It’s getting boring already. The headline in today’s NY Times states Nudged by Bush, Israel Talks of Removing Illegal Outposts. But even the body of the article notes that Israel has been “nudged by Bush” and talking about doing exactly this for years. This headline could have been put in the paper any time over the past five years and been equally true.
So what exactly is the point – of the nudging, the talking and the article itself? To create an illusion that the Bush administration has somehow changed its policies and is finally doing something? To make us feel sorry for the political difficulties facing the “peace loving” Olmert? And what about those Palestinian “leaders”? They too, for years have been repeating the same tired lines about how Israeli actions will be causing difficulties to the “peace process”? Are we supposed to be feeling sorry for them too?
Why can’t someone, anyone just speak the truth? There is no peace process. There will be no “two state solution” with the present political constellation in place, which means probably never. It’s time for the world to recognize the facts on the ground: Israel has already effectively annexed the West Bank and Gaza. If I were a Palestinian, I would be demanding an end to the farce and demand my full rights as an Israeli citizen, starting with the right to vote.