views essay Be Bold Give Mideast peace, as a pursuit with upfront traction, a chance. F or a peace process between Israel and the Palestinians to succeed over the long haul, both sides, despite the seeming paradox, must first enable the idea of peace. Without such a dra- matic leap of faith in something so basic, there’s little chance of real peace taking root, let alone growing with conviction. Even the promise of peace will remain elusive. Robert Sklar Israel could advance Contributing Editor peace prospects by strengthening the foundation laid by such iconic prime ministers as Golda Meir, Menachem Begin, Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres and embracing peace as a national pursuit. Maintaining the status quo in the disputed territories of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip will further fray the tenuous relation- ship between Israel and the Arab world. There’s no long-term benefit to Israel interminably controlling the lives of mil- lions of Palestinians. For their part, the Palestinians have no one’s legacy to recall given their lead- ership’s proclivity toward terror. They require a complete recalibration of who they are as a people and what they col- lectively want to be. They need leaders who renounce violence, recognize Israel and are willing to negotiate, not who cry foul at every churn of Israeli governmental policy. Fatah and Hamas, the governing powers in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, are more to blame for their people’s plight than Israel, engrossed on multiple fronts. The Jewish state not only is on guard against Palestinian terror, but also is battling domestic issues, global anti- Semitism and a United Nations laser- focused on isolating it internationally. ALTER COURSE To create a new way of thinking about the contentious term “peace,” Israel and the Palestinians must seek a reality check. They must take a step back and truly commit to pursuing peace, leaving for another time the hard decisions demand- ed for achieving peace. ADDRESS TENSION The two sides must see through the The Palestinians are stuck in a cultural mists of politicking and glimpse why a warp that views not just the disputed peace that endures would be the best- territories but also the State of Israel as possible solution to their prolonged and a Zionist “occupation.” They also teach wrenching conflict. Otherwise, there’s no a seething hatred toward Jews that will hope for two states, one Jewish and one take generations to reverse, a peace Palestinian, living side by side, with safe, treaty or not. secure borders. The Israeli government isn’t Israeli journalist Shmuel doing itself any favors by con- Rosner is a senior fellow at the tinued settlement expansion Jewish People Policy Institute, although it’s unlikely that one an Israeli policy-planning think factor is the cause of Palestinian tank, as well as senior political rejection of new talks. The settle- editor at the Jewish Journal of Los ments offer the Palestinian leader- Angeles. In a thoughtful commen- ship an excuse to do what it pre- tary appearing Nov. 8, he mused fers: seek independent statehood that Israelis may support return- Shmuel Rosner via international channels, not ing to the bargaining table, but direct, bilateral negotiations. they no longer believe in the kind Much is made about Israel’s of peace Rabin imagined — “a concrete checkpoints and separation barrier and and stable peace with their Palestinian its military presence in the Jordan val- neighbors.” ley. All are legitimate defenses against Peace as a realistic goal is “out of fash- Palestinian terror. Israel has no reason ion,” Rosner wrote. Both sides, he wrote, to think a Palestinian culture ingrained “refuse to make the compromises neces- to despise Zionism and Jews will change sary for a lasting peace.” quickly. Crystallizing the conflict, Rosner Peace involving “mutual respect asserted, “It’s one thing to realistically between our neighbors and ourselves” assess that peace is not coming any — as imagined by Golda Meir — is time soon and quite another to forgo embedded in the Declaration of the Contributing Writers: Ruthan Brodsky, Rochel Burstyn, Suzanne Chessler, Annabel Cohen, Don Cohen, Shari S. Cohen, Shelli Liebman Dorfman, Adam Finkel, Stacy Gittleman, Stacy Goldberg, Judy Greenwald, Ronelle Grier, Esther Allweiss Ingber, Allison Jacobs, Barbara Lewis, Jennifer Lovy, Rabbi Jason Miller, Alan Muskovitz, David Sachs, Karen Schwartz, Robin Schwartz, Steve Stein, Joyce Wiswell Arthur M. Horwitz Publisher / Executive Editor ahorwitz@renmedia.us F. Kevin Browett Chief Operating Officer kbrowett@renmedia.us | Editorial Managing Editor: Jackie Headapohl jheadapohl@renmedia.us Story Development Editor: Keri Guten Cohen kcohen@renmedia.us Arts & Life Editor: Lynne Konstantin lkonstantin@renmedia.us Editorial Assistant: Sy Manello smanello@renmedia.us Senior Columnist: Danny Raskin dannyraskin2132@gmail.com Contributing Editor: Robert Sklar rsklar@renmedia.us the ideal of peace.” It sure is. It’s as if the mere mention of peace as an idea is somehow a cop-out, which- ever the side. Palestinians largely fear it would inflame the terror-mongers within. Israelis, left or right leaning, largely have grown weary of its politicization. Neither side seems to want to bend, ever — scut- tling peace talks before another round even begins. | Advertising Sales Sales Director: Keith Farber kfarber@renmedia.us Account Executives : Wendy Flusty, Annette Kizy | Production By FARAGO & ASSOCIATES Manager: Scott Drzewiecki Designers: Kelly Kosek, Amy Pollard, Michelle Sheridan, Susan Walker | Detroit Jewish News Chairman: Michael H. Steinhardt President/Publisher: Arthur M. Horwitz ahorwitz@renmedia.us Chief Operating Officer: F. Kevin Browett kbrowett@renmedia.us Controller: Craig R. Phipps | Social Media Producer Andrea Gusho socialmedia@thejewishnews.com Sales Manager Assistants : Karen Marzolf | Business Offices Billing Coordinator: Pamela Turner | Fulfillment Joelle Harder jharder@renmedia.us Establishment of the State of Israel, a compelling roadmap that Rosner cited in his piece. The Declaration reads: “We extend our hand to all neighboring states and their peoples in an offer of peace and good neighborliness.” Rosner is right: “Our leaders should go back to this habit of reminding Israel and the world that Israel’s goal is peace.” Peace indeed “should be a usable, mainstream word, and an aspiration that everyone shares.” EMPLOY FORESIGHT It’s unfortunate both the political left and the political right among Israeli- Palestinian observers have resorted to using their uncompromising view of peace as a cudgel against the other. Only hardcore talks will distill such matters as borders, security, refugees, Jerusalem, mutual recognition, holy sites, water rights and a halt to all conflict and claims. Resolution of that tinder box of issues won’t happen without a leader- ship shakeup in Ramallah, Gaza City and Jerusalem. U.S. President Donald Trump’s Dec. 6 symbolic acknowledgment that Jerusalem is the capital of the sovereign state of Israel (a Trump campaign pledge, but also an Israeli government reality) shouldn’t diminish the need to settle Jerusalem’s final status at peace talks. It behooves all players to set the stage now for tenacious talks later. It’s time to raise the curtain on peace as a reso- nant idea with the potential for ultimate reward for the stakeholders. Fantastical as it seems, the simple act of all parties enabling peace as an ideal today may prove the impetus for a better tomorrow in a long-beleaguered region. • | Departments General Offi ces: 248-354-6060 Advertising: 248-351-5107 Advertising Fax: 248-304-0049 Circulation: 248-351-5120 Classifi ed Ads: 248-351-5116 Advertising Deadline: Monday, 2 p.m. Editorial Fax: 248-304-8885 Deadline: All public and social announcements must be typewritten and received by noon Tuesday, nine days prior to desired date of publication. 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