What Israel Has Done for Peace
(Updated September 2002)
Peace can be achieved in the Middle East. Every time an Arab leader
has reached out his hand and offered peace, Israel has willingly shook it. When Egypt's Anwar
Sadat and Jordan's King
Hussein recognized Israel's right to exist, they were
met by equally courageous Israeli leaders who agreed to peace
treaties that benefitted the peoples of Egypt, Jordan, and Israel.
In the interest of peace, Israel took a
risk that Yasser
Arafat, who for decades had led a terror campaign against Israeli civilians, had chosen the path of
peace. Israel signed a series of peace agreements aimed at
creating a Palestinian state beside Israel, only to discover
that Arafat remains committed to a Palestinian state replacing
Israel.
Prime Minister Ehud
Barak offered unprecedented concessions that most Israelis
thought were dangerous at summits with Arafat and President Clinton. Barak agreed to the creation
of a contiguous Palestinian state in 97% of the West
Bank with east Jerusalem as its capital, and to dismantle isolated settlements.
According to U.S. peace negotiator Dennis Ross, Arafat rejected
"every single one of the ideas" for compromise.
Israel agreed to withdraw from parts of
the West Bank and Gaza
Strip and arm a Palestinian police force — and did
so — even though Arafat did not fulfill his promises to recognize Israel's right to exist, renounce terrorism,
negotiate disputes, and confiscate illegal weapons.
Israel captured the West Bank defending itself after being
attacked by Jordan. Still, Israel offered to trade most of
this land for peace. It took 25 years before the Palestinians
said they would accept this deal, but after Israel withdrew
from almost all the Gaza Strip and nearly half the West Bank,
the Palestinians have not given Israelis any peace, only
terror.
The Palestinian people have alternatives to violence. They
could choose the non-violent path of Martin Luther King and
Mahatma Gandhi. Better yet, they could choose negotiations
with an Israeli leadership anxious to end the conflict and
produce a mutually agreed settlement that will bring peace
and security to Israelis and independence to the Palestinians.
When Egypt's Sadat demonstrated by word and deed that he
would keep his promise of peace, Israel withdrew from the
strategically important Sinai desert, gave up its oil fields,
and dismantled Jewish settlements.
Israel is willing to accept the creation
of a Palestinian state on its doorstep despite the danger
that this may serve as forward base for Arab states, such
as Iraq, or as
a hotbed of Islamic fundamentalism and terror.
The founders of Israel sought peace with
their neighbors decades
before the state was established. Recognizing all along
the need to coexist with the Arabs, these visionaries suggested
compromises to allow the tiny Jewish state to live in peace
and security in the vast Arab nation, but their overtures
were rejected.
The United
Nations recognized the only fair way to resolve the conflicting
claims of Jews and Arabs was to divide Palestine. The Jews
were asked to give up most of the territory they had lived
in for centuries, and where they had been independent for
more than 400 years. They were asked to accept the internationalization
of their historic capital of Jerusalem. In the interest of
peace, they accepted the UN partition.
The Arabs rejected it. Had they not, a Palestinian state
would now be 54 years old.
The day after Israel declared independence,
it was invaded by five Arab states. Israel prevailed in the war and expected
to sign treaties that would allow all the nations to live
in peace from that point on; however, it took more than 30
years before any Arab state recognized Israel's right to
exist.
Israel accepts UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338,
which call for Israel to withdraw from territory to secure
and defensible borders in exchange for peace.
Israel welcomed the initiative
of Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, even though it contained
many demands that would be threats to Israel's security.
Prime Minister Sharon expressed a desire to negotiate directly with the Saudis
and other Arab states, but they insist instead on the unacceptable
terms being imposed on Israel.
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