Israeli minister calls on Cabinet hawks to unite around alternative...

[Herschel]

A hawkish minister is trying to rally support in the Israeli Cabinet for a more extreme alternative to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plans to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank.

The plan floated by Transport Minister Avigdor Lieberman would confine the Palestinians to four isolated districts in the West Bank.

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"It is clear to the U.S. that the 'road map' can only be spoken of in the past tense, and so now is the optimum time to present a new initiative," Lieberman told the radio.

He has proposed fencing the Palestinians into four isolated districts in the West Bank with Israel controlling access between them. The Gaza Strip would apparently remain entirely under Israeli control.

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http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/02/16/international0623EST0465.DTL

Another alternative to resolving the conflict. Isolated districts for the Palestinians would be more manageable and more acceptable to Israel.

[tinnypriv]

1. LOL, what a load of BS.

As Avi Lieberman well knows, the Roadmap was immediately rejected¹ by the GOI and essentially laughed at in the highest planning circles (where he was present).²

It might be spoken of in the "past tense" now, but that is only after U.S. officials have conceded as much, long after Sec State Powell said it was "paused", and eons after the Israeli press reported it was in a "Deep Freeze" (reasons given: Iraq and 2004 U.S. elections, nothing to do with the Palestinians).³

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1. See note 1 of this post for an explanation of how Israeli "acceptance" of the Roadmap is actually rejection ("senior officials" is a reference to Shaul Mofaz, current Defense Minister of Israel).

2. cf. Ma'ariv, 25 May 2003, where the senior analyst of the paper quoted Sharon as saying the following:

"If we support the plan now, we will fight less with the Americans. If we accept the plan we may have future conflict with the Americans, but its not at all certain because the Palestinians may not be able to do their part according to the roadmap. Therefore its better to postpone conflict, in the hope that there will be no conflict."

And in response to a query from a RW minister (Sharansky) about the obligations to a Palestinian state laid down in the Roadmap, Sharon responded:

"Why are you talking about these dates? These dates are not serious."

Note that the vote to "accept" the Roadmap was 12 in favor, 7 against, and 4 abstaining (the virtual 50-50 split was downplayed in the U.S, though if the Palestinian side had an equivalent vote, there surely would have been hysterical denunciations of "extremists" on their side etc).

3. "Bush will stop mediating", Ma'ariv, 2 October 2003.

[Herschel]

2. For those preferring a leftist source

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The plan to create Palestinian cantons, surrounded by fences, is outlined in a letter sent by Mr Liberman to 10 of his fellow cabinet ministers.

He said it was an attempt to present a right-wing alternative to Mr Sharon's disengagement plan and counter what he called "Oslo-style illusions".

The plan envisages the creation of one canton in Jenin and the surrounding area, one in Nablus, one in Tulkarm and one in Ramallah.

The cantons would have trade and traffic links, but Israel would control the checkpoints between them.

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3492561.stm

The cantons present an interesting alternative.

[dArKeR]

3. Israeli hardliner pushes for extreme plan

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040216.wisra0216/BNStory/International/

[Djinn]

4. so we're advocating Bantustans now????

[Jack Rabbit]

5. The proposal is DOA

How will this end Palestinian resistance to occupation? The solution offers them nothing. No rights except to cower under Israeli control.

Were I a Palestinian, I would say No.

Mr. Lieberman's proposal is a grotesque joke.

[Herschel]

6. Isolated districts

with distinct leadership would be more manageable. It is the Palestinian Authority, led by the weasel, which is difficult to deal with. Moderate Palestinian leadership could be identified in each district, and work with Israeli support toward establishing a peaceful, non-military government in the district. Under proper Israeli supervision, the districts could eventually become more independent, yet should never have military capabilities. The weasel and his tyrants would be of no consequence.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. More manageable for whom?

The idea is to end the the occupation and allow the Palestinians a form of self government, not to make the occupation more manageable.

This is just another idea cooked up by the Israeli right wing on the premise that Palestinians need not be dealt with as equals. Were it implemented, it would do nothing to end Palestinian resistance.

Under proper Israeli supervision, the districts could eventually become more independent, yet should never have military capabilities.

Proper Israeli supervision? That kind of condescension has no place in this discussion. The Israelis have proved themselves very poor authorities at defining Palestinian national aspirations for them. The only legitimate interest the Israelis have is reach a nonaggression pact with a group that can credibly be called the leaders of the Palestinian people.

[Herschel]

8. The districts need not be

under Israeli supervision permanently. As stated, they could eventually earn independence, depending on the performance of their leadership and populations. The hope being, the governing bodies in these individual districts will be more willing to be a legitimate partner for peace, unlike the weasel. Certainly little Israel would embrace a nonagression pact, yet only with those that would abide by it.

Indeed, there is Israeli supervision in the disputed territories, as we speak. There are a number on this forum, myself inculded, that feel this supervision is necessary and proper at this time. Perhaps the greatest hope for the demise of this overisight is independent districts with more moderate leadership.

The composition of the districts need not be what Mr. Lieberman proposed. There are countless possible configurations. Distinct districts are an interesting idea.