Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Israel's national unity transcends politics


Israel's New National Consensus -Barry Rubin

Israel has entered a new era of thinking in which old categories of Left or Right are irrelevant under a national unity government bringing together the two main ruling parties.

This new posture is not one of desperately asserting Israel's yearning for peace, but rather saying: We're serious, we're ready, we're not suckers but we're not unreasonable either. We want peace on real terms, not just more unilateral concessions and higher risk without reward. Not experimenting with our survival to please others. Not some illusory celebration of a two-state solution for a week and then watching it produce another century of violence.

Is it really such a brilliant idea to rush into giving a state without serious conditions to a Palestinian regime which has failed to govern competently what it already has, daily broadcasts incitement to murder Israelis, is profoundly corrupt, and has already lost half its patrimony to a rival whose goal is a new genocide?

Jews outside Israel should rally, putting aside old conflicts about who's more passionate about peace, [and focus] more [on] security.

Finally, this new policy merges both the conservative approach - proper suspicions and demands for security and reciprocity - and the liberal approach - a proper readiness to compromise and desire for true peace - into one package.

Both elements are now blended in the thinking of the overwhelming majority of Israelis. A new national consensus has emerged, strong and durable.
(Jerusalem Post)
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