Peace...In Whose Lifetime?

"I am committed to two objectives that must guide the result -- if there will be a result. And if there will be a result, it will be put to a national referendum. It won't be easy But we are entering the talks with integrity, honesty, and hope that this process is handled responsibly, seriously and to the point."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

What has the Palestinian Authority under President Mahmoud Abbas informed the U.S.'s peace envoy John Kerry? That perhaps after all, but subject without notice to sudden change, the PA will agree to opening new discussions. An agreement, perhaps, if all signs point in the right direction, to meet. Perhaps even discuss those critical issues that could, should both sides seriously consider how they may advantage themselves by entertaining some measure of commitment to cooperative surrender of some goals, reach the critical point of a final agreement.

Surly agreements to continue disagreeing and pointedly blaming the other for disinterest and lack of commitment has simply extended the agony and the conflict and the incitement. These matters have a way of complicating issues even further. To the point where, eventually, there will be no opportunity to return to the original fork in the road where one way leads to the possibility of peace and settlement, while the other drudges on toward total and complete alienation with all its attendant ills.

The Palestinians balk at the settlements of the West Bank. For which there is a solution; a hollowing out of a balanced portion from Israel's borders in a swap. Those settlements, in essence, represent 2% of the land in question. The issue of "right of return" should be recognized as an unabashed manoeuvre to dilute the Jewishness of the State of Israel; conquest by any other name. And conquest is what pertains as well to east Jerusalem -- site of all that is holy to Jewish heritage.

And which, under previous Arab administration, was denied Jewish access. Which even now, under Palestinian (Islamic) Waqf administration of the Temple Mount/(Noble Sanctuary), granted by the State of Israel as a courtesy, incites to denial and violence by Muslim Arabs of Jewish rights of approach and worship. The institutionalized teaching of Israel as oppressors and occupiers, the naming of public squares and streets after honoured martyrs who attained that rank by murder of Jews does not exactly set the stage for amicable relations.

It represents an ongoing strategy to deny Jews their historical place in the region by denying they ever had a heritage to begin with; documented history as aged as the Jewish presence in the Middle East aside. Archaeological finds that affirm claims of historicity and heritage are not only scorned, but ancient sites of devotion to the faith are defaced, while hostile, hysterical claims are made that Islamic honour is disgraced when Korans are said to be defiled by infidels and Jews.

Tribal animosities resulting in gruesome vengeance murders and sectarian divisions leading to wholesale bloodbaths are all unfortunate by-products, claim Islamists, of the presence of Israel in their midst. Remove Israel and all will shine sweetness and light. Under these prevailing circumstances, and given that the Palestinian Authority has never assumed the responsible steps of grooming its population to accept the Jewish presence of the Jewish state, how will this end?

Because Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that his administration plans to present a referendum on peace talks to garner the opinion of his subjects, the PA's Mahmoud Abbas has declared likewise. As Israelis have for so long a period of their existence expended hope after hope that the Palestinians would agree to one peace offer after another, it can be safely assumed that a real prospect held out before them for a final peace plan would be leaped upon with huge expectations.

The same, unfortunately, cannot be said for the Arab side, given the many past instances when, in good faith, Israel has surrendered to all demands, their offer is rejected, and in following rounds of talks, the demands are accelerated to deliberately impossible heights.

Peace? In whose lifetime?