Posted on 02/15/2002 6:55:18 AM PST by richwolo
Friday, February 15, 2002 Adar 3, 5762 Israel Time: 17:45 (GMT+2) The obvious conclusion The proportion of Jews living in Israel and the territories is today 53 percent, but it will be between 43 to 48 percent in 2020. This forecast is included in an extensive study published this week by Professor Sergio DellaPergola, chairperson of the Institute of Contemporary Jewry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The conclusion to be drawn from this forecast is clear to anyone who wants to live in Israel as a democratic state with a Jewish majority - an end must be put to the occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and there must be a return to borders based on the 1967 lines (with agreed-upon adjustments). In the area between the Jordan River and the sea two states must live side by side - Israel and Palestine. Only those who dream immoral and impracticable dreams of transfer, or those who cling to the anachronistic and dangerous vision of a bi-national state, can question something so obvious.
The slogan "Return to ourselves, leave the territories," which in effect adopts the outlook that derives from DellaPergola's research, will rally on Saturday evening in a demonstration initiated by Peace Now and the Peace Coalition. A week ago, several leftist organizations demonstrated against the occupation, and on Wednesday students from a new organization called Green Line (after the 1967 lines) demonstrated opposite the Prime Minister's house and said they will keep on demonstrating until Israel separates itself from the Jewish settlements in the territories and returns to the pre-Six Day War borders.
These budding signs of a public political struggle in the midst of a difficult period when there is so much terrorism - are truly welcome. It may be hoped that they presage the beginning of a large and insistent wave of protest. The demonstrators will remind the government that despite the despair that has seeped into the thoughts and feelings of the left and the moderate center, and despite the helplessness that has overcome many who believed in the Oslo process and were disappointed, and the anger that has silenced the others who hoped for peace with the Palestinian people and were disappointed - despite all this there is still a large proportion of the public that is convinced that Israel cannot rule another people and must stabilize itself within its own borders as a Jewish and Democratic state. The territories that were occupied in 1967 and were supposed to have served as a bargaining chip on the way to peace have turned into the main obstacle sabotaging the chances for peace.
The settlements established in these territories through miserable decisions by all the governments of Israel, are draining the economy, undermining social solidarity and creating huge and harmful gaps between the settlers - who are granted encouragement and benefits by the government - and the citizens who live within the Green Line and carry a heavy burden. The injuries to innocent civilians, the unbearable delays at the roadblocks, the humiliation of hundreds of thousands of human beings, the insolent construction of new settlements - these are the bitter fruit of the occupation of the territories. The occupation is not only eroding the ability of the sovereign state to defend itself, and is not only undermining its moral standing in the eyes of the world, but is also splitting Israeli society. It is retarding its development and sowing violence and hatred within it. The murderous Palestinian terror has indeed weakened the stand of the doves. Nevertheless, as it becomes clearer that the government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon does not have a policy, and as Israel's responses to terror become more extreme and presage war - the protest is beginning to swell.
The settlements established in these territories through miserable decisions by all the governments of Israel, are draining the economy, undermining social solidarity and creating huge and harmful gaps between the settlers - who are granted encouragement and benefits by the government - and the citizens who live within the Green Line and carry a heavy burden. The injuries to innocent civilians, the unbearable delays at the roadblocks, the humiliation of hundreds of thousands of human beings, the insolent construction of new settlements - these are the bitter fruit of the occupation of the territories. The occupation is not only eroding the ability of the sovereign state to defend itself, and is not only undermining its moral standing in the eyes of the world, but is also splitting Israeli society. It is retarding its development and sowing violence and hatred within it. The murderous Palestinian terror has indeed weakened the stand of the doves. Nevertheless, as it becomes clearer that the government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon does not have a policy, and as Israel's responses to terror become more extreme and presage war - the protest is beginning to swell.
Yet more appeasement talk. Some fools never learn. "Just throw us a bone, Yasser. Whisper sweet nothings in our ear! Please!"
If "transfer" means mass deportations of "Palestians" to Jordan, then this is the only correct and feasible solution which permits Israel to endure.
--Boris
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