Today's Lesson: Let's Count States...
They say the more you repeat a lie, the more people will believe it.
The political goal of "two states living side by side in peace and security", has become a mantra since the Midde East Road Map was promoted by George Bush in 2002. That Road Map was adopted by the Israeli Government under Ariel Sharon in 2003 (with certain reservations).
The "Disengagement" (scorched-earth retreat) by Israel from Gush Katif was described by George Bush in April 2004: "These steps will mark real progress toward realizing the vision I set forth in June 2002 of two states living side by side in peace and security, and make a real contribution toward peace. "
For the still-new President Obama to echo that mantra at the UN General Assembly today, seems uneventful and, well, sort of obvious. A bit like saying "we are united in our fight against world poverty and global warming." How could anyone reasonably object?
However, between 2002 and 2009 there has been a major event in our corner of the Middle East, which many people, from Obama down, apparently overlooked.
In June 2007, following their election victory, Hamas staged a violent coup in Gaza, and seized power. Since that time, Gaza has become the home of perhaps the most advanced terrorist army and islamic fundementalist regime in the world, including firing thousands of increasingly sophisticated missiles into Israeli cities, culminating in the Cast Lead Operation by the Israeli Army in January 2009.
Mahmoud Abbas, head of the "Palestinian Authority" has zero "authority" in Gaza.
So where are the "Two States" in the much touted "Two State Solution" ?
In the current circumstances, there could only be a THREE STATE "solution".
The "Disengagement" (scorched-earth retreat) by Israel from Gush Katif was described by George Bush in April 2004: "These steps will mark real progress toward realizing the vision I set forth in June 2002 of two states living side by side in peace and security, and make a real contribution toward peace. "
For the still-new President Obama to echo that mantra at the UN General Assembly today, seems uneventful and, well, sort of obvious. A bit like saying "we are united in our fight against world poverty and global warming." How could anyone reasonably object?
However, between 2002 and 2009 there has been a major event in our corner of the Middle East, which many people, from Obama down, apparently overlooked.
In June 2007, following their election victory, Hamas staged a violent coup in Gaza, and seized power. Since that time, Gaza has become the home of perhaps the most advanced terrorist army and islamic fundementalist regime in the world, including firing thousands of increasingly sophisticated missiles into Israeli cities, culminating in the Cast Lead Operation by the Israeli Army in January 2009.
Mahmoud Abbas, head of the "Palestinian Authority" has zero "authority" in Gaza.
So where are the "Two States" in the much touted "Two State Solution" ?
In the current circumstances, there could only be a THREE STATE "solution".
1. Israel,
2. Palestine (West Bank)
3. Palestine (Gaza).
Unless they really do mean TWO STATES.
I wonder which two?
2. Palestine (West Bank)
3. Palestine (Gaza).
Unless they really do mean TWO STATES.
I wonder which two?
"Two state solution" has become a mantra that no one ever actually thinks about, like "rule of thumb" (didn't you ever wonder what the rule was?)
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