The Arabs have made their position crystal clear. Now I ask the readers of this posting to respond and let us know whether there is any formula which might work.

On several occasions you've asked me to address , at Temple Menorah,such topics as: 1) the Arab mind;   2)  the Arab peace partner; etc.

The attached article from the Gulf news illustrates that the Arab position  is still : no recognition;  no negotiations ; no peace. 

All of the well-meaning Jewish proposals for accommodation or compromise cannot solve the problem when the other side maintains a maximalist, expanding, unyielding position. While more and more Israeli Jews are recognizing that the struggle for  Israel's existence will go on for many years and may be unending, American Jews  keep proposing that Israel give away territory, etc. with the hope  that the other side will be willing to recognize Israel's existence in some form.

 I ask the recipients of this e-mail to respond if they think they have a formula which might work.

The "ARAB  POSITION"  is highlighted by their continued demand for “unlimited right of return "to all of Israel from anywhere in the world- ---by all self -identified descendents of the Arab “refugees”---- now numbering ,according to Palestinian estimates, approximately 6,000,000.

I have previously sent you the Palestinian Authority position that all Palestinians living in camps in Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Jordan and everywhere else including the West Bank would not be regarded as citizens of a new Palestinian state on the West Bank  but would still be considered refugees  entitled to the right of return to what is now Israel. 

Further, the claims to Jerusalem would make any part of Jerusalem that  the PA gain sovereignty over, Jew-free. And the entire West Bank and Gaza would be  Jew-free.

Any agreement made with Abbas or anyone else would be renounced ,since no one has the authority to give up “the basic Palestinian right of return”.

Article follows:

Address the plight of the Palestinians

Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak’s latest comments are merely a distraction tactic

• Gulf News
• Published: 00:00 June 1, 2012
• 
  

There will be no end to the suffering of the Palestinian people if their rights are not granted — in full and uncompromised. Gaining just the minimal of concessions is like treating the problem on the surface and not addressing the root cause. The agony of the Palestinians has been carried over for more than six decades. And there is only one way for a final and peaceful resolution — Israel needs to accept the rights of the Palestinians people to exist.

It is no secret that the peace process between the Palestinians and the Israelis is in a limbo. No real progress has been made on any of the core issues pertaining to the conflict. No final resolution could be achieved without addressing these core issues such as the occupation, the mushrooming colonies, the right of return, the state of the prisoners as well as the final status of Occupied Jerusalem.

Against this backdrop, Israel’s so-called offerings are ever miniscule. It is successful at such games where it shows that it is making concessions yet in reality, it turns out to be just a tactic that does not change the reality of the Palestinians’ misery.

Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak recently proposed that Israel consider “unilateral action” hinting at a possible Israeli pullout from the West Bank. If a deal “proves to be impossible, we have to consider a provisional arrangement or even unilateral action”, said Barak.

Yet would it make any difference even if Israel follows this course? Does it really end the suffering of the thousands of Palestinian prisoners? Does it actually end the diaspora of the millions living outside their homeland? And does it indeed bring an end to occupation? So long as Israel perceives the conflict as one where it has the forceful upper hand, no measure or step would bring about any peace let alone attain rights.