(Washington Times) Shoshana Bryen - The "two-state solution" was a phrase intended to create the aura of equality between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority. But acceptance of two ostensibly equal parties had Washington walking a fine line between a democratic friend and a sometimes-semi-reformed terror organization. That was a mistake. Israel is a free, democratic and open society with a free press and respect for the civil liberties of all its citizens. The Palestinian Authority (PA) is not. In 2002, President Bush called his vision "two states, living side by side in peace and security," but the Palestinians had obligations. Elect new leaders not compromised by terror. Build a "practicing democracy, based on tolerance and liberty." "Reform must be more than cosmetic change....True reform will require entirely new political and economic institutions, based on democracy, market economics and action against terrorism. If the Palestinian people actively pursue these goals, America and the world will actively support their efforts." But after 23 years and billions of dollars in international aid, the 2017 Paris Peace Conference acknowledged that the Palestinians still lacked "infrastructure for a viable economy," cannot manage "service delivery," and have no "civil society" in PA areas able to express dissent. Gaza under Hamas is worse. The U.S. has recognized that the Palestinians are farther than ever from meeting obligations to their own people and to Israel. The writer is senior director of the Jewish Policy Center in Washington.
2019-05-03 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive