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Patience, Not Panic, on Israeli-Palestinian Peace

(Foreign Policy) Michael Singh - There is a view that only tough love from Washington and European capitals - in the form of a dictated peace plan or other such ultimatum - can salvage any hope for Israeli-Palestinian peace, and ultimately secure Israel's own survival. But analysts who fret that the Israeli election will diminish prospects for peace have confused cause and effect. Heightened security worries sparked by Iran and the upheaval in the Arab world, compounded by fading hopes for peace with the Palestinians after four years of backsliding in the peace process, have fueled the electoral shifts that will be manifest in the Jan. 22 results. A Dahaf poll from December 2012 indicates that Israelis increasingly believe that concessions will not bring real peace. 83% did not believe that even a full Israeli withdrawal to the pre-1967 lines would bring an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This pessimism about peace has undoubtedly fueled a view that "defensible borders," not a peace agreement, is the surest route to actually achieving peace. 61% of Israelis express that view, compared to 49% who did so in 2005. Right now, only 39% of Israelis believe that they can rely upon the U.S. to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The writer is managing director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
2013-01-09 00:00:00
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