(National Post-Canada) David Frum - No Palestinian leader (the Palestinians believe) can possibly survive signing a treaty that does not deliver: (1) a big slice of Jerusalem; (2) the uprooting of Israeli settlements in the West Bank; and (3) some big acknowledgment of a so-called Palestinian right of return to Israel proper. On the other hand, no Israeli politician will yield those things. The Palestinians do not have the strength to force the concession, and the U.S. is exceedingly unlikely to impose it. The status quo is not a great deal for the Palestinians, obviously. Certainly not as good a deal as they would have had if they had accepted the deals on offer in 1937 or 1947 or 1968 or 2000. But they didn't accept those offers, and they have lapsed. There may never be a peace agreement. But the alternative to a signed peace does not have to be fighting.
2010-05-07 08:25:22Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive