(Commentary) Rick Richman - The latest Palestinian assertion (swallowed whole by the New York Times) that recognition of a Jewish state is a new issue, allegedly raised by Netanyahu to prevent peace, is a Big Lie. On March 19, Amb. Dennis Ross, speaking in Los Angeles, said: "When I hear it said that this is the first time this issue has been raised - the people who say that think that no one knows history....When we were at Camp David [in 2000], this issue was raised...for obvious reasons. From the Israeli standpoint, there is a need to know that the Palestinians are committed to two states, meaning in fact that one state is Palestinian and one is the state of the Jewish people. They need to know the Palestinians are not about two states, one Palestinian and one bi-national." In 1947, the Jews accepted the UN two-state resolution; the Arabs not only rejected it, but started a war the next day, seeking to destroy Israel. Instead, they created a "catastrophe" for themselves. More than 65 years later, the Palestinians and their Arab allies still reject a Jewish state. They need to recognize it, not only for Israel's benefit but their own: it is the necessary first step on their long road back from the self-created "catastrophe."
2014-03-24 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive