Israel's best diplomatic option is accepting Arab peace initiative, study finds

[azurnoir]

Study led by Herzliya's Interdisciplinary Center Dean says accepting initiative would improve Israel's security and economic situation.

It can be safely assumed that Uzi Arad, Benjamin Netanyahu's hawkish adviser, will not hurry to put on the prime minister's desk an important study recently published by the Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya, where Arad served as a professor. The study, led by the school's dean, Prof. Alex Mintz, asserts that Israel's best diplomatic option is a declaration of a willingness to accept the Arab peace initiative (also known as the Saudi plan ).

<snip>

The researchers propose that we accept the initiative, which has been gathering dust for eight years, with the reservations that the Palestinian state be demilitarized, the Palestinian refugees be allowed to return only to the Palestinian state (or that only a small number be allowed to live in Israel ). Also, terror against Israel would be immediately halted, terrorist infrastructure would be dismantled, security arrangements would be made and the large settlement blocs would be preserved as part of a land swap.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/features/israel-s-best-diplomatic-option-is-accepting-arab-peace-initiative-study-finds-1.321185

[aquart]

1. By all means, accept the Arab peace initiative.

LOL!

[proteus_lives]

2. There will never be peace unless it's peace between equals.

And the API ain't equal.

[Violet_Crumble]

3. Can you explain what a peace plan is supposed to be equal to?

Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but I'm not sure what any plan or initiative is supposed to be equal to, or even why one would need to be. Or are you talking about the contents of the initiative? In that case, what do you find unequal in it, and why?

[azurnoir]

4. Really most of what the Palestinians want

is cut out in the "well except for...." parts

[proteus_lives]

5. First off, Israel needs more then vague promises of peace.

No ROR, a more realistic plan for Jerusalem and new plans for the Golan Heights.

The API is basically a do-over for the Arab States and the Palestinians where all their fuck-ups are undone and Israel gets nothing but the vague promise of "We'll stop trying to destroy you."

[Violet_Crumble]

7. I thought you said it should be a peace between equals...

It's just that what you've just described doesn't come across like the Palestinians would be treated as equal in any way.

Peace initiatives aren't promises of anything. They're plans and suggestions on how to achieve something. So, what Israel needs in the way of promises doesn't have anything to do with the contents of the peace plan. Also, if we're talking about equality, why should Israel need something it doesn't behave as though the Palestinians need? Shouldn't the Palestinians also need more than vague promises of peace?

Can you explain what you think is unequal in the Right of Return, and what you think a more realistic plan for Jerusalem would be?

[proteus_lives]

11. RoR is is inherently unequal.

Like the settlers in the WB. Offer the Palestinians economic deals instead.

As for Jerusalem, it should be the capital of neither state. I think the best option would be to make it a UN open-city run by a council made of Israelis and Palestinians. Make it the spiritual capital of both nations while the working capitals are in Tel Aviv and Ramallah.

[Violet_Crumble]

24. Why right of return must be addressed...

Yr referring to a physical return of millions of Palestinians to Israel itself. That's not going to happen. What should happen and can't be dismissed, is there will be a symbolic number of refugees allowed to return to Israel, Israel should have no say at all in how many are allowed to return to the Palestinian state, and for all other refugees, they should be offered citizenship in a third country of their choice. And for those who lost property and livelihoods there should be financial compensation. What also is important is that Israel must acknowledge its part in what was done to the refugees. That last bit would surely happen as part of any final settlement of the conflict, as there's going to need to be mutual acknowledgement of suffering from both sides...

I totally agree with you on the future of Jerusalem, even on what the working capitals should be...

[azurnoir]

10. vague hardly the terms are spelled out quite concisely

Emanating from the conviction of the Arab countries that a military solution to the conflict will not achieve peace or provide security for the parties, the council:

1. Requests Israel to reconsider its policies and declare that a just peace is its strategic option as well.

2. Further calls upon Israel to affirm:

a. Full Israeli withdrawal from all the territories occupied since 1967, including the Syrian Golan Heights to the lines of June 4, 1967 as well as the remaining occupied Lebanese territories in the south of Lebanon.

b. Achievement of a just solution to the Palestinian Refugee problem to be agreed upon in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 194.

c. The acceptance of the establishment of a Sovereign Independent Palestinian State on the Palestinian territories occupied since the 4th of June 1967 in the West Bank and Gaza strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

3. Consequently, the Arab Countries affirm the following:

a. Consider the Arab-Israeli conflict ended, and enter into a peace agreement with Israel, and provide security for all the states of the region.

b. Establish normal relations with Israel in the context of this comprehensive peace.

4. Assures the rejection of all forms of Palestinian patriation which conflict with the special circumstances of the Arab host countries.

5. Calls upon the Government of Israel and all Israelis to accept this initiative in order to safeguard the prospects for peace and stop the further shedding of blood, enabling the Arab Countries and Israel to live in peace and good neighborliness and provide future generations with security, stability, and prosperity.

6. Invites the International Community and all countries and Organizations to support this initiative.

7. Requests the Chairman of the Summit to form a special committee composed of some of its concerned member states and the Secretary General of the League of Arab States to pursue the necessary contacts to gain support for this initiative at all levels, particularly from the United Nations, the Security Council, the United States of America, the Russian Federation, the Muslim States and the European Union.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1844214.stm

[proteus_lives]

12. Vague and they offer nothing concrete.

They just want take back 50 years of their mistakes.

[azurnoir]

13. what is vague about it? nt

[proteus_lives]

14. For one.

"Consider the Arab-Israeli conflict ended, and enter into a peace agreement with Israel, and provide security for all the states of the region."

What are they giving up? And what does "provide security for all the states of the region" mean?

[azurnoir]

17. What does "security" mean to Israel?

I think it means the same to all involved, just depends on who you want to be secure from

[proteus_lives]

18. I would say...

That for Israel security means a peace that isn't a potential knife to it's throat.

[azurnoir]

19. and how would that be achieved

it seems Israel feels every Arab both inside and outside Israel is a potential "knife"?

[proteus_lives]

20. I don't think that is the general feeling.

Of the fundie Right-Wingers, sure but not of the average Israeli in the street.

Some steps would needed. For example: No ROR, a different Jerusalem plan and the issue of the Golan Heights needs to be addressed separately.

And controlling the militants in Lebanon and Gaza who would dismiss any peace process.

[alanquatermass]

22. They certainly do!

Israel's neighbors have advanced what is an EMPIRICALLY SENSIBLE peace initiative, and if the ISRAELIS have any sense (ha!!!) they will accept it.

[shaayecanaan]

15. The Palestinians have nothing to do with the Golan Heights for a start

what do you think should be more "realistic" about the plan for Jerusalem?

[proteus_lives]

16. See post #11.

And that's right, they don't. It should a separate process for the GH.

[MX96391]

6. End the suicide bombings

The arabs can have peace if they end the suicide bombings.

[Violet_Crumble]

8. There haven't been any suicide bombings for a while and there's still no peace...

You might like to ask yrself why yr ignoring the extreme RW govt of Israel and their aversion to any peaceful resolution. See, When the Israelis love their children more than they hate the Arabs there will be peace. Until then....

[azurnoir]

9. It's almost a "Pavlovian" response for some

ring the bell ...........

[hayu_lol]

21. Its a great plan from an Arab perspective...

what is in it for Israel? Nothing.

[Violet_Crumble]

23. What's in it for Israel is peace n/t

[Douglas Carpenter]

25. fulll diplomatic relations with the 22 nations of the Arab league and the 57 nations of the

Organization of Islamic Conference - with all the trade and opening of free movement that entails along with the end to support for Palestinian groups who do not accept peaceful coexistence with the State of Israel:

3. Consequently, the Arab countries affirm the following:

I- Consider the Arab-Israeli conflict ended, and enter into a peace agreement with Israel, and provide security for all the states of the region.

II- Establish normal relations with Israel in the context of this comprehensive peace.

4. Assures the rejection of all forms of Palestinian patriation which conflict with the special circumstances of the Arab host countries.

http://www.al-bab.com/arab/docs/league/peace02.htm

here is the full text of the Arab Peace Initiative:

Official translation of the full text of a Saudi-inspired peace plan adopted by the Arab summit in Beirut, 2002.

The Arab Peace Initiative

The Council of Arab States at the Summit Level at its 14th Ordinary Session,

Reaffirming the resolution taken in June 1996 at the Cairo Extra-Ordinary Arab Summit that a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East is the strategic option of the Arab countries, to be achieved in accordance with international legality, and which would require a comparable commitment on the part of the Israeli government,

Having listened to the statement made by his royal highness Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, crown prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in which his highness presented his initiative calling for full Israeli withdrawal from all the Arab territories occupied since June 1967, in implementation of Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, reaffirmed by the Madrid Conference of 1991 and the land-for-peace principle, and Israel's acceptance of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in return for the establishment of normal relations in the context of a comprehensive peace with Israel,

Emanating from the conviction of the Arab countries that a military solution to the conflict will not achieve peace or provide security for the parties, the council:

1. Requests Israel to reconsider its policies and declare that a just peace is its strategic option as well.

2. Further calls upon Israel to affirm:

I- Full Israeli withdrawal from all the territories occupied since 1967, including the Syrian Golan Heights, to the June 4, 1967 lines as well as the remaining occupied Lebanese territories in the south of Lebanon.

II- Achievement of a just solution to the Palestinian refugee problem to be agreed upon in accordance with U.N. General Assembly Resolution 194.

III- The acceptance of the establishment of a sovereign independent Palestinian state on the Palestinian territories occupied since June 4, 1967 in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

3. Consequently, the Arab countries affirm the following:

I- Consider the Arab-Israeli conflict ended, and enter into a peace agreement with Israel, and provide security for all the states of the region.

II- Establish normal relations with Israel in the context of this comprehensive peace.

4. Assures the rejection of all forms of Palestinian patriation which conflict with the special circumstances of the Arab host countries.

5. Calls upon the government of Israel and all Israelis to accept this initiative in order to safeguard the prospects for peace and stop the further shedding of blood, enabling the Arab countries and Israel to live in peace and good neighbourliness and provide future generations with security, stability and prosperity.

6. Invites the international community and all countries and organisations to support this initiative.

7. Requests the chairman of the summit to form a special committee composed of some of its concerned member states and the secretary general of the League of Arab States to pursue the necessary contacts to gain support for this initiative at all levels, particularly from the United Nations, the Security Council, the United States of America, the Russian Federation, the Muslim states and the European Union.

http://www.al-bab.com/arab/docs/league/peace02.htm