U.S. President Barack Obama this week endorsed the Palestinians' demand that their future state be based on the borders that existed before the 1967 Middle East War, in which Israel seized much Palestinian territory. Some swapping of territories between Israelis and Palestinians could be included in implementing this proposal.
Unfortunately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected President Obama's plan, saying it was unrealistic.
Consequently, Palestinian officials now agree that Israel's rejection of Obama's peace proposal proves there is not enough common ground for meaningful negotiations.
That being the case, it appears that the next major step to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian dilemma will be taken up in the United Nations.
In September of this year, the Palestinians plan to seek UN recognition of a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem -- the territories that Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast War. The UN does not recognize Israeli sovereignty of these territories.
Many nations of the world -- including about a dozen in Latin America -- have already recognized a Palestinian state.
Netanyahu's blunt rejection of Obama's peace proposal -- and his stubborn, pessimistic, and inflexible attitude toward peace in the Middle East -- has isolated Israel in world public opinion. The Quartet of Mideast negotiations -- comprised of the US, the UN, the European Union, and Russia -- said it supports Obama's parameters for a Mideast peace, and is in full agreement about the urgent need to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
It is imperative that Netanyahu be more flexible for peace, and be willing to compromise at least some "Israeli" land; that is, land taken from the Palestinians by Israel in 1967.
If not, come September, Netanyahu may be sorry, as the UN may very well recognize a new Palestinian state -- a state that will include the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem!
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