I was always worrisome in my feelings about a two-state solution in Israel. It always seemed to be so far away as to be almost unreachable.
Israel made many moves toward peace only to be rebuffed and then attacked by Palestinians. "Land for peace!" was what the Palestinians shouted, even as they attacked Israelis in the middle of those very "land for peace" negotiations.
In an effort to trade land for peace, Israel unilaterally withdrew from the Gaza Strip in August 2005, leaving the area under the control of the Palestinian Authority. In the resulting power vacuum, Palestinians elected Hamas as their political leadership. When Hamas refused to renounce violence against Israel, the US cut off aid (which has been restored and increased several times since). Gaza became a launching point for tens of thousands of rocket attacks against Israel by Hamas.
As part of a UN agreement, Jerusalem was split in two. The Palestinians were given half - which included some of the holiest Jewish historical sites, such as the "wailing wall". Palestinians restricted Israelis from visiting those sites while demanding Israelis obey a host of restrictive policies meant to embarrass and abase Israelis who only wanted to visit those sites in order to pray.
Israel agreed to give up lands inside Israel that the Palestinians declared were "settlements", sometimes no more than a few homes. Those Israelis were forced to relocate to non-Palestinian lands - within the border of Israel. "Land for peace", they said.
Things changed this morning.
As of yesterday morning, October 7, 2023, I no longer believe that peace between Israel and Hamas is possible. This attack, on one of the holiest days of the Jewish year, leads me to finally admit that Hamas has no desire for peace with Israel. Hundreds of Israelis have been killed, thousands wounded, and yet more taken prisoner or treated inhumanely. Hezbollah, another anti-Israel group, has shelled Israel from Lebanon. And yet more Palestinian groups from outside Israel are begging to join the fight against peace.
I lay part of the blame for this attack on President Biden. His latest move, to give Iran "back" 6 billion dollars was probably the catalyst for this attack. Money is fungible. Iran can now spend its own food budget on development of conventional and nuclear weapons, and get its food budget from elsewhere. To think otherwise is to be naive and self-delusional.
Much of the civilized world has already made it clear that they support Israel's right to defend itself. Some nations have said they "stand with Israel". Others have decried the actions by Hamas.
Hamas has killed, wounded, and captured Americans. This was a foolhardy attempt to divide America in the misguided belief that a few members of Congress would be vocal in their support of this attack. Instead, the members of "The Squad" have been either silent or have released tepid statements.
It is time for Israel to wipe the slate clean, take back all of the land it granted to Palestinians in the name of a peace that will never happen, and tell the remaining Palestinians that they are no longer welcome in the State of Israel. If they wish to stay, then they may stay. But no longer as citizens with the right to vote (which was always granted to Palestinians who lived in Israel - look it up for yourself). And if they wish to leave, Israel should provide them safe conduct to its borders.
Finally, I will say that Hamas needs to be wiped off the face of the earth along with their most vocal supporters, whether they claim to be "civilians" or not. Those who offer support to Hamas, whether it be by fighting with arms or hiding Hamas insurgents are as guilty as those members of Hamas who started this war. None of them have clean hands, and those with unclean hands can not be permitted to exist within the borders of Israel.
"Land for peace" was tried, and it failed.
The world will loudly condemn Israel for these actions, just as it has loudly condemned Israel for all actions it has ever taken in the search for peace - and just as it has loudly supported anti-Israel forces for actions they have ever taken to destroy Israel.
Enough is enough.
