A SIMPLE SOLUTION
The countries, peoples and states that surround Israel have been in a slow motion war with Israel for over 50 years. This unending conflict has caused untold misery on all sides, impoverished nations, has cost lives and treasure beyond all reason, and shows no sign of ending. Permit me to suggest a simple solution that fits the following criteria:
1) Will bring a permanent peace, albeit an uneasy one, to the region.
2) Will create a Palestinian state, or at least the opportunity for one.
3) Will eventually stop terrorist attacks on Israel.
4) Will solve the problem of Israeli “settlers”.
5) Will be seen by a large part of the world as just.
6) Does not need international or outside parties’ mediation.
7) Can be accomplished in less than a month.
Sound like a tall order? Maybe. Let’s consider:
There are three indisputable facts involved here: A) Israel is the 800 pound gorilla in the area. It has an effective military and is a nuclear power. No other players are. B) A major driver of conflict in the area is land. C) Israel won a war intended to destroy it, and, as an historical result, occupies a larger space than the original UN mandated boundaries.
Step 1) Israel announces that it will withdraw and establish its national boundaries according to the Oslo accords.
Step 2) Israel announces that it will not respond to attacks with direct military force.
Step 3) Israel announces that it is withdrawing all occupation forces, police and military from all outside territories.
Step 4) Israel announces that Palestine is free to go its way, form a state, remain a rabble or act in any way it desires; that Israel will no longer be responsible for the territories.
Step 5) Israel announces that Israeli citizens living in what are now other countries are, indeed, living in other countries, although they still remain Israeli citizens.
Step 6) Israel announces that an Israeli citizen killed by terrorist or military action from another country will result in the forcible surrender, by that country, of 10 hectares of land contiguous with Israeli borders, that the land so taken will be named after the Israeli victim, that such lands shall be collectively be referred to as ‘bloodlands’, and shall become a permanent part of Israel.
Consider:
This plan can be enacted, one-sided, by Israel, and requires no approval by any other entity.
The modest initial border will be viewed favorably as generous by a fair portion of the world.
The annexation of land in response to deaths will be regarded by most as “well, they were warned”.
If attacks continue, the nations or groups supporting the attacks will be steadily whittled away, and will either become peaceful or will cease to exist.
The ‘settlers’ will be considered Israeli citizens, and hence relatively immune to attack, and presumably will become assets to the developing nation in which they live.
Outside nations will bring pressure on warring factions to desist, since they do not want refugees.
Israel’s promise to refrain from military retribution will allow the no-man’s land of the border states to stabilize and build without the threat of military invasion and destruction.
Israel will doubtless gain some land as the system is tested, but, hopefully, reason will prevail.
Now, dear reader, what are the flaws you see in this arrangement, and how can they be repaire? I await your missives with minnow on lip (bated breath).
John Cooley, author, “Dear Madman”
