Dr. Aaron Lerner is co-founder of IMRA, Independent Media Review and Analysis, an Israel-based news organization which provides an extensive digest of media, polls and significant interviews and events relating to the Israeli-Arab conflict. imra@netvision.net.il
For seven years the PA did not lift a finger to stop the terrorism against Israel or against itself. The Egyptians are not taking action to stop the smuggling of arms into the Gaza Strip.
Public Security Minister Avi Dichter - quoted in Haaretz 2 October 2007
They (Israelis) are also satisfied with the (West Bank) status quo that relies on the Shin Bet security service and the Israel Defense Forces.
Haaretz editorial 3 October 2007
What's the logical conclusion? That the generally effective West Bank security approach should be extended to the Gaza Strip or that the security hiatus/chaos of the Gaza Strip should be ultimately ushered into the West Bank via a rush to a come-what-may, photo-op, Palestinian-state?
Here's the irony: make a list of the truly burning issues of the day in the region and a Palestinian state probably isn't in the top ten.
It isn't just Lebanon and Iran. Egypt is facing critical internal political and economic challenges. Despite all their oil wealth, the Saudis are struggling desperately to improve the lives of their general population. A looming water shortage disaster threatens the region and beyond. And the list goes one.
And none of the problems are going to be solved by creating a Palestinian state.
Some argue that "solving" the Arab-Israeli conflict via the formation of a Palestinian state would prevent desperate Arab politicians from launching campaigns against the Jewish state to divert public attention from domestic problems. But if they are indeed desperate, the Arab leaders will find the basis to justify their rallying cry against Israel regardless of what is or isn't on the ground.
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