Subject: Fw: Asia Times, April 19. 2013
From: "fariborz fatemi" <[email-masked]>
To: "fariborz fatemi" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 20 Apr 2013 02:02:45 -0700 (PDT)

ASIA TIMES

April 19, 2013

Despite all the white noise and cynicism concerning peace between the 
Palestinians/Israel and Iran controversy, there is hope. (Israel watches the show beyond Almaty
 April 9, 2013). When the President of the United States traveled to 
Israel recently, the prime minister of that country, Benjamin Netanyahu,
 spoke of "historic compromises in relation to the Palestinians." 

And on April 9, in a meeting with the US Secretary of State, the prime 
minister spoke of his determination "not only to resume the peace 
process with the Palestinians, but to make a serious effort to end this 
conflict once and for all." But when the prime minister first came to 
office several years ago, he showed his disdain for a two-state solution
 by ignoring all advice in favor of a two-state solution, including his 
top national security advisers (current and former) by carrying out a 
furious settlement expansion.

And, then showing his disdain for facts, the prime minister continued 
his hysterical claims of threats from Iran, again not supported by his 
national security advisers nor average Israelis. During his visit to 
America, the prime minister had the temerity with arrogance and hubris, 
to hector the president of the United States, cheered on by his acolytes
 in the media, think tanks and Congress. 

So what changed? Perhaps, an election that was to be a coronation but 
turned out to be almost the prime minister's defeat. Or, perhaps it 
finally dawned on the prime minister the devastating effect of future 
demographics on his desire for a "Jewish state".

Or, perhaps the prime minister finally figured out that he wasted 
several valuable years by ignoring peace with the Palestinians - a quest
 that he could have continued by building on the works of former prime 
ministers Ariel Sharon and Ehud Olmert. Or, perhaps the prime minister 
saw the error of ignoring the trauma caused by expanding settlements on 
lands that Palestinians hoped to build their state. Or, perhaps the 
prime minister wants a legacy - that of a peacemaker. 

There are many who are skeptical about his conversion. But the prime 
minister should be given every benefit to help him turn his words into 
action and redeem his previous years in office. There is no doubt that 
an overwhelming number of Israeli citizens want peace with their 
Palestinian brethren. Elections have consequences and those who ignore 
the wishes of the voters, as the prime minister found out, and as in the
 United States, his supporters found out, will be doing so at their own 
peril.

Fariborz S Fatemi

McLean, VA (Apr 19, '13)

 

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