Kucinich:We Can Negotiate Peace in Gaza: Here's How

[eridani]

http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/289-134/25085-we-can-negotiate-peace-in-gaza-heres-how

In 2006, Congress passed S. 2370, which in Section 9 established conditions which Hamas must meet in order for the US to negotiate with it:

•Recognize Israel's right to exist.
•Renounce aggression.
•Dismantle the infrastructure used to carry out attacks against Israel.
•Accept previous agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

A new Palestinian national unity government, announced on June 2, 2014, accepted those identical conditions. However, ambiguity about Hamas' role in the new unity government has led the media and some members of Congress to assume that the United States remains barred from negotiation with Hamas.

Meanwhile, the Israeli government and Hamas are at an impasse over Hamas' status. Hamas is the democratically elected, legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. Failure to accept the election which brought Hamas to leadership closes a path toward resolution of the current crisis and violates the civil and political rights of Palestinians, who are protected by international law, to elect the representatives of their choice.

In Gaza, civilian deaths in a situation of apartheid occupation, characterized by complete power asymmetry, can be described as a crime against humanity. As of today, over 1,262 Palestinians, and three Israelis have lost their lives. More than 240 Palestinian children have been killed. In the early hours of this morning, while a ceasefire was being negotiated, Israel hit a UN girls' school, killing 20 refugees.

The US, given its longstanding support of Israel and its $3.2 billion annual aid ($8.5 million per day, $114 billion since 1949), including provision of military weapons, is in a singular position to put an end to the slaughter through openly entering into negotiations with Hamas.

[Laelth]

1. k&r for exposure. n/t

-Laelth

[FarPoint]

2. Maybe Dennis will volunteer as a negotiator....

He has keen insight, all others have failed...Jimmy Carter has done such voluntary assignments.... I hope he thinks about this suggestion.

[madokie]

3. Dennis just might be a good envoy to send to that region

he is an unassuming giant if ever there was one and thats exactly what we need there. What we need but mostly what the Palestinians need. The Israelis to a lesser degree. It's the Israeli who need to make concession in all this, not the Palestinians who have been pushed to their limit

We need a Dennis Kucinich in that area if ever we needed anyone anywhere.

[malaise]

4. The feral cats we feed would be better than that war criminal

Tony BLIAR.

[mikeysnot]

5. How about going back to the original 1946 UN charter

that still favored the European settlers by giving them 55% of the land and still gave the Palestinian's the shaft.

Why does it not state the Palestinians right to exist? Why do they always have to concede?

Come on K, you can do better than that?

[LWolf]

6. I think

that would be part of the current negotiations he refers to.

Ask him. I'll bet he'll take on your question.

[oberliner]

7. Or maybe go back to to the Franco-British boundary agreement of 1920?

Or the Transjordan memo of 1922?

[mikeysnot]

8. WTF?

Cannot believe you even bothered to type that...

[oberliner]

9. It's as ridiculous as wanting to go back to 1946

Most people talk about going back to the 1967 borders.

I've never heard anyone seriously say they want to go back to 1946.

[mikeysnot]

11. Seriously said it

because that is seriously when the problems started. 1967 was the results of 20 years of getting shafted.

Reality catch it...

[regnaD kciN]

26. But the Likud charter calls for no Palestinian state, ever!

(Just something to think about when told that "but the Hamas charter calls for Israel's destruction!&quot

[mikeysnot]

30. Exactly!

Getting to the root of the problem is fixing the problem.

It was set up to fail from the inception. It benefited the few at the expense of the many.

Primarily war profiters.

Victims of the Holocaust™ not so much...

[NightWatcher]

10. Negotiating peace by having one side give up?

If that's the case, why not have Israel do the same?

If your idea for a peace plan involves one side completely folding, you can keep it.

[mikeysnot]

12. Bingo!

Israeli's get, Palestine give!

[NightWatcher]

13. Notice how the last we heard from/of him was that he got a job at Fox Snooze?

I guess things are pretty quiet over there.

How much do you think it pays to be the punching bag for the slow-witted repukes?

[Rhinodawg]

15. What is he smoking ?

•Recognize Israel's right to exist. ---- Before or after hamas wants all jews dead
•Renounce aggression. ---- Yeah that will happen..right after they kill the Zionist "pigs"
•Dismantle the infrastructure used to carry out attacks against Israel.----and who the hell will do that?
•Accept previous agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. --- this I gotta see.


Damn Dennis....time to wake up, dude

Ya know, actually he should go to gaza and TALK to hamas ... explain his ideas..

[Aerows]

16. Based upon a Facebook post by the Deputy Speaker of the Knesset

there is only one thing that will bring peace, as far as I've seen.

I'll let him say it in his own words.

https://www.facebook.com/MFeiglin/posts/695450140534104

It's in Hebrew. Here are two translations.

BH for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Prime Minister just learned that Hamas took advantage of the Truce to kidnap an officer. It turns out that this operation is not going to end so quickly.
The failures in the operation were interred from the beginning because: 1 it has no proper purpose and clear.
2. There is no proper moral shell that supports our troops.

What is needed now is to internalize the principles that our country is over – only our country including Gaza!
No two States and two peoples – there is only one country, one people.

This internalization of strategic change required is deep and thorough, both in defining the enemy, both in defining the mission, both in defining the strategic and target-setting gives the right and necessary.

1 – setting the strategic enemy enemy is radical Islam, Western grorotav of Iran and of Gaza seeking to wipe out Israel as a whole.
The enemy in the eye is Hamas.
(Not the tunnels, Hamas's rocket-) 2 – setting mission: conquest of the Gaza Strip and eliminating all the warriors and their supporters.

3 – strategic target setting: turn Gaza to Tel Aviv. Israeli city blooms with hostile civilians minimum.

4 – the definition says: "Oh, fighting evil and woe to the home" in light of these four points for Israel to immediately do the following: 1. the IDF will open spaces on the Sinai border and near the sea that concentrate on the civilian population – far from the built-up areas and launch and tunneling. These areas will be set up tents to camps to locate relevant immigration targets.
Electricity and water for populated areas – will be disconnected.

In the areas that were populated with iopgazo maximum firepower. The Hamas civil and military means and logistics – will be eliminated to the ground.

3. the IDF around dissecting the Gaza Strip to length and wide, extending from the delegates, will take over areas that control and destroy nests of resistance should remain like this.

4. start by locating countries Israel and immigration quotas for refugees of Gaza. Looking to migrate to win economic assistance package and will be open to countries with significant economic potential.

The who insists on staying and proven that has no connection with Hamas will be required to sign a public statement about citizenship to Israel and will receive a blue identity card is similar to that of Arabs in East Jerusalem.

And with the pull is applied Israeli law in the Gaza Strip, expelled from Gush Katif will be invited back to their settlements and Gaza City and her daughters will be built as a commercial Israeli cities and everything.

Mr. Prime Minister!
This is a fateful decision in time of the State of Israel.
Every enemy of Iran, metastasis and Hezbollah and the Muslim Brotherhood and דע"ש – are uncertain whether their hands with pleasure now and are preparing themselves for next round.

I had that each outcome is less than defined here means encouraging continued against Israel, initiating. Only if you understand how the patient's hizballa Hamas in the South, do not shoot the rocket his 100,000 North.

I urge you to adopt the strategy proposed here.
I have no doubt realized, the entire stand with Israel in an overwhelming majority for the right – if you will follow.


With dignity and esteem Moshe feiglin

Bing Translation
________________________________________________________

In honor of
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Mr. Prime Minister
Just learned that Hamas used the ceasefire to grab an officer. It turns out that this campaign is not going to end so soon.
Failures in the operation were buried in the beginning that:
A - It has no proper purpose and clear.
At Shell no proper moral support our soldiers.
What is needed now is to internalize that Oslo is over, this is our land - only our country, including Gaza!
No two countries and no two peoples - there is only one state for one people.
Following this internalization strategic change required a deep and fundamental - are defining the enemy, both in defining the mission, both in defining the strategic objective, and of course - the definition of morality and right fighting required.
1 - Defining the enemy
Strategic enemy is radical Arab Islam all its derivatives from Iran to Gaza seeking to destroy Israel as a whole.
Hamas is the enemy in the eye.
(Tunnels, rocket - Hamas)
2 - Defining the task:
Conquest of the entire Gaza Strip and elimination of all armed forces and their supporters.
3 - Setting strategic objective:
Turn Gaza and Jaffa. Israeli city booming with a minimum of hostile civilians.
4 - Set the morality of combat:
"Oh wicked and woe to his neighbor"

In light of these four points on Israel immediately execute the following:
A - IDF define open spaces on the Sinai border and in close proximity to the sea which will focus on the civilian population - far from built-up area and launch areas and tunneling. These areas will be set up tent camps to locate relevant immigration goals.
Electricity and water supply to areas that were occupied - clear.
On populated areas were shelled maximum firepower. All facilities Hamas civilian and military, means of communication and logistics - would be eliminated completely.
C - the IDF will break the strap length and width, greatly expand the delegates, will take over areas of control and destroy nests of resistance when these remain.
D - Israel will begin identifying countries and the Gaza refugees quotas. Wishing to emigrate to receive generous financial aid package and will reach the receiving countries with significant financial ability.
The who insists on staying and it is proved that it has no connection to Hamas, will be required to sign a public declaration of loyalty to Israel and gets blue identity card similar to that of the Arabs of East Jerusalem.
And when the fighting ended applied Israeli law throughout the Gaza Strip, Gush Katif expellees will be invited to return to their communities and the city of Gaza and daughters will be built tourist cities and trade Israel for all.
Mr. Prime Minister!
This is a time of fateful decision of Israel's days.
All metastases enemy, Iran and Hezbollah to Da"s and the Muslim Brotherhood - now rubbing their hands in delight and prepare themselves for the next round.
I warned that the result is less than defined here, means encouraging the continued offensive against Israel. Only if you understand how standardized Hhizballa Hamas in the south, will prevent from sending the 100,000 missiles - to the north.
I urge you to adopt the strategy proposed here.
I am sure that like me, the people of Israel will be overwhelmingly on your right - if only to adopt.

Sincerely and with great appreciation
Moshe Feiglin

Google translation
__________________________________________________________________________

I think that speaks for itself. This is the Deputy Speaker of the Knesset saying this.

That is the only path Israel sees for peace, it seems.

[oberliner]

18. There are 8 Deputy Speakers of the Knesset

Another Deputy Speaker is Ahmed Tibi whose political party is the Arab Movement for Change.

Is it fair to say that his views on the subject would be equally representative of the Israeli position as Feiglin's?

They are both among the 8 Deputy Speakers and members of the Knesset Presidium.

If so, please do take the time to Google Mr. Tibi and read about his views with respect to the Palestinian people.

[Aerows]

20. No response to his words?

No explanation of why he might have said that?

Just wholesale "someone else at some point in time said something worse"?

[oberliner]

21. Feiglin is a hateful right-wing nut job

The sooner he is out of government there, the better.

[regnaD kciN]

27. How do you say "Final Solution" in Hebrew?

[Aerows]

29. "Durable Solution"

I believe that has been used over and over again by many Israeli government officials, not just this one.

[Douglas Carpenter]

17. Agree - And here is what a former Israeli Foreign Minister said regarding Hamas

Last edited Wed Aug 6, 2014, 07:11 AM - Edit history (1)

"SHLOMO BEN-AMI: Yes, Hamas. I think that in my view there is almost sort of poetic justice with this victory of Hamas. After all, what is the reason for this nostalgia for Arafat and for the P.L.O.? Did they run the affairs of the Palestinians in a clean way? You mentioned the corruption, the inefficiency. Of course, Israel has contributed a lot to the disintegration of the Palestinian system, no doubt about it, but their leaders failed them. Their leaders betrayed them, and the victory of Hamas is justice being made in many ways. So we cannot preach democracy and then say that those who won are not accepted by us. Either there is democracy or there is no democracy.

And with these people, I think they are much more pragmatic than is normally perceived. In the 1990s, they invented the concept of a temporary settlement with Israel. 1990s was the first time that Hamas spoke about a temporary settlement with Israel. In 2003, they declared unilaterally a truce, and the reason they declared the truce is this, that with Arafat, whose the system of government was one of divide and rule, they were discarded from the political system. Mahmoud Abbas has integrated them into the political system, and this is what brought them to the truce. They are interested in politicizing themselves, in becoming a politic entity. And we need to try and see ways where we can work with them.

Now, everybody says they need first to recognize the state of Israel and end terrorism. Believe me, I would like them to do so today, but they are not going to do that. They are eventually going to do that in the future, but only as part of a quid pro quo, just as the P.L.O. did it. The P.L.O., when Rabin came to negotiate with them, also didn't recognize the state of Israel, and they engaged in all kind of nasty practices. And therefore, we need to be much more realistic and abandon worn-out cliches and see whether we can reach something with these people. I believe that a long-term interim agreement between Israel and Hamas, even if it is not directly negotiated between the parties, but through a third party, is feasible and possible."

http://www.democracynow.org/2006/2/14/fmr_israeli_foreign_minister_shlomo_ben
__________

Hamas's official offer of a long term truce with Israel from Ahmed Yousef:



Hamas's official offer of a long term truce with Israel from Ahmed Yousef:

By AHMED YOUSEF
Originally Published: November 1, 2006 in the New York Times

"Ahmed Yousef is a senior adviser to the Palestinian prime minister, Ismail Haniya."

"HERE in Gaza, few dream of peace. For now, most dare only to dream of a lack of war. It is for this reason that Hamas proposes a long-term truce during which the Israeli and Palestinian peoples can try to negotiate a lasting peace.
A truce is referred to in Arabic as a ''hudna.'' Typically covering 10 years, a hudna is recognized in Islamic jurisprudence as a legitimate and binding contract. A hudna extends beyond the Western concept of a cease-fire and obliges the parties to use the period to seek a permanent, nonviolent resolution to their differences. The Koran finds great merit in such efforts at promoting understanding among different people. Whereas war dehumanizes the enemy and makes it easier to kill, a hudna affords the opportunity to humanize one's opponents and understand their position with the goal of resolving the intertribal or international dispute.
Such a concept -- a period of nonwar but only partial resolution of a conflict -- is foreign to the West and has been greeted with much suspicion. Many Westerners I speak to wonder how one can stop the violence without ending the conflict.
I would argue, however, that this concept is not as foreign as it might seem. After all, the Irish Republican Army agreed to halt its military struggle to free Northern Ireland from British rule without recognizing British sovereignty. Irish Republicans continue to aspire to a united Ireland free of British rule, but rely upon peaceful methods. Had the I.R.A. been forced to renounce its vision of reuniting Ireland before negotiations could occur, peace would never have prevailed. Why should more be demanded of the Palestinians, particularly when the spirit of our people will never permit it?
When Hamas gives its word to an international agreement, it does so in the name of God and will therefore keep its word. Hamas has honored its previous cease-fires, as Israelis grudgingly note with the oft-heard words, ''At least with Hamas they mean what they say.''
This offer of hudna is no ruse, as some assert, to strengthen our military machine, to buy time to organize better or to consolidate our hold on the Palestinian Authority. Indeed, faith-based political movements in Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Morocco, Turkey and Yemen have used hudna-like strategies to avoid expanding conflict. Hamas will conduct itself just as wisely and honorably.
We Palestinians are prepared to enter into a hudna to bring about an immediate end to the occupation and to initiate a period of peaceful coexistence during which both sides would refrain from any form of military aggression or provocation. During this period of calm and negotiation we can address the important issues like the right of return and the release of prisoners. If the negotiations fail to achieve a durable settlement, the next generation of Palestinians and Israelis will have to decide whether or not to renew the hudna and the search for a negotiated peace.
There can be no comprehensive solution of the conflict today, this week, this month, or even this year. A conflict that has festered for so long may, however, be resolved through a decade of peaceful coexistence and negotiations. This is the only sensible alternative to the current situation. A hudna will lead to an end to the occupation and create the space and the calm necessary to resolve all outstanding issues.
Few in Gaza dream. For most of the past six months it's been difficult to even sleep. Yet hope is not dead. And when we dare to hope, this is what we see: a 10-year hudna during which, inshallah (God willing), we will learn again to dream of peace.

Ahmed Yousef is a senior adviser to the Palestinian prime minister, Ismail Haniya. "

[oberliner]

19. It's weird how Israeli leaders are assumed to be lying while Hamas leaders

are assumed to be telling the truth.

[Douglas Carpenter]

22. I think this former Israeli Foreign Minister was correct in what he said here, don't you?

[oberliner]

23. He's not an Israeli leader

Netanyahu spokesperson, right-winger, assumed to be lying.

Hamas spokesperson, right-winger, not assumed to be lying?

[Douglas Carpenter]

24. you trust the Netanyahu spokesperson? For the record I don't trust and I don't think

most people here trust the Hamas spokes people. But I would be interested if either proposed a long term hudna.

[oberliner]

25. Not especially

But I also think the "long term hudna" is dubious.

[regnaD kciN]

28. There's a reason why he's now a FORMER Israeli Foreign Minister...