US: Recognize State of Palestine In 2011

MJ Rosenberg.Senior Foreign Policy Fellow, Media Matters Action Network
Posted: January 18, 2011 03:42 PM


If the Palestinians go ahead with their plans to declare a state later this year, the United States should recognize it.

There really is no good reason not to.

After all, ever since the days of Lyndon B. Johnson, presidents from both parties have expressed support for the return of the occupied territories in exchange for peace. No nation, other than Israel itself, recognizes any of that land -- including Arab East Jerusalem -- as part of Israel. And the United Nations, which issued Israel its birth certificate in 1947, appears ready to do the same for the State of Palestine this summer.

It was once widely assumed that creation of the Palestinian state would be negotiated between Israelis and Palestinians. No more. The final nail in the direct-negotiations coffin was driven by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu when he coldly rejected President Obama's offer of an extra $3.5 billion in U.S. aid in exchange for a 90-day settlement freeze.

Netanyahu couldn't even bring himself to explicitly reject an offer he considered so contemptible. He just left it (and President Obama) dangling in the wind while he issued more building permits for settlers and expulsion orders for Palestinians.

It is now clear that although Israel would like to achieve peace with the Palestinians, it is not willing to pay much of a price for it. It will not even negotiate over Arab East Jerusalem. It intends to keep not only the West Bank settlements but also the lands and fields near those settlements -- plus the settlers-only highways that connect the settlements. It will not free blockaded Gaza from its grip, maintaining full control over its airspace, seaports, and land entry points.

remainder in full: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mj-rosenberg/post_1597_b_810568.html

Particularly impressed with his usual perceptive analysis of Palestinian politics.

To wit:

"It is safe to assume that under free and fair elections (closely monitored), neither Hamas nor Fatah would win outright."

How is it safe to assume that? What is he going on there?

And of course he follows it up with this nugget of wisdom:

"The only thing most Palestinians like about Fatah is that it's not Hamas; the only thing most like about Hamas is that it's not Fatah."

It is bizarre that anyone thinks it worthwhile to publish his non-stop ridiculous blogging.

I believe a state of Palestine is enivitable, however I doubt it will be achieved while occupied by a terrorist regime. Palestine has the support of the world I agree, albeit their current government has no diplomatic resolve, and therefore will need to elect a new government that has a peaceful and cooperative agenda. The current Palestian government is not helping to support Palestine peacefully and it is consequently causing a decrease in support from Israel. I am not in favor of reducing the size of Israel significantly, and I also believe Jerusalem should not be divided by race nor religion nor belong to any state but be united as an independant state, a nationstate of shared history and culture. On a side note, I agree Netanyahu is not helping Israel's case with his controversial actions and opinions.

If a Palestine is born within the year, will it survive it's birth or will it be a stillborn country?

What I mean is will the leadership of Palestine be able to exist or will the immediate warfare be declared by it upon Israel? In which case would they survive the night so to speak?

Even if Palestine is declared the conflict still exists and war will be the most likely course of action. Some still want everything from the Jordan to the Mediterranean, and conflicts over Jerusalem, Palestinians demand to repatriate within Israel and other demands would likely just mean a Palestine and an Israel locked in endless warfare.

Vatican. Policing should be by perhaps the Swiss army under UN control. Open to Muslim, Christian, and Jewish inhabitants. Sticky wicket however because none of these groups are peaceful to any extent, perpetrators would have to be expelled.

Governing body would be a panel of highly-educated and respected religious leaders.

The Palestinians need to have a solid government, a regulated and disciplined defense force or army, and come to territorial agreement with Israel.

A schedule of disengagement should be part of the agreement package.

However the last issue is that while Israel will likely have to concede Jerusalem to internationalization or at least a divided city.

The Palestinians will likely have to give up claims of a "right of return", or at least a right to populate the current land of Israel.