(Washington Times) Clifford D. May - The Middle East is changing, with the Sunni Arab states threatened by Shia Persian Iran. Some suggest that those states should press the Palestinians to negotiate, offer concessions and, finally, resolve the conflict with Israel. The problem with this plan is that it does not overcome the biggest obstacles standing in the way of a successful peace process. Among them: Hamas regards every inch of Israel as "occupied territory" and, more significantly, as an endowment from Allah to the Muslims. It is not conceivable that Hamas would or could recognize the right of a Jewish state to exist. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, too, has declared that he cannot accept Israel as the sovereign nation-state of the Jewish people. The sad truth is that the dream of destroying Israel persists. Until that changes, a serious and enduring peace will remain out of reach. The writer is president of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
2017-06-13 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive