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The Peace process & the fear factor
The name of the game on the streets in Israel is the Fear Factor, writes SAJR Online blogger Barry Shaw in his latest post. As always, Barry, a well-known writer, offers food for thought to all. “As negotiations with the Palestinians wind down to their inconclusive ending, panic-stricken voices are being ratcheted up to agree, or not agree, a deal,” blogs Barry. Read this…
ANT KATZ
Original Thinking
There are two competing teams in this game
Team A favours accepting a geographically reduced Israel out of fear that, by not withdrawing, Israel faces isolation and international sanctions that would be diplomatically, commercially, and economically crippling. They also make the case that agreeing to massive land, and even population, withdrawals would give a major economic boost via new diplomatic and trade ties with Arab states that have, so far, distanced themselves from Israel.
CLICK HERE TO READ THIS THOUGHT-PROVOKING BLOG
Team B points to the security menace of an Israeli withdrawal to indefensible borders, what Abba Eban described as “Auschwitz lines.” They cite the enormous economic and social damage of physically removing “settlers,” people who have made Judea and Samaria their home. They remind us of the national trauma that came with the uprooting of thousands of Jews from Gaza that resulted in Palestinian rockets, deaths, and kidnapping. The personal sacrifice made by the settlers in Gaza on our behalf did not bring peace or added security. On the contrary, more of us experienced the shock of Palestinian terror and missiles.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE OF BARRY’S “Original Thinking” BLOGS