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There Will Be No Peace If the Palestinians Don't Contribute Their Share

(Ha'aretz) Ari Shavit - Some peace seekers have been furiously attacking the demand to recognize Israel as a Jewish state. Suddenly Zionism's fundamental idea, which was recognized in the Balfour Declaration, the UN's partition resolution, and the Israeli Declaration of Independence, is not legitimate. People who are usually committed to equality are not ready to grant the Jews what they firmly demand for the Palestinians. People who want peace are rejecting out of hand the threshold demand of peace - real mutual recognition. In 1993 Israel admitted that there is a Palestinian people; in 2000 Israel agreed to the establishment of a Palestinian state. Now it's the Palestinians' turn to open their eyes. But the most basic demand directed at the Palestinians is suddenly seen as a whim. Why? Because when Mahmoud Abbas says no, many in the international community cave in. Even when the Palestinian stance is clearly immoral, they feel an obligation to toe the line. There will be no peace if the Palestinians don't contribute their share to it. But the Palestinians won't contribute their share if people who want peace don't insist they contribute it.
2014-03-20 00:00:00
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