Framework for peace

It is pure politics that compelled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to bring Avigdor Liberman on as defense minister. But it will make regional peace even harder to achieve.

Netanyahu should leverage this turning point to re-frame the parameters of how Israel can live astride the very problematic Palestinian national movement.

By its acceptance of the legitimacy of Palestinian national claims, Israel has, perversely, laid the foundations for the assault on its own legitimacy.

Past peace process negotiators have lamented that, while pursuing an elusive conflict-ending treaty, too little attention was paid to grass roots activities. But it is not too late.

“We seek to revive the initiative in public [discourse] and with government officials since Israel has not officially replied to the offer and is not interested in paying the price.”

Israel and many of its neighbors today share a common cause in limiting Iran’s power and influence, preventing the expansion and infiltration of Islamic State (IS), and in fighting terrorism.

Middle Israel:

The contours of a negotiated settlement have been mapped out by politicians and pundits and gamed by academics and played thousands of times by NGOs.