A Million Dollar Middle East Peace Plan

One evening on the dinner desk within the American Colony—the beautiful boutique watering gap in East Jerusalem—I overheard an aged American heiress proclaiming that she would give 1,000,000 {dollars} to anybody who might resolve the Arab-Israeli battle. It was 1956, and I used to be simply five-years-old, however I tugged my father’s sleeve, and mentioned, “Daddy, we have now to win this prize.” 

I spent my whole childhood within the Center East, the son of an American diplomat. It was nothing distinctive—besides that Zelig-like, I lived by all of the wars of the Arab-Israeli battle. After which as a younger man I married the one daughter of two survivors of the Shoah. I’ve at all times labored exhausting to see each side of this tragic, seemingly intractable battle. However I’m now fed up with these unhealthy actors and their tribal bloodbaths.

All these a few years later, the ‘troubles’ within the ‘harmful neighborhood persist. Certainly, issues have gotten worse. Simply take a look at the horrifying atrocities of October 7, 2023 when some 1,200 Israelis have been butchered. And simply take a look at the indiscriminate killing of over 30,000 Palestinians, principally civilians in Gaza within the present conflict. Alarming incidents of blatant anti-Semitism and Islamaphobia gas a poisonous ambiance throughout a lot of the globe. The tide of extremism on all sides has risen, and civil society voices of moderation are largely deemed irrelevant.

Brief-sighted leaders on each side are fueling a brand new era of violence and hatred. Hamas’s bloody terrorism is unhealthy sufficient, however I wouldn’t be stunned if tomorrow the present conflict expands to Lebanon or Iran—or if a radiation ‘soiled’ bomb explodes in Tel Aviv, making components of the town uninhabitable. The one excellent news is that the political careers of each Bibi Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas are clearly coming to an finish. Each of those deplorable leaders have led their peoples to a lifeless finish.

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This battle is so harmful that the time has come for the worldwide neighborhood to impose an answer. Here’s what must be carried out.

First, a six-month cease-fire must be imposed whereby Hamas releases all their remaining hostages and Israel amnesties a whole bunch of long-term Palestinian prisoners—together with the favored Fatah chief (and convicted assassin), Marwan Barghouti.

Second, and concurrently, convene a Geneva peace convention. Invite all of the events to a one-month, time-limited negotiation through which diplomats iron out a complete political compromise, broadly based mostly on a two-state peace treaty. It ought to be modeled on the one-page, six-point program drafted in 2002 by Ami Ayalon, the previous Israeli intelligence chief, and Sari Nusseibeh, a Palestinian Oxford-trained thinker. It envisions two-states with borders based mostly on the 1967 Inexperienced Line with some territorial changes and with East Jerusalem because the capital of a demilitarized Palestinian state.

It’s a good doc—easy and apparent.

Skeptics will say that the hardliners on each side received’t present up at Geneva. The worldwide neighborhood, led by the Biden Administration, could make it clear that any celebration not displaying up at Geneva can be penalized with monetary and authorized sanctions. Israeli political leaders must come. Non-state actors can even be invited, together with representatives of the Palestinian Authority, Fatah, Hamas and members of Palestinian civil society teams. They too will face monetary and authorized sanctions in the event that they fail to indicate up. A dialog will happen through which all events are heard. However the American, European and different worldwide diplomats invited to Geneva can be chargeable for the precise drafting of a peace treaty. Sure, this can be an imposed peace as a result of the worldwide stakes are too excessive.

However the ensuing Geneva treaty will then be submitted to a referendum in Israel, Gaza, and the West Financial institution. I hope {that a} clear majority of each Israelis and Palestinians will approve the treaty. Strange individuals on each side ought to notice that the choice is countless conflict. An imposed, internationally sanctioned referendum will encourage the politicians to cease catering to their respective hardliners. The prospect of an actual peace based mostly on easy compromise will instantly appear sensible and economically helpful to everybody. The fog of countless conflict will raise and customary sense will prevail.

And when that occurs, can somebody please ship me that examine for 1,000,000 {dollars}?