(Israel Hayom) Brig. Gen. (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser - As U.S. Vice President Mike Pence began his speech at the Knesset on Jan. 22, some Arab Knesset members raised signs declaring "Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine." They didn't say "east Jerusalem." There has never been a state with the name of Palestine. Jerusalem was never a capital for the Palestinians, who are a recently established nation that never took advantage of the right to self-determination they are claiming, even though it was offered to them several times. In the view of PA leader Mahmoud Abbas, the most effective way to advance Palestinian goals is by combining political struggles in the international community with a popular uprising, meaning violence without the use of firearms. Despite this, whoever has weapons and is ready to use them against Israel will earn praise and assistance. In Abbas' narrative, the Palestinians should be compensated for their victimhood and should struggle to liberate all of Palestine. The refugees must return to their homes and the State of Israel must be a state for all its citizens, until it turns into a Palestinian state. The writer is former head of the Research Division of IDF Military Intelligence and a fellow at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs.
2018-02-01 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive