[WCUSP] Heads Up! "Elon Peace Plan" (Israeli border at river; Pals to Jordan?!?)
KATHARLOW at aol.com
KATHARLOW at aol.com
Sun Feb 25 02:03:17 CST 2007
THE RIGHT ROAD TO PEACE In the wake of the war in Iraq:
An historic opportunity for a regional solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict
A Peace Plan
Proposed by Israeli Cabinet Minister Binyamin (Benny) Elon
____________________________________
Why the Road Map won't work
The establishment of a Palestinian state in Judea, Samaria and Gaza (the
West Bank), as proposed in plans such as the "Road Map", will only prolong the
Arab- Israeli conflict and exact a heavy toll in human life.
As in previous failed agreements, this current one also defers the solution
of the real problems that perpetuate the conflict: The Palestinian
demand for the right of return of refugees to areas within the State of Israel.
The rehabilitation of Palestinian refugees. The status of Jerusalem.
The nature of the Palestinian state and its borders.
Within a short time, these unresolved problems will resurface and draw the
region into yet another war.
While based on the principle of "two states for two nations", the proposed
Road Map does not achieve that goal.
It is not a "two state solution" at all. Without the complete destruction of
Israel, Palestinians Arabs can only be offered a state-like entity, unable
to sign international agreements, without an army and made up of a number of
small and overcrowded fragments of territory.
This quasi-state would not have natural borders. Rather, population centers
on both sides will straddle the border, perpetuating continued friction
between Israelis and Palestinians.
The Palestinian entity's economy will be permanently dependent on Israel.
This entity would be an Israeli protectorate, leading to an intensification
of the sense of humiliation felt by Palestinian Arabs who would aspire to
encroach further into Israeli territory.
The refugee problem will not be solved through this entity and Palestinian
Arab demands for the right of return will continue to threaten Israel's
existence. The motivation for terror will remain high.
>From every aspect - geographic, economic and demographic - it is clear that
it will be impossible to resolve the problem within the small, overcrowded
area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.
Why - after the failure of the Oslo agreements - are we reverting to a model
already proven catastrophic for both sides?
It is clear that what is needed is a paradigm shift. Introduction to the
Elon Peace Plan
Only with application of a regional solution that includes the entire
territory of British Mandatory Palestine (land of Israel) can the peace process be
delivered from its impasse. A regional solution based on geopolitical and
economic logic can provide the Middle East with long-term peace, prosperity and
stability.
The American and British coalition victory in Iraq has spurred an American
commitment to instill democratic values in the Middle East and establish a new
political map. This is an historic opportunity to enable the Arab nations to
be part of the solution to the Palestinian problem and garner international
support and funding.
The Elon Peace Plan addresses the fundamental issues related to the conflict
and offers a comprehensive solution for Israel, Palestinian Arabs and
surrounding countries.
Expanding the solution to include both sides of the Jordan River creates a
new reality in which: Israelis and Palestinian Arabs can exist alongside
one another in two genuine, sovereign states. A well-defined natural
border would be established, far from population centers. Both states would
have strategic depth and ample land reserves.
Dealing directly with final-status issues, the Elon Peace Plan offers:
An immediate permanent-status settlement to end the conflict. Full and
comprehensive rehabilitation of Palestinian refugees. The granting of
national expression and full rights for all Palestinian Arabs. Removal of the
threat to Israel's existence as a Jewish state. Key principles of the
Elon Peace Plan 1. Immediate dissolution of the Palestinian Authority,
a non-viable entity with no future, whose existence precludes the termination
of the conflict. Dissolution of the Palestinian Authority
____________________________________
2. Israel will uproot the Palestinian terror infrastructure. All arms
will be collected, incitement will be stopped and all the refugee camps, which
serve as incubators for terror, will be dismantled. Terrorists and their
direct supporters will be deported. Eradication of terror infrastructure
____________________________________
3. Israel, the United States and the international community will
recognize the Kingdom of Jordan as the only legitimate representative of the
Palestinians. Jordan will once again recognize itself as the Palestinian
nation-state.
In the context of a regional economic development program, Israel, the
United States and the international community will put forth a concerted effort
for the long-term development of Jordan, to rehabilitate its economy and
enable it to absorb a limited number of refugees within its borders. Recognition
and Development of Jordan as the Palestinian State
____________________________________
4. Israeli sovereignty will be asserted over Judea, Samaria and Gaza
(the West Bank). The Arab residents of these areas will become citizens of the
Palestinian state in Jordan. The status of these citizens, their connection
to the two states and the manner of administration of their communal lives
will be decided in an agreement between the governments of Israel and Jordan
(Palestine). Israeli sovereignty over Judea, Samaria and Gaza
____________________________________
5. Israel, the United States and the international community will
allocate resources for the completion of the exchange of populations that began in
1948, as well as the full rehabilitation of the refugees and their
absorption and naturalization in various countries. Rehabilitation of refugees and
completion of population exchange
____________________________________
6. After implementation of the above stages, Israel and Jordan-Palestine
will declare the conflict terminated. Both sides will work to normalize
peaceful relations between all parties in the region. Peace and normalization
(javascript:history.back(1)) _Back_ (javascript:history.back(1))
Clarification of key principles: The dissolution of the Palestinian Authority
and the war on terror: 1. Immediate dissolution of the Palestinian
Authority, a non-viable entity with no future whose existence precludes the
termination of the conflict. 2. Israel will uproot the Palestinian terror
infrastructure. All arms will be collected, incitement will be stopped and
all the refugee camps, which serve as incubators for terror, will be
dismantled. Terrorists and their direct collaborators will be deported. The
Palestinian Authority - an obstacle to peace.
After the eradication of the Taliban and the regime of Saddam Hussein, it
follows logically that another of the world's most dangerous regimes, the
Palestinian Authority (PA), be immediately dissolved: The PA has funded and
dispatched homicide terrorists to carry out terror attacks in Israel.
Senior PA officials have plundered large sums from funds contributed by donor
nations. The PA is indoctrinating its children toward hatred and violence.
The PA plays a leading role in the international terror network. PA
strategy is to pay lip service in the western media to "peace", while
delivering the opposite message for domestic consumption.
The absence of responsible leadership in Judea, Samaria and Gaza encourages
criminal activity, Islamic extremism and long-term damage to the
infrastructure and ecology of the region. Israeli control over Judea, Samaria and Gaza
will be a stabilizing influence.
The establishment of a Palestinian state in Judea, Samaria and Gaza would:
Foster, continue and intensify terror. Perpetuate day-to-day friction
between Jews and Arabs. Represent a constant demographic danger to the
very existence of Israel as a Jewish state.
Such a state, dissected, demilitarized, its economy totally dependent on
Israel, would evolve into a protectorate whose main function would be to supply
cheap labor to the State of Israel.
It would be unable to provide its citizens with national pride, civic
freedoms or economic hope, and offers no solution to the refugee problem.
Cessation of terror - using military means:
The Camp David talks between Ehud Barak and Yasser Arafat in the summer of
2000 brought in their wake an unprecedented wave of terror. With the
encouragement and funding of the Palestinian Authority, many hundreds of Israelis have
been killed and thousands injured in terror attacks. Proportionately, Israel
has sustained losses equivalent to ten times the number of Americans killed
in the 9/11 tragedy.
Israel's generous territorial offers and support of the Palestinian
Authority did not stop the terror. Furthermore, equipping it with arms caused terror
to mushroom to intolerable proportions.
Israel's intense and relentless military activity against the terrorist
strongholds in the Palestinian Authority led to a dramatic drop in the number of
attacks.
Today more than ever, the world understands that the only way to fight
terror is by firm and unequivocal action. Israel has the means to dismantle the
Palestinian Authority and its security apparatus quickly and efficiently.
Refugee camps - hotbeds of terror.
The refugee camps lying alongside the Arab cities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza
must be dismantled.
Dominated by poverty, despair and virulent hatred, the refugee camps breed
terror. They produce the motivation for terror and enable terror squads to be
formed, providing them with a safe haven. The population of the camps is at
the mercy of terrorists and provides cover for their activities.
The continued existence of these camps more than fifty years after they were
established is a humanitarian disgrace as well as a threat to the security
and peace of the Middle East.
The dismantling of the camps - combined with the establishment of a
mechanism to rehabilitate the refugees - will strike a mortal blow to the terror
infrastructure. (javascript:void(0)) (javascript:void(0)) Refugee camps
in Judea, Samaria and Gaza. It was here that most of the bomb factories and
weapon caches were discovered and from here that most of the terrorists
originate. (javascript:history.back(1)) _Back_ (javascript:history.back(1))
Recognition and development of Jordan as the Palestinian state 3.
Israel, the United States and the international community will recognize the
Kingdom of Jordan as the only legitimate representative of the Palestinians.
Jordan will once again recognize itself as the Palestinian nation-state.
In the context of a regional economic development program, Israel, the
United States and the international community will put forth a concerted effort
for the long-term development of Jordan, to rehabilitate its economy and
enable it to absorb a limited number of Palestinian refugees within its borders.
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is in fact a Palestinian state:
After Jordan's invasion of Israel in 1948, it unilaterally annexed Judea and
Samaria and granted citizenship to all its population, both residents and
refugees. It enacted a number of major constitutional amendments expressing
Palestinian-Jordanian unity.
For many years, the PLO competed with Jordan over who represents the
Palestinian Arabs. Only after Israel's weak response to the first "intifada" in
1987, and the subsequent strengthening of the PLO, which resulted in Israel
viewing the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian Arabs, did Jordan
withdraw from its connection with the "West Bank".
The new reality in the Middle East provides an historic opportunity to
rectify that error and once again establish Jordan as the Palestinian nation-state
- the exclusive representative of the Palestinian Arabs. From refugees
to citizens once again:
On the 31st July 1988 Jordan revoked the Jordanian citizenship of all the
Arabs living in Judea, Samaria and Gaza.
As a Palestinian state, Jordan-Palestine will return this citizenship. Even
if they choose to continue to live in Israel, these citizens will enjoy
national and political rights in the Palestinian state, whose capital is Amman.
NOTE: In February 2003 twenty two Palestinian unions in Judea, Samaria and
Gaza appealed secretly to King Abdallah for his economic intervention in these
areas - despite their knowledge of Arafat's strong objection to such
machinations. This act testifies to the fact that the current mood would support the
renewed link with Jordan and the dissolution of the Palestinian Authority.
No to a second Palestinian state:
A Palestinian state in Judea, Samaria and Gaza would in fact mean the
establishment of a second Palestinian state.
This would not be a solution of "two states for two nations", but rather
"three states for two nations" - one for the Jews and two for the Palestinians.
A second Palestinian state in Judea, Samaria and Gaza would pose a threat to
both Israel and Jordan. It would serve as a springboard to turn all of the
land of Israel - from the Iraqi desert to the Mediterranean Sea - into a
single Palestinian Arab state. What would Jordan gain from becoming part of
the regional settlement?
The current Jordanian regime is friendly to Israel and for the most part
pro- Western. Its stability, however, is currently in danger because of its
delicate geopolitical status. The lack of clarity concerning the status of its
Palestinian majority and the danger posed to it by the establishment of an
additional Palestinian state would foment unrest among the Palestinian population
of Jordan against the government.
The dissolution of the Palestinian Authority and the subjugation of the PLO
establishment would elicit a sigh of relief in Amman and pave the way for the
underscoring of the Palestinian character of Jordan, whose absolute majority
- including the Queen and numerous senior government officials - is
Palestinian.
A comprehensive development program for Jordan, accompanied by moderate
reforms to bolster its Palestinian character, is likely to be welcomed in Amman
and would move the kingdom forward to a more hopeful future.
Jordan's principal problems are economic. It could be significantly
strengthened by Israel and the United States in the context of a regional "Marshall
Plan" integrated with the rebuilding of Iraq.
A comprehensive, internationally funded development plan for Jordan, most of
whose territory is undeveloped, would facilitate the absorption and
naturalization of the Arabs of Judea, Samaria and Gaza.
Israel has a profound interest in the development of Jordan as a Palestinian
state. The transfer to Jordan of significant portions of American military
aid to the Middle East could significantly transform Jordan's economy.
The normalization of relations and cessation of hostilities would
significantly reduce the need for major U.S. foreign defense aid, part of which could
also be reallocated to boost Jordan's economy.
Jordan is Palestine!
Palestinian flag
Jordanian flag
(javascript:history.back(1)) _Back_ (javascript:history.back(1))
Israeli sovereignty over Judea, Samaria and Gaza 4. Israeli sovereignty
will be asserted over Judea, Samaria and Gaza (the West Bank). The Arab
residents of these areas will become citizens of the Palestinian state in Jordan.
The status of these citizens, their connection to the two states and the manner
of administration of their communal lives, will be decided in an agreement
between the governments of Israel and Jordan (Palestine). Assertion of
sovereignty - restoration of stability.
The areas of Judea, Samaria and Gaza, including the eastern part of
Jerusalem, were part of the British mandate territory that was intended for the
establishment of the Jewish homeland. Since the end of the British mandate, these
areas have not received any recognized legal status. They were annexed by
Jordan after the War of Independence, but were never recognized as part of
Jordan in international law. During the Six Day War in 1967, Israel liberated
these territories and returned them to the Jewish people. Eastern Jerusalem was
officially annexed to the State of Israel in 1981.
The status of the remainder of these areas remained unclear. Israel evaded
determining the future of these areas. This encouraged Palestinian aspirations
for establishing an additional Palestinian state in these areas, which,
through their topographical advantage, directly threaten the densely populated
Israeli coastal plain and Jerusalem basin.
The areas of Judea, Samaria and Gaza are one of the only places in the
western world where Jews cannot move without fear, where extensive Arab criminal
activity is openly carried out and where there is wide-spread abuse of
environmental issues. Assertion of Israeli sovereignty on these areas will end this
grave situation.
As part of the plan to end the conflict and create a new and stable map in
the Middle East, the border between Palestine and Israel must be drawn at the
Jordan River, and all the areas west of the Jordan must be formally annexed
to the State of Israel. Judea and Samaria - the cradle of Jewish
civilization
Judea and Samaria represent the historical "spinal cord" of the land of
Israel. The central mountain range, whose heart is Jerusalem, reminds us of who
we are. It was here that Abraham walked with his son, Isaac and here Jacob set
up his tents. It was here that our forefathers, under Joshua, conquered this
land by divine decree from the Canaanite nations.
In the hills of Judea and Samaria we find dozens of holy sites and a myriad
of others with historic importance, many of which have not yet been
researched. The handing over of Beit El, Shiloh, Bethlehem and Hebron to foreign
(hostile) hands would signify the severance of the Jewish people from its roots
and lead ultimately to the loss of recognition of their right to the land.
Jerusalem - the eternal capital of Israel, is surrounded on three sides by
Judea and Samaria. Whoever is concerned for the future of Jerusalem - and is
aware of its centrality in the prophetic vision of the return to Zion - cannot
allow it to become once again a border settlement in the heart of hostile
Arab land.
In the hills of Judea and Samaria and the Gazan coastal plain we have
witnessed the development of Jewish villages and towns that manifest national
strength and exceptional individual and communal quality. Unsettling these places
would be a devastating moral blow to Israel that is liable to damage the very
fabric of society and create a severe civil crisis. The status of the
Palestinian Arabs of Judea, Samaria and Gaza
In the framework of the eradication of terror, the terrorist heads and
inciters will be deported from Judea, Samaria and Gaza. The dismantling of the
refugee camps, part of the rehabilitation process, will reduce the Arab
population in these areas and lessen the poverty and density in the Palestinian Arab
towns.
The Arab population that will continue to reside within the new areas of the
State of Israel, will benefit from the civil rights conferred by Israel, but
its citizenship will be Palestinian, and its political rights will be
actualized in Amman. The actual administration governing the Arab sector will
derive its authority from the Israeli sovereign, but will enjoy limited autonomy
in a form to be determined in negotiations between Israel and the Hashemite
Kingdom of Palestine. Dialogue between states: a positive dynamic
The negotiations with the Hashemite Kingdom regarding the precise status of
the residents of Judea, Samaria and Gaza will differ in its essence from
those conducted until today between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. When
the two parties to discussions are sovereign nations, both of whom are
interested in stability and peace, it is possible to reach a real solution. It is
even possible to postpone some of the harder decisions for the future, with the
confidence that a positive dynamic of cooperation and mutual interests will
develop over the years. As is well known, agreements between democratic
nations last for many years. Israel is a true democracy, while the Hashemite
Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy undergoing a process of democratization. It
has one of the most progressive regimes in the Arab world, with a clearly
pro-Western orientation. (javascript:history.back(1)) _Back_
(javascript:history.back(1)) The rehabilitation of the refugees and completion of
population exchange 5. Israel, the United States and the international
community will allocate resources for the completion of the exchange of
populations that began in 1948 and the full rehabilitation of the refugees and their
absorption and naturalization in various countries. 6. After implementation
of the above stages, Israel and Jordan-Palestine will declare the conflict
terminated. Both sides will work to normalize peaceful relations between all
parties in the region. The importance of resolving the refugee problem:
The refugee problem in the Middle East has burgeoned into dangerous
proportions, in sharp contrast with all other refugee populations from the 1940s, who
were resettled and rehabilitated decades ago.
>From a few hundred thousand Arab refugees in 1948, Palestinian refugees now
number in the millions, including second and third generations. Their refugee
status is not only the product of education and propaganda, but also the
result of many years of neglect and lack of desire on the part of the Arab world
to rehabilitate them.
The resolution of the refugee problem must be a primary element of any final
status arrangement. For many years the Arab world has done its best not to
rehabilitate the refugees in order to undermine Israel's right to exist.
An important ingredient in the resolution of the refugee issue is predicated
on international insistence on the need to rehabilitate the refugees and the
reallocation of American foreign defense aid to the absorption of refugees.
Completion of the population exchange begun in 1948:
The relocation and rehabilitation of the Palestinian refugees in Arab lands
will complete the population exchange process begun in the 1940s: The
State of Israel absorbed millions of Jewish refugees from all over the world
and, within a few years, these refugees became citizens of the state with full
rights. Almost one million of these refugees fled from Arab lands
leaving behind property and wealth for which they were never compensated.
At the same time, the 1948 War of Independence created hundreds of thousands
of Arab refugees who fled to Arab lands.
While the Jews displaced from Arab lands were rehabilitated and naturalized
in Israel, the Arab countries refused to do the same for Arab refugees.
The resettlement of these refugees and their descendants will complete a
historic circle of population exchange. This will result in the emergence of
countries where the majority of their population shares a common nationality and
culture. (javascript:void(0)) (javascript:void(0)) The closing of
the historic circle of population exchange in the Middle East and the
rehabilitation of the refugees. Refugees from
the War of
Independence 1948 600-700
thousand
Arabs from
Israel 860
thousand
Jews from
Arab
countries
The end of the conflict -
the weak spot in the current political process:
Various peace processes initiated between Israel and the Palestinian Arabs
until now have all failed to bring about the end of the conflict. The
principal reason for this is that the PLO, the Palestinian Authority and its leaders
remain intransigent and have no interest in terminating the conflict. This
is indicative of the fact that the PA is not a genuine peace partner and in
fact is a hindrance to peace.
In contrast, however, the Elon Peace Plan can bring about the end of the
conflict, because: The parties to the final-status settlement are
sovereign states that have a vested interest in peace and stability. The basic
issues will be unequivocally dealt with, leaving no prospect for the future
destruction of the State of Israel. Weapons will be confiscated, weapons
factories destroyed and the refugee camps dismantled. The refugee issue will
be resolved as all refugees will be granted citizenship and the potential
for economic rehabilitation. (javascript:history.back(1)) _Back_
(javascript:history.back(1)) Underlying principles of the Elon Peace Plan: No
other proposal addresses final-status issues. The Elon plan offers a way to
translate the achievements of the war in Iraq into a new "Marshall Plan" for the
Middle East, a plan that is based, on the one hand on Israel, the only
stable democracy in the region, and, on the other, on Jordan which has a
quasi-democratic government, thus removing the Palestinian terrorist regime from the
picture. The Elon Peace Plan manifests: The Elon Plan proposes a
simple, sustainable solution that achieves historic justice and advances the
vision of the prophets. It addresses the human tragedies of all the sides and
does not harm Israeli deterrence - the most vital element for regional peace
____________________________________
Simplicity Two states for two nations on either side of the Jordan
River. This solution offers a natural and logical border, separation of hostile
populations and an end to the human tragedy that has continued since the War
of Independence. Sustainability This plan grants the Palestinian Arabs
citizenship in a real state that has the ability to sustain itself
economically and politically, with clear and final borders. This state would not find
itself in constant conflict with Israel and its future would not be predicated
on the destruction of Israel as a Jewish state. Morality This plan
prioritizes the treatment of human issues over empty symbols. "Peace" proposals
that are based on continued conflict perpetuate poverty, violence and
ignorance. The Elon Peace Plan brings about a solution to the Palestinians.
suffering without capitulating to terror and violence. Deterrence An Israeli
withdrawal of any kind would severely harm Israel's national strength while
reinforcing the motivation for terror. The Elon Peace Plan preserves Israel's
deterrent capabilities, making it possible for the first time to delineate
secure and recognized borders. Justice The secure existence of Israel
corrects a historic injustice. The essence of Zionism is to establish a state
for the Jewish people, a safe haven for millions of Jewish refugees from all
over the world including from the Arab countries.
The Arab world must be involved in a resolution of the Arab refugee issue,
using its vast territorial expanses and abundant natural resources.
This is not only justice in its most elementary sense - that of human
decency - but also draws on deep Biblical sources, which view the Jewish people as
a nation with a unique destiny and place in history.
This plan is founded on the fundamental historic and Biblical truth that the
land of Israel belongs to the Jewish people.
However, it realizes only part of this principle because it accepts the
existence of a Palestinian state east of the Jordan River, part of the Biblical
land of Israel.
The realization of the Zionist dream - the return of the Jewish people to
its land from all corners of the earth - is a historic event of global
significance.
Only when Israel's Arab neighbors accept its right to exist within secure
boundaries as a fundamental reality, will regional peace and prosperity be
achieved.
____________________________________
_Print_ (javascript:void(0)) (javascript:void(0))
(javascript:history.back(1)) _Back_ (javascript:history.back(1))
<BR><BR><BR>**************************************<BR> AOL now offers free
email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at
http://www.aol.com.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://wilpf.org/pipermail/wcusp_wilpf.org/attachments/20070225/f2a009ff/attachment-0001.html
More information about the Wcusp
mailing list