What To Do When There Is No Functional Agreement with the Arab World and the Palestinians?

In a recent article in the Jerusalem Post Barry Rubin argues that
there is no chance for a functional agreement between Israel and the
Arab world, including the Palestinians, any time soon. That it might
only be possible in future decades. With this basic premise I agree.
Where I suspect we differ is the resulting conclusion we draw.

I believe that in the absence of meaningful negotiations we should
be engaging in unilateral activities which strengthen the state of
Israel in the eyes of its citizens and of the world.

A significant element in that strengthening is to make clear to
ourselves our true intentions in regard to the areas of Judea and
Samaria.

In this regard the Demographic Issue should be the determining
factor. That and a clear and cold analysis of the possibility that at
some time in the recognizable future the Arab world will come to accept
our presence in neither pre-’67 Israel much less in the entire area
between the river and the sea. In addition to the Arab world there is a
belief that the rest of the worlds nations will also come to accept
this reality.

That at least is the basic argument of those among us who believe
that we can and should remain settled to the East of the Green Line.

Simply, NO WAY. It’s been forty years now and no one in the world is
any closer to accepting our version of reality than before. The
argument often heard is that if we display enough commitment, a strong
and uncompromising policy regarding our presence there, the world will
follow. Unfortunately that has not happened, even after forty years of
committed settlement. The world has not followed. Then of course the
argument will be that it’s because there has been constant disagreement
by a part of the Israeli public to this idea. We as a single national
consciousness have not been 100% in support of the idea of Greater
Israel, from the river to the sea inclusive.

True, but that’s who we are. All attempts to replace us, the people
of Israel with a community which stands four square behind almost any
idea has not been the reality for at least one hundred years. Good or
Bad, positive or negative, whether I personally like it or do not, this
will not change. That who we are! At this point in time it is obvious
that a percentage of the Jews living in the land will not agree on
claiming all the land.

What we do have is a very clear majority who believe that the Israel
that existed between 1949 and 1967 is the Israel that we can agree
about. Cynicism not withstanding, this consensus is also held by the
majority of the world’s people and governments.

It is clearly the policy of our only friend the United States of
America. I believe it behooves us to realize that without that friend
our existence and well being would be in serious question. Yes, it
would be wise on our part to analyze reality and then to make our peace
with it.

In this context I propose that the most correct conclusion to be
drawn from Mr. Rubin’s argument is to begin to withdraw from the most
distant parts of Judea & Samaria and to do this now, on our own
initiative, before we find ourselves forced by that single loyal
friend, together with the world community.

Acting from and with an attitude of independent decision and action
we will be perceived as strong confident and competent. If we wait
until the eventual pressure is applied, and then provide the
entertainment of being dragged kicking and screaming from part of our
parsimony will not in any way be an advantage to us.