The real Zionist position on Annapolis23.11. 2007
http://www.zionism-israel.com/log/archives/00000452.html
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Zionism & Israel Center http://zionism-israel.com
With the approach of the Annapolis peace conference, many "Zionist" organizations and pundits, particularly in the United States, have been actively promoting opposition to peace negotiations and concessions, insisting that there must not be a Palestinian state and touting the slogans, "Israel must avoid peace negotiations like the plague," and "there is only a military solution."
The real position of the Israeli government is expressed by the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a useful FAQ about Israeli Policy, from which I quote:
Israel has always been willing to compromise and all Israeli governments have been willing to make major sacrifices for the sake of peace... Peace can only be achieved through negotiations to bridge gaps and resolve all outstanding issues.
...
Time after time, Israel has stated its desire to see two states - the State of Israel and a Palestinian state - living side by side in peace and security (as expressed in US President Bush's vision of 24 June 2002). Israel believes that a true resolution of the conflict will see two national states, a Palestinian state for the Palestinian people and a Jewish state for the Jewish people. Israel has no desire to rule over the Palestinians, and believes that a truly democratic Palestinian state fully at peace with Israel will promote the long-term security and well-being of Israel as a Jewish state.
That is the real position of the state of Israel. It is a useful document that is highly recommended reading, that sets forth all the hopes and reservations of the Israeli government regarding the Annapolis peace conference and the peace process.
The ZOA and the the anti-peace propaganda of a minority of extremists serves to promote the narrow political views of those groups. In reality, it serves the interests of the enemies of Israel. This vicious and hysterical campaign does not represent the position of the government of the state of Israel, nor that of the majority of Israelis, Jewish and non-Jewish. It paints Israel as a pariah state that does not want peace. It paints Zionism as a reactionary movement that desires to use force to dominate the Middle East. It paints the "Israel lobby" as a collection of chauvinistic and xenophobic warmongers, uninterested in the strategic needs and goals of the United States, single-mindedly pursuing an unrealistic messianic vision for Israel. It does more for Arab and Muslim extremism then all the drivel of Mearsheimer and Walt, and all the ill-judged and ignorant diatribes of Jimmy Carter.
Peace with our neighbors and acceptance by the entire world have been the central strategic goals of the state of Israel for 60 years, and of the Zionist movement since its inception. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs presents all of the Israeli view, calling for recognition of two states for two peoples, an end to terror and incitement, and asserting Jewish rights in Jerusalem, as well as indicating the firm Israeli desire for peace. The Annapolis meeting represents an opportunity to advance those goals. The meeting is going to be used by Palestinians and Arabs to advance their goals and their views. It is quite legitimate and natural for them to do so. They will bend every effort to show themselves as the reasonable party that wants peace, and, because that is the way the game is played, they will make efforts to show Israel as the party that is obstructing peace. Those "Zionists" who are taking the line of "No peace, no recognition, no negotiations" are doing the work of the Arabs for them.
The mainstream Jewish organizations in the United States should have been anxious, as Americans and as supporters of Israel, to stand behind the Israeli program, and to support peace at Annapolis. Their silence thus far, with the exception of the lukewarm statement of the JCPA is deafening. They have been intimated by extremists and hysteria mongers, who dominated American Jewish publicity about summit.
The good news is that the Zionist left, including Arza, Ameinu, Habonim-Dror, Hashomer Hatzair, and Americans for Peace Now are organizing a rally in support of the peace process at Annapolis, scheduled for November 27. Contact for details: annapolisrally@gmail.com. They probably represent the majority Jewish sentiment in the United States. Be there to show support for Israel and for peace.
Ami Isseroff
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Original content is Copyright by the author 2007. Posted at ZioNation-Zionism and Israel Web Log, http://www.zionism-israel.com/log/archives/00000452.html where your intelligent and constructive comments are welcome. Disributed by ZNN list. Subscribe by sending a message to ZNN-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Please forward by e-mail with this notice, cite this article and link to it. Other uses by permission only.
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