Time for Israel to decide its own Borders

by Clifford F. Thies

In the National Review, columnist Mona Charon verifies the outright rejection of the peace offer made by then Israeli P.M. Ehud Olmert during the Clinton Administration. The deal was eminently fair. It was all the Israel could ever offer. There could never be any further concession. Most significantly, a divided city of Jerusalem would be the capital of both Israel and Palestine, and an international commission would oversea the Old City.

It is, at this time, absolutely clear that there will never be a negotiated settlement with the Palestinian Authority. Mahmoud Abbas, who may actually be in favor an end to the conflict between Israel and Palestine and willing to negotiate, is today merely a figurehead propped up by U.S. foreign aid. He does not represent the majority of the people of Palestine. Instead, Hamas, which doesn't even recognize the legitimacy of Israel, represents the majority.

So, what is there to do?

We suggest the method employed by the late Ariel Sharon for Gaza: Israel decides what the borders will be, with some help from third parties to try to make this as fair as possible, and that's that. In a show of generosity, Israel and the third parties could offer to leave the Jewish settlements on the Palestinian side of the borders intact to facilitate the return of Palestinian refugees scattered throughout the Middle East and the world, offer crossing rights to connect the two parts of Palestine, and offer an international commission to govern the Old City, in return for acceptance of the offer by the other side. The offer will, of course, not be accepted. Then, Israel should bulldoze the settlements to be abandoned, deny crossing rights, and declare sovereignty over the Old City.