Accession to the demands of those who have already said they will destroy you does not work.
On 13 September 1993, Israel and the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization) agreed to and signed the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements — what has come to be commonly known as the “Oslo Accords.” Former PLO chairman Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin endorsed the deal that was partially brokered by then-President of the United States Bill Clinton. Even during the signing ceremony in Washington D.C., the signatories to the agreement were said to have expressed an alliance of discomfort.
The primary propose of the agreement was to establish peace between Israel and an emerging Palestinian state and to create a 2-state (Israel and Palestine) solution to the ongoing armed conflict between the two parties. At the heart of the contract were three major points:
1. Transfer of Powers to the Palestinians: The DOP features an agreement in principle regarding a transfer of power and responsibilities to the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, so they may have control over their own affairs.
2. The DOP does not prejudge the Permanent Status: The DOP specifically states that permanent status issues, such as Jerusalem, refugees, settlements, security arrangements and borders are to be excluded from the interim arrangements and that the outcome of the permanent status talks should not be prejudged or preempted by the interim arrangements. During this period, the Israeli government retains sole responsibility for foreign affairs, defense and borders. Israel's position on Jerusalem remains unchanged. When the DOP was signed, Prime Minister Rabin stated that, "Jerusalem is the ancient and eternal capital of the Jewish people." An undivided Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty, with religious freedom for all, is and remains a fundamental Israeli position.
3. Security remains an Israeli responsibility: In the DOP, Israel and the PLO agree that during the interim period, Israel will remain responsible for security along the international borders and the crossing points to Egypt and Jordan. Israel will also retain responsibility for and the overall security of Israelis in the West Bank and Gaza, the Israeli settlements in those areas, and freedom of movement on roads.
There were multiple other agreements negotiated and authorized between Israel and the PLO, leading up to the ceding of the Israeli Gaza to the Palestinians in 2005. During this period, then Israeli PM Ariel Sharon dismantled all of the Katif Jewish communities in Gaza, four Jewish communities in Samaria, and moved and relocated Jewish citizens from their homes and businesses. These actions were supposed to bring peace and harmony to the side-by-side states of Israel and a newly-formed “Palestine.” However, the Palestinians then proceeded to elect terrorist Hamas members as their leaders. The newly elected Hamas government refused to recognize Israel as a sovereign nation and has vowed to destroy the nation of Israel. It also immediately ignored the “truce” between the Palestinian Authority and its neighbor and immediately began shelling Israel — again. Hamas also started abducting Israeli citizens, including the most recent kidnapping of an Israeli soldier. Hamas wants the entire country of Israel — not just the Gaza.
Then, after 22 years of fighting in southern Lebanon in order to protect its residents in the northern regions, the Israeli Army pulled out of that country in 2000. This was largely a reaction by Israel to world pressure for Israel to leave Lebanon. However, the pull-out left no buffer zone between the terrorist Hezbollah-controlled southern regions of Lebanon and the residents of northern Israel. In 2005, Lebanon ostensibly kicked occupying Syria out of power and conducted its first general elections in thirty years without Syrian military and intelligence forces in-country. However, the new Lebanese government either does not have the will or is unable to control the Hezbollah menace. Unprovoked by Israel, Hezbollah operatives covertly invaded the no longer buffered area of northern Israel, began a firefight that killed 7 soldiers and then kidnapped 2 soldiers that they are also holding hostage. Currently, there seems to be no doubt that Iran and Syria are financing and coordinating Hezbollah in Lebanon — just as it comes as no surprise that Iran strongly appears to be funding and supporting the actions of Hamas in Palestine.
Furthermore, Hezbollah members are now part of the Lebanese government. Haaretz.com reports: “When asked by a reporter why Lebanon does not disarm Hezbollah, Mawad said the organization was brought into the government to grant its members the feeling they are Lebanese.”
Now, the “world” is again, as it has done multiple times before, telling Israel that it has no right to protect itself. Using such terminology as Israel’s “overreaction” (to the continuing kidnappings and killings of Israeli citizens as well as rockets continuing to be fired into its country) and saying that Israel’s response needs to be “more balanced,” the “world” is telling Israel to “back off” from its self-protection! Of course, the world’s reaction to Israel’s attempt to protect its citizens — even its very existence — is specious at best; insane and terrorist-supporting at its worst.
So, there you have it. Israel has bowed to world opinion on two fronts — controlled by terrorist organizations Hamas and Hezbollah — and it is now forced to fight on those same fronts. This is one of the clearest and most outstanding examples of what appeasement of one’s enemy produces. Accession to the demands of those who have already said they will destroy you, quite obviously doesn’t work. Instead, it only leads to the new requirement of even more conciliations. Eventually, these lead to the non-existence of the appeasers. Over the weekend Hamas issued a statement advising that it is its intention that Islam destroy the infidels (non-Muslims) and rule the world — with its sights firmly on Israel, the United States and Europe.
Still think appeasement works?
“Madness, once unleashed, knows no bounds.” – Winston Churchill
“Our enemies are worms; I saw them at Munich.” – Adolf Hitler
“Everything would have worked fine if only Hitler had kept his promises.” – Neville Chamberlain
The prophet had several wives. Many of them under 12, one as young as 7. The prophet died suspiciously. Like Luther, Muhammed. on his death bed, had asked to see a Catholic priest. Luther died while the priest was on the stairway to his bedroom. Some say the prophet was killed by his own rather than suffering the indignation of honoring such a request. We will leave it to The Almighty to settle all debates. We know during the ressurrection of the dead all will see all others judged as they were when they died. We will be surprised as to whom are among the sheep and whom were judged as goats. God’s Blessings to you all!
Let’s say I demanded half your checking account and a date with your wife and I want to get her drunk on the date too. Would you negotiate with me? Let’s say I not only demanded the same but qualified it with my intent to kill you if you refused. You happen to have a gun and fire first. Whose fault then is my death? Of course it’s my own fault. You have a right to protect yourself as well as what belongs to you.
I just don’t get this thing that’s so common from the left that everything can be successfully negotiated. They really believe that. Maybe it’s the cultural contribution of trial lawyers.
Its the total brain washing the whole 'poor victimized arab' thing has done to those with too weak of an intellect to confront. Just like the average Japanese or German during WWII, the average ME muslim is at war. They believe it, they hate us (don't know why, don't care) but they do hate non muslims.
It may have something to do with Allah not raining down cooler weather and 70 virgins or skinimax TV which they are not allowed to get however.
Lets not forget who has and who does not have a country here. The so called “appeasement” and land for peace deals are not nearly what some would make them out to be. While Sharon did finally withdraw from the occupied Gaza strip he did so unilaterally and at the expense of expanding furthur into the occupied West Bank. The simple fact of the matter is Israel is intent on setting its own borders at the expense of the local Palestinians.
The election of Hamas was a sign of the growing frustration with the local populace at the lack of progress on social, economic and political fronts and the rampant corruption in rival Fatah (Arafats old party). It was not as some suggest a shift to the radical ideas of the Muslim Brotherhood. Let us also not forget that Israel initially encouraged the formation of Hamas as a way to counter Fatah.
The simple fact of the matter is this, Israel has a right to exist (something even Hamas has now tacitly endorsed) but not at the total expense of the Palestinians and Lebanese civilians. Hezbollah took advantage of the situation in Gaza, that does not mean that the Lebanese people and Government should be punished with the same form of terror that Hezbollah uses. How does Israel expect the Lebanese military to replace Hezbollah near the border if the Israeli military continues to attack Lebanese military positions in the rest of the country. One final though, the person who made the comment that all Arabs hate Americans and Israeli’s obviously has never been to the Middle East or for that matter knows any Arabs (I suggest you visit and actually talk to people first hand, not only will you find that in many places more people speak English than you would find in Mexico but you will also find those who don’t hate Israel but merely wish they could cross the border, visit their families and actually make a living).
Pete, if you don’t understand now, you never will; the Lebanese, Iranians, terrorists are one and the same.
But if you really want to get nitty gritty here is something to chew on:
Around 1900, less than 100,000 people lived in what is called “the West Bank” with a signifcant Jewish population [1] The “native” population of Gaza numbered only 80,000 in 1951.[2]
The “Palestinians” (actually a collection of migrant workers) have streamed into the West Bank and Gaza from Iraq, Kuwait, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt.
The “Palestinians” are only part of the larger problem of stateless, citizenshipless people in the Middle East. There are millions of mixed ethnic background, including Kurds, Hindus and others, that migrate throughout the Middle East. In the case of the “Palestinians” an ill-defined subgroup of this migrant population has been given a name and “history” and is being used as a tool against Israel.
Over 250 small Arab settlements have been founded in the West Bank since 1950. Anyone who has visited the West Bank knows that the housing in these Arab settlements is cinder-block and poured concrete – testimony to their recent construction. The Israeli government admits that it has allowed over 240,000 day workers to enter the West Bank through the border with Jordan since Olso – only to have them stay in the West Bank as Arab settlers. The actual numbers are probably higher.
If hundreds of thousands of Middle Eastern migrant workers are flooding into the West Bank & Gaza, why should Israel be required to provide them jobs? In fact the reverse, by supporting their economy while these people refuse (or are prevented) from accepting Israeli or Jordanian citizenship, Israel is only attracting more migrant works. Kuwait and Saudia Arabia in the last year expelled over 1,000,000 citizenless migrant workers.
Lest anyone think that these are all “Palestinians”, let me remind you what the definition of a “Palestinian” is – according to the United Nations, anyone spent TWO YEARS in Palestine before 1948, they and their decendants – with or without proof or documentation – are “Palestinians”. This definitions was specifically designed to include migrant workers.
[1] Many in the Gush Eztion – Hebron area, but in other areas as well – including Shechem and Jericho.
[2] UNRWA report in 1951-52
Are we supposed to believe that a ‘tacit’ endorsement of Israel’s right to exist
is anything praiseworthy? Such ‘tacit’ endorsements are easily abrogated. But
honestly, if the Lebanese and the so-called “Palestinians” were really interested
in their own security, and that of their civilians, they would not have their civilians
join terrorist militias, nor would they allow said militias to sneak into Israeli
territory and illegally kidnap Israeli soldiers. That these governments allow such
things to happen is, in my opinion, a tacit endorsement for Israel to make war
on their people.
To wit; there is no such thing as a Palestinian race of people. It would be like the Democrats calling themselves a race of poor out of work nitwits who deserve the sympathy of America and power as such.
Pete, you need to wake up and smell the coffee. The palestinians et al will not like you any more now because of your pity and support they will only stab you in the back once your tlc is no longer needed. Your only hope in gaining their acceptance is converting to Islam and even then the chances are slim.
dean,
does it really matter what the jewish population in gaza was in 1900s–there was no jewish state then.
Population distribution and borders only matter when there is an established official
state and Israel has ilegitimately expanded beyond its official borders.