APN should also sponsor a PETITION to the President AND Secretary Clinton.

Correction: Any petition to the President and Secretary should SUPPORT the UN Resolution, not simply not veto it. Time for the US to live up to its stated values.

I would like to know if there is anyone interested in co-sponsoring my petition to Secy of State Hillary Clinton to supporting the resolution instead of vetoing it. I am an APN member.
http://www.silentconscience.org
Zafar Khan

You have seen (hopefully) my comments (“Scott”) on some of your articles at APN so you know I believe your actions will neither help the Palestinians nor the Israelis. In this case, encouraging the US to acquiesce to the upcoming proposal by the UN (an unbiased actor in this world drama right?) is another example of inversion of reality by buying into the false narrative that Israel is at fault for the stalled peace talks. At least you are consistent with your approach: “Peace NOW”* (* regardless if it leads to increased death and destruction later)

You treat the settlements as the reason for the lack of progress. This is the false narrative of those who want peace, (temporarily for some) but only on terms that put Israel at greater risk. Do you really think Israel's enemies' aggressive and hostile behavior will DECREASE as Israel is strategically weakened? History, and common sense, dictates the opposite will likely happen. So what we will end up with (if we follow your strategy) is "Peace NOW" (pat yourself on the back today) and an escalation of war tomorrow. How has the unilateral withdrawal from Gaza worked out? Exactly.

Why did the most recent peace talks fail? As you no doubt recall, Israel turned down Obama’s offer of more weapons (billions of dollars worth) to continue the building moratorium for ninety (90) days. Instead Israel asked for a simple statement from the Palestinians that "two states for two people" means one state will be a Jewish one. The Palestinians walked because Abbas would/could not accept that "two states for two people" means one state will be a Jewish one.

I guess I should be asking you the same question. Do you agree that "two states for two people" means one state will be a Jewish one? (I shouldn’t expect you to demand that of the Palestinian’s if you don’t believe it.) ASSUMING you do how is it possible that you ignore this fundamental issue? How can you endorse a proposal that codifies this false narrative?

Israel was (re)established as a homeland for the Jewish people. The "Arabs" have tried to deny Israel's right to exist AS A JEWISH COUNTY since Israel’s (re)birth. You can allow your mind to be distracted with these various sub-issues but it’s really simple. Until Israel's Arab neighbors are willing to peacefully co-exist with a JEWISH country in their midst there will never be peace. You don't negotiate with people who say your country should cease to exist.

It’s as simple as that.

Regards,

Scott

ENOUGH ALREADY!

By Yuval Zaliouk

It is now more than ten years that I have been searching, researching and writing about the Middle East conflict.

I proudly include myself among the few experts who truly comprehend the interminable conflict in all its aspects, culturally, historically, geographically, legally and politically.

What in the past 100 years or so has not yet been tried? What is left to explore between the rivals that has not yet been examined ad-nauseam? How long do we need to wait for a glimmer of hope from the Arab side? How long must Israel endure world pressure to satisfy “Palestinian” blackmail?

Even if the miracle of a complete peace treaty is achieved and signed, who can guarantee that the Middle East’s shifting sands would not render such treaty a mere piece of useless paper?

Even the peace treaty with Egypt, a country far away from Israel, with a large desert as a buffer and no territorial claims, is completely dependent on nothing but the survival or demise of one leader. Can anybody guarantee that a regime change in Egypt would not bring about renewed hostilities between the two countries? That the Muslim Brotherhood would not shred the peace treaty to pieces?

Can anybody promise Israel that a so called “Palestinian” state within rifle range of Israel’s most densely populated centers can be trusted over a long period? Can anybody guarantee that a “Palestinian” piece of paper promising Israel no more violence can be relied upon while they cannot find common ground among themselves?

Is it so easy for the world to forget how Hamas wrestled Gaza from Fatah shortly after Israel vacated all its citizens from that territory?

Lately, new voices are beginning to emerge. The “Palestinians” plan to unilaterally declare independence and establish a “Palestinian” State, thus ignoring all UN resolutions of several decades that mandate a negotiated settlement. They even manage to convince some western countries to support such dangerous “Palestinian” plan.

If something is not done immediately, if Israel continues to procrastinate, if Israel does not react right away, Israel will most certainly lose the only opportunity it has to stop the world from endorsing the “Palestinian” dangerous move.

Israel must remember the verse from Psalms (121:4): “The guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps!”

So, when I am asked what my solution is, I say ENOUGH ALREADY! It is Israel, not the “Palestinians” who should take unilateral action before it is too late:

Annex Judea and Samaria immediately and begin negotiations with Jordan about a long term solution.

I am convinced that many Arab dwellers in Judea and Samaria would acquiesce, maybe even endorse such a solution. It will open a whole new world of opportunities to them. Judea and Samaria would be safe and no longer a threat the existence Israel. Neither will it pose a threat to Jordan, as a separate “Palestinian” state undoubtedly would. Instead of a hostile “Palestinian” state on its western border, Jordan would now have Israel with which a peace treaty is already in force.

Incentives, financial and others could be offered to Judea & Samaria Arabs who would move to Jordan, while similar incentives could be offered to Jews all over the world who would wish to settle in the territories. This should alleviate the demographic worries feared by some Israelis.

After a few months of gyrations, the rest of the world would get used to the new situation on the ground. The world, including the Arab world, would realize that this solution promises to bring stability to the region.

In any case, Israel’s fate would not be worse than it is today.

For those who want ‘peace now,’ this is the only available logical solution. It is a sound and immediately achievable solution geographically, historically, culturally and politically.

If Israel neglects to seize the moment, a “Palestinian” state will be forced upon her, the result of which will be perpetuation of the Middle East conflict for generations to come, drowned in blood on both sides.

Israeli leaders from the entire political spectrum must join-in and act IMMEDIATELY!

I believe that "Peace Now" proponents are well intentioned, but sadly misguided. While there may be many Palestinians that want to live in peace, their leadership actively advocates for the destruction of Israel. Encouraging the US not to veto the UN resolution plays in to the hands of those that want Israel to disappear. To think otherwise is fantasy.
I encourage all who read this to contact the President, your Congressional Reps and Senators and get the message across that the US must not abandon its only ally in the Mideast. Not vetoing this resolution will be remembered in 2012, and guarantee a Republican in the White House.

It is sad to see some of the comments made by commentators on this forum, they are blinded by by their patriotism, and continue to welcome the unjust treatment of the Palestinians by Israel and the US.

When South Africa did it,we called it Apartheid and we the Americans and the rest of the world denounced it, when the Berlin wall was up, it was seen as evil and Ronald Reagan pushed to have it dismantled.

What is the difference between the Israel Barrier and the Berlin wall? and the concentration camp that it has built, Gaza has become the largest open space prison in the world, not to mention the many UN resolutions condemning Israeli actions, is it okay for us to impose UN resolutions on others, but when it comes to Israel we say the UN is anti Israeli.

For those that keep blaming the Palestinians for no peace deal, if Israel signed a peace deal, I am certain that there might be skirmishes here and there, but not flat out war, which with time usher in peace.

I have come to the realization that Israeli hawks, have no plans of a two state solution, it will be a slow process, but the Palestinians will be pushed back until all of the Palestinians are refugees.

Israel will keep playing the game of deceit with the US being complicit, sadly "Peace Now" your efforts are all in vain, you do not have a partner in either the Israeli Government, or the US Government.

I am ashamed to be an American, and embarrassed to admit that I thought Barack Obama would fix the middle east problem. Even before the release of the Palestine papers, it was clear that the Palestinians didn't have partners in Washington or in Tel Aviv.

I can tell you one thing with certainty, if someone came to my house and moved my family out, I would protect them by any means necessary.

Lets hope that Israel's greed does not destroy her in future, this kind of situation can only have one out come, and it is not a good one.

Drang nach Osten! [Push to the east!] Those who think they can easily 'annex Samaria and Judea' and press on to Jordan had better beware: The Pals who have lived in the margins of Gross Israel are unhappy [d.p.] campers and may decide that an entire annexation is going to cost Israel big time.
Israel, the Jewish State, is better off in its own back yard than trying to maintain its occupation of an angry, enemy country...Boundry, Ports-of- Entry, utilities, sewage/sanitation, The 'Arc'...
True peace is cool!...Aaron Allen...