Israel Matzav

Eric Cantor on Obama's Cairo speech

Once again, President Obama painted the "natural growth" of Israeli "settlements" in the West Bank as a main stumbling block that "undermines efforts to achieve peace." This for the most part is a gratuitous fight. The natural growth in question takes place in confined Jewish population blocks that will undoubtedly be a part of Israel once a two-state solution is implemented (based on the precedents set in the peace offering at Camp David in 2000 and later by the Bush Administration). Should the Israelis not be allowed to maintain an adequate infrastructure to accommodate their growing population within those communities? Why the outrage?

President Obama's comments on such building activity may sound innocuous to the casual observer. In reality, they are anything but.

With the whole world watching, President Obama confirmed that he is willing to squeeze the Israelis without getting anything in return from the Palestinians. This is devastating for peace prospects. It gives the Palestinian Authority incentive to double down on their strategy to wait on the sidelines rather than step up and honor their obligations under the Road Map.

Entertaining illusions that the natural growth of Israeli West Bank communities bears significant responsibility for the conflict is an exercise in self-deception. The root of the problem is the recalcitrance of the Arab people, whether in Gaza or in the West Bank or in Cairo, to accept that the Jews have a right to live in their historical homeland. Israeli governments have always proven ready to make the necessary sacrifices assuming there is a reasonable chance for peace.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 3:30 PM