By Moshe Dann ——Bio and Archives--December 23, 2009
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1. Albeit hoping for peace, adhere to reality. The PA/Hamas are unreformed supporters of terrorism; neither accepts Israel's right to exist. Under the circumstances, offering them legitimacy and sovereignty increases the danger posed by Islamic terrorists. Jihad is the name of their game; we need to understand those rules. 2. Security trumps inconveniences and sometimes even civil rights. There is no “moral high ground” in giving terrorists the opportunity to kill. 3. Inability to present alternatives to unrealistic and unworkable agendas traps us in past mistakes, conventional thinking, spin masters and those of little or no faith or interest in Israel's survival. "Land for Peace" (Oslo Accords, Road Maps, etc.) have led to more, not less terrorism. 4. World (and Israeli) leaders must stop apologizing for Israel's existence and excusing continuing failures and incompetence by PA. It's time to take responsibility. 5. There are other solutions. Arab Palestinians who desire national self-determination can look to Jordan - a Palestinian state in all but name. 6. All UNRWA activities should be terminated; those who receive assistance should be given citizenship in the countries in which they reside, or offered residency in another country. UNRWA funds currently used to maintain Palestinian servitude should be earmarked for constructive goals.Rather than advance the cause of peace, a sovereign second Arab Palestinian state is just the reverse. The closer Arab Palestinians get to statehood, the more chaotic and violent they become; such a state, therefore, may in fact be 'the greatest obstacle to peace and stability in the Middle East.' Without an institutional structure and cultural environment that condemns terrorism, violence and incitement a Palestinian state will become the new Pakistan, and just as dangerous. The average Palestinian knows this better than anyone else. That may explain why, given the choice and chance, hundreds of thousands of Arab Palestinians and refugees escaping Muslim African countries are clamoring to get into Israel. One Pakistan is enough; the world hardly needs another in Palestine.
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Moshe Dann was an Assistant Professor of History at CUNY and other institutions in the NYC area before moving to Israel 30 years ago. Moshe is a writer and journalist living in Jerusalem.