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poised to accept as well, it’s ‘ANY only sensible to accept them. Great care must be taken [PALESTINIAN] in the terms of the statehood “VICTORY” resolution. The point of climb- AT THE U.N. The Debate on a ing aboard the train, after all, is to help steer or at least WOULD COME point out hazards on the track WITH A HEAVY ahead. The one area of agree- PRICE TAG.’ ment between Palestinian —richard haass, Palestinian State and Israeli leaders is that the president of the essential issues can be settled council on foreign relations As world leaders gathered in New tion threatened to withhold only by negotiation. So the York City in mid-September for the vital tax receipts Israel measure put before the U.N. the annual talkfest that is the U.N. collects for the Palestinians. should be designed to keep General Assembly, the hottest topic Others, also trying to be help- moving the peace process that Popular protests in the of conversation was a Palestinian ful, suggested a dramatic last- Israel’s announcement will Arab world would also prove proposal to apply for statehood. minute resumption of talks. have brought back to life. costly to Israel. It could place The Palestinians say this is their But one way to prevent The core issues are well the Egyptian- Israeli peace best hope of restarting stalled peace a train wreck is to climb worn from years of handling: treaty in jeopardy and do the talks, but Israel has denounced on board. Israel should an- Palestine’s borders can be same for Israel’s relations the plan, arguing it compromises nounce its support for a state fixed only by agreement with with Jordan. chances of direct negotiations. The of Palestine. Israel, and the basis of all ne- It may not be too late to Obama Administration has vowed to veto any resolution brought to the Such an announcement gotiations for the past 20 years head off these dire outcomes. Security Council, but a vote in the would do what Netanyahu has been the lines on the map The Security Council will General Assembly could give the promised to during the pre- in June 1967, at the start of the Council. There should be no mise in on-again, off-again likely take weeks to consider Palestinians a symbolic victory: rec- vious round of talks more Six-Day War. In Jerusalem, worries about a veto there if the negotiations. Abbas’ application. The “Quar- ognition as a nonmember observer than a year ago: “Surprise the there would be two recog- interlocutor through all of this But nonmember observer- tet” overseeing Middle East state, similar to the Vatican. How world.” Support for a state of nized capitals: one for Israel is, as it should be, the U.S. His- state status, the most realistic diplomacy—the U.S., Russia, would any outcome affect the pos- Palestine would ring with the and one for the Palestinians. tory is calling. Surprises do not outcome of Abbas’ plan, the U.N. and the European sibility of peace between Israel and same major chords as the 1979 The security arrangements have to be unpleasant. would not bring a Palestin- Union—could use this time to the Palestinians? Time asked four peace treaty with Egypt or the for both sides would be guar- ian state any closer to reality. restart negotiations. respected commentators to weigh in. surprise announcement of the anteed and the problem of Beilin, a former Israeli minister, More likely, any “victory” in Israel should use any pause Oslo accords, which I initiated. Palestinian refugees resolved, now heads a business consultancy the U.N. would come with a to reassess its current strategy. In a Middle East where the essentially, in the new Pales- heavy price tag. Israelis could Israeli security can be under- Why Israel Arab Spring has made dignity tinian state. make life far more difficult by stood as consisting of three Should Vote Yes a core value, it would also In fact, the elements of a Why Talks increasing security closures, concentric circles: an inner As the momentum has ‘ISRAEL show respect. And, with the U.N. resolution already ex- Are the Only expanding settlements or circle of Palestinians; a middle By Yossi Beilin mounted, Israel and its proper care, it would make im- ist in the second stage of the holding back funds. Also at circle of Israel’s neighbors; t’s being called a lot of stalwart ally the U.S. have SHOULD mense sense for Israel itself. 2002 U.S. plan known as the Way Forward risk: American aid. Israeli and an outer circle including things, the Palestinian bid fumbled for a way to divert ANNOUNCE The U.N. is not where this road map to peace, which By Richard Haass and American reactions could the rest of the Arab world, I for recognition as a state the Palestinian express. ITS conflict began, but it is where calls for a Palestinian state jeopardize the continued suc- Iran and an increasingly Is- at the U.N., but in Israel the President Obama promised to it was first made the world’s with provisional borders hat’s behind mah- cess of a Palestinian economy lamist Turkey. Israel’s security metaphor of choice is “train veto any application for full SUPPORT business—internationalized, in while negotiations proceed moud Abbas’ decision that is projected to grow at environment is clearly dete- wreck.” Israelis have been membership in the Security FOR A the language of the day—and on a permanent-status W to seek statehood? 7%. Any satisfaction with a riorating in all three circles. bracing for September for Council and to lobby against STATE OF it is the place it can begin to agreement—and an Israeli Frustration and desperation. U.N. vote could quickly turn Resolving the conflict with many months, ever since any meaningful alternative be laid to its final rest. In 1947, freeze on construction in the The Palestinian leader may be to frustration. the Palestinians would allow Mahmoud Abbas, the Presi- status in the General Assem- PALESTINE.’ the newly formed General As- settlements. Once the bound- seeking to stave off popular Others would lose as well. Israel to focus on its most —yossi beilin, dent of the Palestinian Nation- bly. Members of the U.S. Con- former israeli sembly voted to partition the aries of the Palestinian state pressure before Arab Spring– An American veto would pressing threat: Iran’s nuclear al Authority, began hinting gress threatened to punish the government disputed lands into two states: are agreed on, Israel will be style uprisings challenge his be wildly unpopular in the and missile programs. that without meaningful ne- Palestinian Authority by sev- minister one Jewish, the other Arab. free to build whatever it likes rule. Or he may be trying to Arab world. It would sharply Resolving the Palestinian gotiations aimed at a two-state ering $550 million in aid, and The Jews accepted, and Israel on its side while the matter of prompt the U.S. to apply more increase the odds that the conflict, though, requires solution, the path forward ran ministers in Prime Minister was admitted to the U.N. Now its full recognition of Pales- pressure on Israel’s hard-line new government in Egypt direct talks, the only proven to New York. Benjamin Netanyahu’s coali- that the Palestinians are tine proceeds to the Security government to compro- would be anti-American. method of advancing peace in

Illustrations by Alex Nabaum for TIME time October 3, 2011 31 ´,+$'!'¨ WORLD | PALESTINIAN-STATE DEBATE MSJ ´,+$'!(¨ 6FDOH[ MSJ 6FDOH[

the region. To be sure, nego- ‘THE overwhelming global support move, it has publicly opposed two states seeking to man- Israel. Abbas has recently made tiations would be exceedingly for their position. He believes Abbas’ plan because he did not age their relations in peace up with Hamas, the terrorist difficult, as they would have STATEHOOD international support for Pal- adequately consult Hamas. and harmony. group that controls Gaza and is to resolve issues central to RESOLUTION estinian statehood can change No one is holding their allied to and funded by Iran. In the dispute. It is well worth ALONE WILL the current paradigm. breath as to what will happen Kuttab is a Palestinian journal- recent years, Abbas, a man who trying. A state is not a favor With Palestine recognized at the U.N. In his speech to ist and former Ferris Professor has denied the Holocaust ever Israel would bestow on the NOT BRING as a state—even one with Palestinians before leaving of Journalism at Princeton happened, has repeatedly failed Palestinians; it is a favor Israel INDEPEND- observer status—Palestinians for New York, Abbas admitted University to reciprocate any of the good- would give to itself so that it ENCE.’ could move in various inter- that the statehood resolu- faith measures Israel has made. could remain secure, Jewish, —daoud kuttab, national forums (including tion alone will not bring Prime Minister Benjamin democratic and prosperous. palestinian journalist the International Court of Jus- independence; he pleaded Netanyahu said he would ac- Good strategy requires a tice) against the Israeli occupi- with Palestinians not to act Why Abbas Will cept a Palestinian state on the willingness to set priorities ers. Every country that votes violently following any U.N. Regret This condition that the Palestinians and make trade-offs. It is un- for Palestinian statehood will decision. There is no question By Uzi Landau recognize us; they pocketed derstandable but not enough be morally obliged to take ac- that Israel and its army will this without making a similar for Israelis to criticize the Pal- instead of simply cursing the tion against any party that is continue to rule Palestinian hen the palestin- gesture. We created conditions estinian decision to go to the occupation. denying Palestine the right to territories no matter what ians signed the Oslo for their economy to flourish, U.N.; it is also incumbent on All this peaceful effort has be a fully functional and sov- the international community W accords in 1993, they removing hundreds of road- Israelis to show that negotia- failed to produce substantive ereign state. says. Negotiations will neces- were striking a fundamental blocks and checkpoints. What tions can yield the ultimate movement in the peace talks. The Palestinian strategy is sarily have to take place to end deal with Israel: that every reciprocation did they make? prize of statehood if Pales- While Palestinians have not without risks, however. this conflict. issue remaining between the The government declared a tinians are willing to meet been in direct negotiations Israel and the U.S. Congress The Palestinians’ desire to two peoples would be resolved moratorium on new construc- them halfway. with Israel since the Madrid have threatened financial get a U.N. vote on statehood, through negotiations. But tion in Judea and Samaria. In peace conference in 1991, the retributions. But the Pales- in whatever form, does not now, by appealing directly response, the Palestinians just Haass is the president of the past two years have failed to tinian public has responded mean that they cannot have to the U.N. to recognize a increased their demands. Council on Foreign Relations produce any progress on the that their independence is direct negotiations with Palestinian state, Mahmoud Assembly session began, the 1967 war, when Israel took We still pray for a Palestin- key issue of borders. The Oslo not for sale. Hamas, which Israel. But if all goes well, Abbas is making a unilateral Europeans were trying to ap- control of the West Bank and ian leader who wants to have accords signed in 1993 on the runs the Gaza Strip, has had these talks will no longer be decision to abandon the dis- pease them, asking them if the Gaza Strip, are “Auschwitz” peace and who can deliver it. White House lawn promised mixed reactions: although not between Palestinians and cussion of outstanding issues they would be kind enough borders, because a country We are waiting for a Palestin- Why Palestinians a five-year interim agreement, ideologically against the U.N. their occupiers but between with Israel, trying to avoid to rejoin the negotiations. cannot defend itself from those ian Anwar Sadat, the brave Have No Choice which was supposed to lead negotiations based on mutual Instead, Palestinians must lines. Israel’s withdrawing Egyptian President who made By Daoud Kuttab to an independent Palestinian compromise. He is violating receive a clear signal from the to the 1967 lines would allow peace with Israel in 1979. Ab- state. But Palestinians are no not just several legal, bind- Europeans and North Ameri- the Palestinians to cripple our bas is no Sadat. Instead his or years, palestinians nearer to a state today than ing agreements with Israel cans that abandoning agree- economy and society with very move at the U.N. is deliberate- have been searching for they were back then. but also a major principle of ments doesn’t pay. primitive, short-range Katyu- ly intensifying the conflict. F a strategy that can pro- The notion of direct talks international relations: that Abbas’ flaunting of those sha rockets. The residence of The Palestinian people’s aspi- duce freedom from decades of has given cover to Israeli ex- conflict can be resolved only past agreements means that the Israeli President would be a rations will skyrocket. They foreign military occupation. pansionism. Palestinian lands through negotiations. He has he renders them null and void mile’s distance from the enemy will think they are going to The two apparent options that continue to be confiscated, decided that the time for as far as Israel is concerned. front line. We cannot permit have a state on day one, which were available to the Palestin- Jews-only settlements contin- talking is over. The consequences for the that to happen. is not going to happen. He ian leadership were violent ue to be built, and the security The Western governments Palestinians will be very seri- The conflict is not about knows frustration will turn resistance or political negotia- wall strangulates the Palestin- that witnessed the signing ous. Should the Palestinian the division of land between into violence. The Palestinian tions. Yasser Arafat tried both ians. The International Court of the Oslo accords and bear National Authority pursue two equal and rival claims. It initiative has introduced ad- without success. Mahmoud of Justice at the Hague ruled special responsibility for hon- its bid for statehood, it should is about an existential threat ditional instability to a region Abbas has been adamantly in 2004 that the wall built oring them have not made it fully understand that Israel to Israel. The Palestinians are that is already on fire, while opposed to violence. Since inside Palestinian territory is clear to Abbas that violating will respond accordingly. unprepared to accept the right Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the taking over as President of illegal according to interna- them is unacceptable. This Any suggestion of a future of the Jewish state to exist. Iranian, is watching from the Palestinian National Au- tional law, yet it continues to has made the Palestinians feel border with a Palestinian state Their tactics should come as the sideline, waiting to reap thority, he has worked hard be a concrete example of the that they can help themselves based on the 1967 armistice no surprise to anyone. They the prize. I to change the inflammatory oppression of occupation. to a free lunch, that there is line should now be out of the have repeatedly walked away rhetoric of Palestinian politics So Abbas has chosen a no price to be paid for this question. I’m reminded of what from opportunities to establish Landau is Israel’s Infrastruc- and has backed Prime Minis- third way: the U.N. Taking U.N. initiative. They believe our legendary Foreign Minister a state, always holding out for ture Minister and a member of ter Salam Fayyad’s efforts to the matter to New York plays they can only gain from it. Abba Eban said in 1969: the more in the hope that ultimate- the Knesset for Yisrael Beiteinu build up a Palestinian state to Palestinians’ strength: Just days before the General borders of Israel before the ly they will destroy the state of ( Israel Is Our Home) party

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