Is Peace Really Possible?

That being said, I have no issue with those that are trying. It will be a very sad day when all attempts are completely stopped. The constant state of uncertainly about the future of Israel’s relationship with Palestinians is no way for either of the two peoples to live. There has to be some hope that peace is at least possible and that there are attempts being made to find it - and implement it.

Which is why it upsets me when the current attempts by the Trump administration are so readily ridiculed by the left. Mostly in the form of seeing one of the architects of the yet to be revealed peace plan as an incompetent and ignorant fool with a brain of a child. Whose claim to glory is that he was born with silver spoon in his mouth and ‘married up’ to someone to with a golden spoon in her mouth.

This ignores the contributions of Jason Greenblatt, the other architect. Although he too is inexperienced, no one has ever accused him of being a fool or incompetent. But what about Kushner? Is he as bad as many have characterized him?

It is so easy to characterize people we don’t like this way. Clearly the left does not like Kushner. Furthermore saying nasty things about him is  made easier by virtue of the negative things people that knew him in the past have said about him. I have no doubt that they did. My only question is what their motivation was in disparaging someone with a privileged background.

That said, I have no illusions about Jared Kushner. I see him neither as a genius nor a fool. But I refuse to judge him or his competence in this area despite the fact that he came to his position without the requisite experience of people like Dennis Ross. Ross has been involved in this issue across several administrations – both Republican and Democrat. If there is an expert on this issue, it is him.

The problem with making comparisons in this particular case is the following. With all of Ross’s experience, hard work, and good intentions, the ball was never moved from the scrimmage line. There were always impediments from one side or another that prevented any progress.

Over the past several administrations those impediments always seemed to revolve around Israel’s settlement activity on the West Bank. The security of Israel was at best a secondary issue. The implication of which was that lion’s share of the blame seemed to fall upon Israel. At least that is how the mainstream media always reported it

To its credit the current administration does not use the term ‘settlements’at all.  That - and the fact that they moved the US embassy to Jerusalem; and recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights pretty much has caused Palestinian leaders to reject any possible peace plan offered by the Trump administration. They won’t even look at it.

This has not stopped the administration from trying. Frankly, I have little confidence in success. But miracles do happen and I’m glad that the US has not given up. There is always hope when people keep trying no matter how much the odds are stacked against them.

One may ask, how in heaven’s name do I see any hope when the two sides have never been so far apart?

The answer is that the political reality of the Middle East has changed. Whereas Israel was once the common enemy of all its neighbors (both near and far) - a new enemy has arisen that some Arab nations fear more than they hate Israel. Namely Iran.

This has caused Saudi Arabia to practically do a 180. From being one of Israel’s biggest foes to almost being an ally. I believe they have been joined in this regard by several of the gulf states. The Saudis are now singing the praises of Israel and have even uttered the ‘blasphemy’ of urging Palestinians to make peace with them.

Until recently, the only thing Saudi Arabia had to say about Israel was that it should be destroyed. Now they are talking about Israel’s legitimacy as a sovereign nation. A nation they now see as vital to their national interests in common cause with respect to Iran.

The  change in the ‘realpolitik’ of the region is not the only plus. There is a phenomenon I have noticed long before the changed political dynamic that now exists. It is a phenomenon that was virtually overlooked by all past ‘peacemakers’ in their pursuit of peace. The fact that individual Palestinians and Israelis can actually get along and even be friends. When politics do not get in the way.

The upshot of this is that it is the Palestinian leadership is the biggest impediment to peace. Far more than settlements ever were. Left solely in the hands of the common Palestinian I really believe we could have peace in a heartbeat.

Peace and prosperity are great motivators. National interests pale in comparison to that. If we got rid of the political leaders, a lot more could be done. This is not to say that individual Palestinians don’t have national aspirations. I’m sure they do. But at the same time I truly believe that they would prefer peace and prosperity over that illusive goal given the choice. Which of course their political leaders have no intention of giving them.

This is where we stand now. I believe this is the operating principle of the current architects of the Trump administration’s peace plan.

But, as I said, I have little hope of peace. Because Palestinian leaders rule with an iron fist and do not allow public dissent. They tend to silence it. And reward families of terrorists killed in the cause of liberating Palestine from the Jews ...as the name of the PA’s precursor, the PLO (Palestinian Liberation  Organization) suggests. 

Add to that powerful radical Islamist elements in Gaza (Hamas) and Lebanon (Hezbollah) - both of which Iran provides with weapons to be used against Israel and who will never accept Israel in any incarnation… and I think man will sooner set foot on Mars.

Which saddens me. Because that means is that the bloodshed will continue. But I take some comfort in the belief that many if not most individual Palestinians (and some Arab nations) would just love to see a real peace take place – even if it meant something less than full nationhood - so that they could all just get on with their lives – and prosper.