. What the conversation in Cannes shows is that, in Mr Netanyahu, Israel seems to have the wrong leader at the wrong time. This newspaper hopes that either he can change, or if not, that he can be changed.’
So the spite displayed by the Presidents of France and the US towards Netanyahu, whom they have thus kicked in the back despite the fact that he has made concession after concession to Abbas who has never resiled from his own genocidal aims, is actually all the fault of ...Netanyahu, whom the Times wishes to punish further for thus being the victim of such malice by chucking him out of office unless he too starts playing the appeasement game.
One expects to read this kind of disgusting ‘blame the victim’ approach to Israel in newspapers of the left. The Times, however, used to be a staunch friend of Israel and was thus on the right side of history. No longer, it seems. Thus the terrifying confusions of our era deepen still further as the skies darken.
This article originally appeared on Melanie Phillips blog at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/.
(13) Venessa, January 4, 2012 12:18 AM
It seems that no matter what Prime Minister Netanyahu does, it will not suffice as what you say about Abbas is so true....he does not give Israel the right to exist! I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu is the man for the hour for Israel...may Hashaem grant him continued favour.
(12) Wassim, December 19, 2011 3:29 AM
2 state solution is unworkable - what about a 2 people solution?
If the "other state" cannot co-exist, then it shouldn't even begin to exist. If the "other people" cannot co-exist, then they probably shouldn't exist either. The only reason there are any options on the table is because Israel isn't a brutal monster like others in time of war and conflict. I am only concerned about those people who show a remote readiness to change their thinking. Those people should be saved from their nightmare, the rest are lost to the pages of history. No need to agonise over whether to defend yourself or not.
(11) Anonymous, November 17, 2011 8:01 PM
Have You ever learned the torah?
This entire article is based on the premise that the government can make peace while Arabs live in Israel. Since the Jews conquered Israel with Joshua, this has never been the case. Except perhaps during the reign of King Solomon, but we weren't totally at peace, as we see Messiah hadn't come. Enemies living here and a lack of true Jewish Kingship/Rulership is why the peace process isn't working. Do not fool Yourself or anyone else with Your silly facts. Truth is truth.
(10) Tom, November 17, 2011 6:34 AM
Informative.
Thanks for putting these issues out in such a clear and concise way. Well-wriiten! The world needs to listen!
(9) Kerry, November 16, 2011 12:10 AM
Bravo Melanie
And GOOD LUCK IN THE UK.
(8) Anonymous, November 15, 2011 8:09 PM
Getting to the Point
Some years agao I sent an email to then UN SG Kofi Anan and summarised the Middle East for him as follows: Besides the fact that historically there has never been a "palestinian" nation, the following reason is the only explanation - logical enough to make even the most ardent fanatic buckle at the "knee of truth": the combined Arab nations constituting the Arab league are insufferable at the fact that in all the wars they have gone to battle with Israel, Israel has come out the victor. Islamic or any other terrorism ion the part of the Arab world albeit in the name of Islam, is their cowardily attempt to take what they think they own, and what is in the warpped minds of the world perceived to be theirs. Terrorism as we know it is the cowardly instrument of the Arab world to "ävenge" their successive defeats at the hands of a small but immensely pwoerful Israel. The UN, UnESCO and other affiliated organisations are today as much of the problem as a result of their own inapptitude for coming to terms with the facts as they really are while simultaneously adorning Islamic Terrorism or other non - conventional warfare to defeat singularly Israel. Whats is more disconcerting is that the acts of terrroism are committed by rapists, murderers, thugs, and other hardened criminals rather than waste their professional armies on fighting conventional warfare. Iran - Iraq - Flotilla...all stem from the same source today: lets talk action, lets get the very heart of the matter, Lets Get To The Popint
(7) Ramy Dishy, November 15, 2011 8:07 PM
Brave Melanie Phlips
I am reading your book "The world turned upside down". your intellect and cleear vision inspire me and many other who cannot see clearly the issues. You clarify things. Thank you, Ramy Dishy.
(6) Anonymous, November 15, 2011 8:02 PM
Beautiful article. Never AGAIN - I come from Egypt and was born there and escaped in 1956 during the Suez Canal war.
(5) Everett, November 15, 2011 2:23 PM
Another form of anti-Semitism
To blame Israel when The PA & Hamas have made it completely clear that they are dedicated to the destruction of Israel,& honor suicide bombers,is to demonize the victim,& is a form of anti-Semitism!
(4) P.Herring, November 15, 2011 2:22 PM
There is not, never has been, never will be a "West Bank"
Judea and Samaria are an integral part of Israel. Accusations against Netanyahu as raised by Sarkozy simply reflect the fear the French leader has with the rapidly growing number of French born moslems who are an already major, (and increasing),factor in French politics.| As for the settlements now is the time for rapid escalation - the turmoil in the arab world has for the time being quietened the usual vocal palestinian claims - world media tending to focus on attrocities being committed by arabs on their own kind. Israel is slowly being surrounded by potentially extreme Islamic fundamentalist governments whose sole aim is the total destruction of the state. The "banker' of these groups, Iran, is now under intense scrutiny over its nuclear policies- it would have to be assumed that if Iran was to unleash nuclear missiles towards Israel, that the IDF would have the technical ability to divert the incoming warheads to targets in the various hostile states surrounding Israel. Just how much of Iran's propaganda can be taken seriously is questionable, but never the less as long as President Ahmadinejad remains in power Israel's security is seriously threatened. In a non nuclear sense the "nuisance value" terrorist factions Hamas/Hezbollah are logistically dependent on Iran. Abbas will surely only remain a power figure as long as Iran/Hamas/Hezbollah consider him of any use to their cause. In summary now is the time for Israel to use the "Arab Spring" to their advantage - major expansion in Judea and Samaria,prompt reaction to terrorist activity from Gaza, continual documentation of Iran's nuclear threat and most importantly the need to maintain a cordial working relationship with Washington who remain a staunch ally. The present Israeli leadership is doing an outstanding job - our prayers and our actions must continue to give them the total support they need as the future unfolds
(3) Kristina, November 15, 2011 2:09 PM
Do You Ask The Shark This?
Would you ask a shark if he REALLY wants to take that big a bite? No. Terrorists and supporting public media are actually sharks, unendlingly deluding the public shamelessly, and Israel and her supporters must keep REALITY in view or lose more. NEVER trade land for evil intent.
(2) carmen weeks, November 15, 2011 1:33 PM
when will the nations realize that abbas do not want any thing to do with israel he is playing for time that is why he acts like that and blames natanyahu.
(1) Anonymous, November 15, 2011 1:17 PM
Mid East Peace process
I fully agree with this article. A few weeks ago in a New York Times op-ed Ambassador Michael Oren stated the most crucial point about negotiating with the Palestinians: Throughout history the Palestinians have rejected every offer for a two state solution even the most generous offered by Ehud Barak. To accept any deal would mean recognizing Israel's right to exist.