A POISONOUS PROVOCATION ?

The Obama administration, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia all want Israel to accept the concept of two independent states, Israel and Palestine, existing peacefully side by side. The "Quartet" is pressuring Israel to make suicidal concessions to the Palestinians. Israel's former prime minister, Ehud "The Idiot" Ohlmert and Tzipi Livni, the new leader of the Kadima party, were both willing to make concessions which would have led to the eventual disappearance of the Jewish state.

Fortunately for Israel, Bibi Netanyahu, its new prime minister, will not agree to any such concessions. He and Avigor Lieberman, the new foreign minister, both insist that Israel is not bound by the declarations made during the U.S. sponsored peace conference at Annapolis, Maryland in November 2007.

Netanyahu is willing to restart long-stalled negotiations with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, but only if the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state, something they have adamantly refused to do. As a matter of fact, the PA called Netanyahu's demand for recognition of Israel as a Jewish state a "provocation" that might have a "poisonous effect" on the region.

A poisonous provocation? The Palestinians and their Arab brethren, as well as many other Muslims throughout the world, are profoundly provoked by the mere mention of the word "Jew," not just by the existence of a Jewish state. Their historic hatred of Jews knows no bounds. And these are the Muslims that Obama, in his inaugural address, promised to "reach out" to.

A recent Norwegian poll (see my blog "Why Bother" [4-3-09]) showed that a majority of Palestinians were opposed to a two-state solution. 33 percent opted for the annihilation of the state of Israel, whether by political means or force of arms - to be replaced by a single Islamic republic on all parts of the country; and 20 percent favored a united Israeli-Palestinian state, to be eventually engulfed by the latter population. P.A. leaders continuously boast that there will be a Palestinian state "from the river to the sea," meaning that there will be no State of Israel.

Since the Palestinians will not recognize Israel as a Jewish state, Netanyahu should tell President Obama, Secretary Clinton and special envoy George Mitchell that they need to do a reality check - there can be no peace between Israel and a bunch of hate mongerers who have vowed to annihilate the Jewish state.

Here is a report from IsraelNationalNews.com on the Palestinian response to Netanyahu's demand that Israel be recognized as a Jewish state:

ARUTZ SHEVA IsraelNationalNews.com
April 18, 2009

PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY: RECOGNITION OF ISRAEL AS JEWISH STATE A 'PROVOCATION'
by Hana Levi Julian

The Palestinian Authority has rejected Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s condition for moving ahead on negotiations to establish "two states for two peoples."

PA spokesman Nabil Abu Rudaineh on Thursday night slammed Netanyahu’s insistence that the PA first accept the concept of Israel as a Jewish State before Israel continues talks to establish a new Arab country within its current borders.

Netanyahu told United States Middle East envoy George Mitchell earlier in the evening that Israel is willing to discuss the creation of a PA State – but only if the PA recognizes Israel as a Jewish State.

"Israel expects the Palestinians to first recognize Israel as a Jewish State before talking about two states for two peoples," Netanyahu said.

The Fatah-led PA government based in Ramallah has agreed in the past to recognize Israel, but not as a Jewish State.

Abu Rudaineh called Netanyahu’s words a "provocation" and claimed that the new Israeli government was placing obstacles before the "solution" of two states for two peoples being promoted by the United States.

The aide to PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas called on the international community to examine Israeli policy, charging that it might have a "poisonous effect" on the region.