Peace Talks Begin Despite Political Resistance

"First off, even hawkish Israelis are worried about the 'demographic problem,' and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent warnings about the 'one-state solution' reflect that concern. Serious Israelis are also worried about their eroding image worldwide, and the European Union's largely symbolic decision to ban grants to Israeli entities on the West Bank is an important bellwether in this regard. Even a passionate advocate of 'Greater Israel' -- which Netanyahu surely is -- might see some value in cutting a deal now, especially if he thinks he can get one that is heavily skewed in Israel's favor. ...

"My fear: Even if a deal is somehow reached and the doves fly across the White House lawn nine months from now, it won't be a true end to the conflict. If the terms are blatantly one-sided and if Israel continues to seek concessions from its far weaker Palestinian neighbors, the deal will not produce a lasting peace. Instead, it will be but a temporary respite, and conflict is likely to resume at whatever point in the future the balance of power shifts.

"In his The Second World War, Winston Churchill summarized the 'Moral of the Work' in four Churchillian phrases: 'In War: Resolution. In Defeat: Defiance. In Victory: Magnanimity. In Peace: Goodwill.'

"The victors in the long conflict between Zionist Israelis and Palestinian Arabs would be wise to heed those maxims, and if I were John Kerry, I'd spend a lot of time over the next nine months reminding them about the last two.

As the peace talks begin, it is important, I believe, to give John Kerry as much room to maneuver as he needs to reach his goal of a successful peace agreement in nine months.

He is on a difficult assignment. He must persuade Palestinians to settle for less than they fairly deserve. And he must deal with a recalcitrant Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu who knows he has the U.S. Congress in his hip pocket.

That control of the U.S. legislative body by the leader of a foreign nation was confirmed with all of its dark implications when on May 26, 2011, Netanyahu spoke to a joint session of the U.S. Congress.

Gideon Levy, a courageous Israeli columnist for Ha'aretz, wrote a column in which he told his Israeli readers, and those American readers who ought to be paying attention, just what he felt about his prime minister's performance in his address to the U.S. Congress.

Here is the opening section of what Levy had to say about that May 26, 2011 Netanyahu speech:

"It was an address with no destination, filled with lies on top of lies and illusions heaped on illusions. Only rarely is a foreign head of state invited to speak before Congress. It's unlikely that any other has attempted to sell them such a pile of propaganda and prevarication, such hypocrisy and sanctimony as Benjamin Netanyahu did yesterday.

"The fact that the Congress rose to its feet multiple times to applaud him says more about the ignorance of its members than the quality of their guest's speech. An Israeli presence on the Jordan River -- cheering. Jerusalem must remain the united capital of Israel -- applause. Did American's elected representatives know that they were cheering for the death of possibility? If America loved it, we're in big trouble.

"The fact that the only truth spoken in the Capitol was that of a former Israeli shouting "equal rights for Palestinians" is a badge of honor for us and a mark of shame for America. Netanyahu's 'speech of his life' was the speech of the death of peace."

This is the Israeli leader about whom Levy writes, the leader with whom John Kerry must relate as he works toward an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement. Kerry needs our prayers and our support. The way forward is dark. God speed, Mr. Secretary.
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*The picture at the top is from the Gilo Settlement. It appeared in Jewish journal.com. It was taken by Baz Ratner for Reuters 

UPDATE: The posting above was updated at 1 p.m., CST, August 14.