http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3700828,00.html
The choice here is simple
We have four basic options:
2) One Jewish Apartheid State (Jewish state with Arab majority under military rule and highly curtailed human and civil rights).
3) One Jewish state with an expulsion of the native Arab population
4) A binational state
Palestinian autonomy has never been a real option.
So which do we choose? Let's consider (1) first. There's no doubt that this is hardly ideal. We have hundreds of thousands of Jewish settlers in the West Bank, and removing them all seems an impossible task. There is also an issue of the historic importance of that land to the Jewish people, and Jerusalem in particular. Finally, there is the problem of important water resources. But though this is problematic, it is not beyond a resolution: the border can be redrawn as per the Lieberman Plan, we can begin to look to the future instead of the past and give up Judea and Samaria, as difficult as that may be, and we can reach a compromise over the water resources. Now what are the benefits of this plan? It is clearly backed by the international community, which means they would likely assist in its implementation (funding for resettling the Palestinians in their new state, plus renewed support for Israel). Economic investment in the country will exist after a major cause of instability in the region disappears. Various Arab and Islamic states recognise Israel and our relations will warm gradually. Finally, and most importantly, we have a Jewish-majority state with international recognition.
(2) is, needless to say, morally repulsive. However, even if we put aside moral considerations, pursuing such a course of action would make us an international pariah akin to North Korea, or perhaps more appropriately, Apartheid South Africa. It would only be a matter of time before we were the target of a widespread international boycott. Our military edge would gradually decline as our support from America begins to dwindle. It is also important to consider the effects on our society as a whole of forcefully supressing a majority population -- our boys, all of whom serve in the army, would be severely scarred for life. We should ask ourselves, is this the society we would want to live in?
(3) is also morally repulsive and completely unacceptable, and suffers from the same general problems as (2).
(4) is unrealistic. A binational state is the death of Zionism. Even if we were willing to accept that, it is a well established fact that multiethnic states in the Middle East have a serious tendency towards internal strife (See: Lebanon, Iraq, Mandatory Palestine, Iran, Turkey, Jordan, etc.)
The choice here is simple. We have only one real option. It is not free of flaws, nor will it be easy, but ultimately the alternatives are far worse.
Chaim (04.13.09)
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