The Post Nuclear Proliferation Age: Daring New Middle East Peace Strategy
Iran's continued posturing about nuclear weapons has alarmed moderate nations in the region such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Already, both nations are moving to acquire nuclear weapons to counter Iranian aims for political supremacy over the region.
It may come as a surprise to some western pundits that the vast majority of Semites are not raving, bloodthirsty maniacs. The cooler heads who prevail in several states realize that Iran is a clear and present danger to them much more a threat to them than Israel.
On Sunday, opposition leader and Kadima Party head Tzipi Livni addressed the annual AIPAC conference in Washington.
"Let me be clear: On the issue of Iran, there is no opposition party in Israel," Livni told her audience. "The threat from Iran has created new possibilities for alliances between Israel and the pragmatic states in the region - countries that realize that Israel is not the source of the problems in the Middle East."
The former foreign minister warned this window of opportunity will open for a very short time. Once Iran has A-bombs in hand, all bets for peace are off. A solution to the conflict with the Palestinians is not "an Israeli concession but an Israeli interest."
"If we try to buy time our problems will get worse not better," Livni said, adding that Israel's leaders must make difficult decisions sooner rather than later. "It is the evasion of difficult decisions, not taking them, that is the strategic threat to Israel's future."
Livni told the group that her objective is to ensure the future of Israel as a Jewish and democratic State, even if it requires relinquishing land.
"We need to maintain a Jewish majority in Israel," Livni said. "This is not a technical matter, it is a matter of our survival. And in the choice between giving up our values, the 'raison d'etre' of Israel, and giving up part of the land, I choose the land."
An Intimate Interview with Tzipi Livni
As your life may depend on the success of Tzipi in bringing peace to the region, I figured to show an interview in Hebrew. More than the knock down foreign minister, the Hebrew reveals her real character. Her compassion flows through the camera. To me it shows her real understanding of the human condition.
Being a Jew Is Rarely Easy
The plan may appear simple, but the execution is exceedingly complex. Livni's proposal to trade land for peace with Palestine hasn't worked in the past. The leaders can derail the peace process by appealing to embedded hatreds and ancient claims.
As Semitic lives are at stake, outside nations will act with their usual glacial slowness. They will insist on taking part in the negotiations, promoting their interests and generally gumming up the works.
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