Finding a Permanent Home for Palestinians

How to Achieve Lasting Peace in Palestine

Throughout most of his two terms in office President Bush seemed to be committed to pushing his Road Map for Peace Plan. Wikipedia describes it as follows, “The "road map" for peace is a plan to resolve the Isreli-Palestinian conflict proposed by a “quartet” of international entities: the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations. The principles of the plan were first outlined by U.S. President George W. Bush in a speech on June 24, 2002, in which he called for an independent Palestinian state living side by side with Israel in peace: "The Roadmap represents a starting point toward achieving the vision of two states, a secure State of Israel and a viable, peaceful, democratic Palestine. It is the framework for progress towards lasting peace and security in the Middle East..." Thankfully, Bush will not have achieved his goal of implementing his plan before he leaves office. This undercutting of our only real ally in the Middle East has been foolish and detrimental to America.

The Road Map to Peace has been a failure. Palestinian refugees are still wallowing in refugee camps, Israel is being terrorized from land (Gaza) it recently exchanged for the promised peace that never comes. A different solution needs to be looked at now.

I recently attended a conference last November and heard Amy Bennett, Executive Director of the International Israeli Allies Caucus Foundation who described a plan proposed by Israeli Knesset member, Benny Elon. He calls his plan “The Israeli Initiative, The Right Road to Peace."

In this article I am introducing this alternative, which was recently brought to my attention with Israel’s retaliatory bombing the last two days in Gaza. Gaza is the territory we forced Israel to give up in exchange for the allusive prospect of peace. Gaza under Iran-backed Hamas has become a literal terrortory.

I really liked what I heard of his plan. America should abandon Bush’s Roadmap and get on the Right Road to Peace . . . Below are the three principles upon which this alternative plan is based. Very serious consideration should be given to scrapping the Roapmap to Peace and studying and working toward implementing the following plan. It serves the best interest of America, Israel, Jordan, Europe and the Palestinian people, the many refugees. The terrorist and the terrorist sponsoring states may not like it, but remember you can never negotiate with terrorists.

The Israeli Initiative: The Right Road to Peace

THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THE RIGHT ROAD TO PEACE PLAN

#1 - The rehabilitation of the refugees and the dismantling of the camps

"Israel, the US, and the international community will formulate a multi-year program for full and rapid rehabilitation of the Palestinian refugees, while absorbing them as citizens in various countries. During the rehabilitation process, UNRWA, an organization that perpetuates the status of the refugees, will be dismantled, and all residents of refugee camps will be offered permanent places of residence, citizenship, and a generous rehabilitation grant. The refugee camps will also be dismantled following this process.

#2 - Strategic cooperation with the Kingdom of Jordan

"An exchange for the Palestinian 'Partner' who is unable to bring peace, with a reliable partner interested in stability.

"Israel, the US, and the international community will recognize the Kingdom of Jordan as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinians, and Jordan will again grant citizenship status to the residents of Judea and Samaria. The Palestinian Authority in Judea, Samaria and Gaza will no longer be recognized as a representative body, and all weapons will be collected from armed organizations.

"Israel, the US, and the international community will invest in the long-term development of the Kingdom of Jordan to restore and strengthen its economy.

"Israel and Jordan, together with Egypt, Turkey, and the US, will create a strategic organization to halt the Islamic axis based in Tehran, and to promote overall peace between Israel and the Arab countries.

#3 - Israeli Sovereignty in Judea and Samaria

"An end to the 'Occupation' and a move to sovereignty, which will prevent Hamas taking control and grant security to Israel and to the countries of the region

"In coordination with Jordan, Israel will extend its sovereignty over Judea and Samaria.

"Arab residents of these areas will become citizens of Jordan (Palestine). Their status, their relationship to the two countries, and the nature of the administration in the populated areas will be formulated and set forth in an agreement between the governments of Israel and Jordan.

"What is promising about this plan is that it preserves and strengthens the nation of Israel and establishes a permanent solution to the Palestinian refugee problem. I am in the process of studying this plan and may have more to say about it in the near future."

TAKE ACTION

To study this alternative plan please visit http://www.IsraelinItiative.com