6 minute VIDEO: Learn the facts about the land we’ve come to call the “West Bank”

There is much confusion about the small area of land called either “Judea & Samaria”, the “West Bank”, the “Disputed Territories”, or “Occupied Territories”. Click HERE to watch a short 6 minute video that explains in very simple terms the history of the last 100 years. Watch a couple of times so you can let it sink in…then try and explain it to someone else. Facts must be the basis of understanding and negotiating with others!

Does Israel Have a Partner for Peace?

So much has been said about peace in the Middle East that it seems senseless to attempt to add more words to what appears to be a hopeless situation. However, the recent outburst of efforts by citizens of many Middle East countries to have a voice in how they are governed makes it imperative that those who watch these events unfold, have a clear knowledge of the history of the Israeli and Palestinian peace process so they can understand how the outcome in these countries can and probably will effect Israel.

I believe that there exists, in the hearts of many Jews and Palestinians, a sincere longing for peace. I truly believe that Israel and its people want peace with its neighbors. It just needs a trustworthy partner to accomplish this goal and currently, I do not believe it has one and therein lies the problem.

As early as 1917 England’s Balfour Declaration called for the formation of a Jewish homeland while also stating that “nothing shall be done which might prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine”.  Arab leaders rejected this British attempt to come to the aid of Jews all over the world and began a series of riots that led to the death of many Jews.

Then in 1936, The Palestine Royal Commission, better known as the Peel Commission in England was formed to find a solution to the Arab revolts in Palestine and recommended a partition of Jews and Arabs into two states. The Commission’s report on partition of the land was accepted by the Zionist Congress but rejected by the Arabs who continued their hostilities towards Jews living in Palestine.

Following decades of deadly confrontations between Jews and Arabs and British reluctance to continue attempting to rule over Palestine captured during World War I, England asked the United Nations to find a solution. On November 29, 1947 the United Nations voted to divide the land between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River and give Jews one portion and Arabs another.

Israel, despite a strong desire to have a different map drawn up by the international community, accepted this partition as its people longed for a home where they could live in peace and acceptance. The Holocaust of World War II resulted in the death of 6 million Jews and many survivors had no place to go. A Jewish homeland was desparetly needed. The Arabs, however, did not accept the United Nations decree and when, on May 14, 1948, Israel declared itself, the State of Israel, Arab nations declared war on this nascent nation. In what could be termed a modern biblical event, the small army of Israelis defeated the armies of surrounding Arab nations. Israel had wanted peace but their neighbors did not.

Interestingly, during the years between 1948 and 1967, no steps were taken to create a Palestinian state when the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem were in Jordanian hands and the Gaza Strip was ruled by Egypt. What did happen, however, was that hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugess were not resettled in the 22 Arab nations but instead kept in refugee camps that incubated hatred and garnered world sympathy.

In early June of 1967, the Arab world threatened to destroy Israel once again with Israel fighting back, in what could also be called a story of biblical proportions, defeating its surrounding enemies in just 6 days despite the fact that the entire world stood at the sidelines. At the conclusion of this war, Israel stretched out its hand for peace once again, yet the answer given by Arabs was clear. When Israel accepted the United Nation’s Security Council Resolution 24 calling for an exchange of land for peace following the six day war, the Arabs issued their infamous three no’s: “No peace, no negotiation, no recognition”. Even in defeat, Arabs would not accept Israel as a neighbor.

On October 6, 1973 Arab nations attempted once more to destroy Israel in what was called the Yom Kippur War and once again were defeated by the Israeli army. This war came close to an Israeli defeat but gave Egypt a way to resolve its conflict with Israel over the Sinai. At the Camp David Accord in 1979 a peace accord was signed between Israel and Egypt following which the Israeli army removed Israeli settlers living in the Sinai. Here was proof that if an Arab nation wanted peace with Israel, it could have it and while the peace between Egypt and Israel is called a “cold peace”, it is a peace that at least so far has withstood the test of time. How this new situation in Egypt will unfold is not known, however, it is reasonable to assume that it if a new Egyptian government is led by the Muslim Brotherhood, it may void this historic and long lasting peace agreement and place Israel in an extremely difficult situation.

Another such example of Israel’s desire to attain a peace is seen in the October, 1994 treaty signed with Jordan. With the King of Jordan wanting to make peace with Israel, such a treaty was signed and this is a peace that has lasted to the present time. While Jordan is undergoing an element of turmoil, it is not as volatile as what has happened in Egypt. One cannot, however, assume that a call for an end to the Israeli Jordanian peace treaty will not someday occur, especially if Jordan falls into radical hands.  Israel also has in the past expressed a desire to establish peace with its other neighbors, Syria, Lebanon and the territories of the West Bank and Gaza. Unfortunately, these attempts at peace have not been reciprical.  When Israel unilaterally withdrew from southern Lebanon in May of 2000, Hezbollah terriorists, supported by Iran, moved into the territory and began beligerent activity towards Israel from its newly acquired bases.

One of the most emblematic examples of Israel’s lack of a trustworthy partner with which to fashion peace came at the July 11-25, 2000 Camp David Summit.  Prime Minister Ehud Barak with President Bill Clinton’s support, offered Yasser Arafat, the Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman all that Arabs had been asking for. With his Israeli cabinet’s approval, Barak, made an offer to turn over all of the Gaza Strip and 95% of the West Bank (with appropriate land swaps for the remaining 5% to allow for the over 200,000 Israelis living on the edge of the West Bank near Jerusalem).  Barak also offered the Palestinians East Jerusalem for its capital along with control of the Temple Mount and also offered to accept some of the Palestinian refugees on humanitarian and family unification grounds to return to Israel along with $30 billion in compensation for those who chose not to return. Barak agreed to dismantle settlements inside the West Bank that was to belong to the Palestinian State. Incredibly, Arafat did not accept these generous and never before offered proposals nor did he offer a counter proposal. He merely left Camp David and began the second intifada which resulted in the death of more than 500 Israelis and the wounding of more than 8,000.

Attempting to secure peace, Israel unilaterally withdrew from all of the Gaza Strip in 2005 and used its Army to remove Israeli settlers from their homes dismantling 21 Israeli settlements and uprooting 8,800 Jewish settlers. In response to this peaceful gesture, Hamas, supported by Iran, destroyed all that Israel had built during its stay and began raining bombs down on Israel cities making life untenable for many Israeli citizens. What more proof is needed to understand that Israel does not have a real partner for peace?

In addition to these attempts to live in peace, Israel has participated in a number of other peace talks since 1967 including the 1991 Madrid Peace Conference, the 1995 Wye River Memorandum, the 1993 and 1995 Oslo Peace talks, the 2001 Taba talks, the 2003 Geneva Accord and the 2007 Annapolis agreement which dealt with President George Bush’s road map to peace, all of which did not lead to peace, only more Arab threats and terrorism.

It has been said that if Hamas and Hezbollah laid down its weapons, there would be peace in the Middle East and if Israel laid down its weapons, there would be no Israel. It seems that giving up a piece of land does not result in a peace for Israel.

Now the world believes that peace may be possible because Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, seems to wants peace. However, the proposed Palestinian State is more than just the West Bank. It also includes the Gaza Strip where 1.5 million Palestinians reside and which is not controlled by the Palestinian Authority but by Hamas which has vowed never to accept peace with Israel, vows its destruction and teaches its children hatred for Israel. With whom then is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to negotiate? Even when he asked Abbas to state openly that Palestinians recognize Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people, Abbas refused to do so despite the fact that Netanyahu has agreed to recognize a future Palestinian state as the nation-state of the Palestinians.

It would appear with all these facts that peace in the Middle East is impossible to visualize. Yet for all of us who yearn for peace, we should be willing to accept that if the Palestinian people now residing in the Gaza Strip and in the West Bank truly want a real peace, they will need to unify their governments so as to speak with one voice, accept Israel as the nation of the Jewish people and declare an end to a vow of Israel’s destruction. Palestinians will also need to stop teaching its children hatred of Jews.

It is important to point out that these conditions must be based on a permanent peace and not merely a “hudna”. Hudna is an Arabic term meaning a temporary truce or calm that is declared so as to buy time to become strong enough to destroy an enemy. According to tradition hudnas made with a non Muslim enemy should be limited to no more than 10 years. It is not a genuine peace but a tool used for time to rearm and prepare once more for war. This peace process between the Palestinians and the Israelis must be real and genuine, stand the test of time and represent a true commitment to live together in peace. It is also a peace that needs to be accepted and supported by the world community.

If this were to happen, I believe that the majority of those who live in Israel as well as Jews everywhere would make some of the difficult choices that Ehud Barak made at the Camp David talks with Yasser Arafat. Show Israel that kind of change of heart and peace may finally be realized.

Prime Minister Netanyahu addressing the UN General Assembly before the recent Middle East uprising said it well.  “All of Israel wants peace. Any time an Arab leader genuinely wanted peace with us, we made peace. We made peace with Egypt led by Anwar Sadat. We made peace with Jordan led by King Hussein. And if the Palestinians truly want peace, I and my government, and the people of Israel, will make peace. But we want a genuine peace, a defensible peace, a permanent peace. We ask the Palestinians to finally do what they have refused to do for 62 years: Say yes to a Jewish state. Just as we are asked to recognize a nation-state for the Palestinian people, the Palestinians must be asked to recognize the nation state of the Jewish people.”

Let us hope and pray that this day will someday come.

 

Boehm Boys Stir Things Up at Belmont University

We recently spoke at Belmont University. The school is described as the country’s largest ecumenical Christian university. We shared our personal stories and our journey together as father and son, specifically, the hard-won lessons of we have learned to love each other despite our differences in beliefs. The president of the university attended our presentation and afterward said that we should write a book! Check out the write-up by clicking here.

Israel: Start Up Nation (video)

Here is a short four and a half minute video called “Israel-Start Up Nation” that summarizes what this important book, by the same name, says. Watch it – or read it – and share with others!

“I am Israel” (video)

This 6 minute video is called “I am Israel” and is quite powerful. It is worth watching and sharing with others.

Will Obama Ignite 3rd Intifada?

Daniel Gordis’ recent article in the Jerusalem Post on March 26, 2010 says it better than we could so click here to read his powerful and insightful analysis of how Obama’s actions are influencing prospects for Middle East peace as well as help you understand an Israeli’s perspective on US-Israel relations.

Netanyahu & Peace?

(by Frank) In case you missed it, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of the right wing Likud party, this past June said something he has never said before and that was that he now accepts a two state solution to the Israeli, Palestinian conflict. This was and is a very big deal in Israel and has encouraged many that peace may be a possibility. In addition, last month, Netanyahu imposed a 10 month freeze on building Jewish housing in the West Bank, something no Israeli leader has ever done before. Just as only an anti-communist President like Richard Nixon could have gone to China and opened negotiations which brought our two nations closer together, only a right wing Israeli politician such as Netanyahu can be trusted by the Israeli population to make a sincere and real effort to bring both parties back to the negotiating table in hopes of finding a two state solution for Israel and the Palestinians to live in peace.

Add to all this the fact that Netanyahu has already removed many West Bank checkpoints and barriers to Palestinian movement and economic growth and that just last week, made an offer to the leader of the opposition Israeli party to join his government claiming that it is time for a broad consensus among Israelis to push for peace. The offer was made to Tzipi Livni, a former foreign minister and leader of the Kadima Party. While Livni has now turned down the offer, this should convince many that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is serious about a two state solution and should be taken seriously by the Palestinian leadership. Naturally Palestinians are skeptical; however, these offers should be taken advantage of. It has been said of the Palestinians that they never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. So far it appears that the Palestinians have concluded that they can get more by appealing to international bodies than by returning to talks with the current Israeli government.  It would be sad if what Netanyahu is now putting on the table is not enough of an opportunity to start serious negotiations.

UN and Palestinian Statehood?

(by Frank) It is well known by children everywhere that when one parent says no, the other parent just might say yes, so it is worth a try. That is what I thought about when I read that the Palestinians are preparing to ask the United Nation’s Security Council to endorse a Palestinian state unilaterally. That is without going through negotiations with Israel and certainly without its consent. Even if such a resolution will someday be voted on, the United States would most assuredly cast a veto, thereby killing the measure.

While I can understand Palestinian frustration in putting together a state, I certainly also understand that it is the Palestinians who need to go to the Israel leadership and begin to put together a comprehensive and meaningful peace treaty. Palestinian leadership is attempting to ask one parent (the United Nation’s Security Council) when it knows quite well that the other parent (America) will say no. There is peace and a state to be had, if only the Palestinians would agree to begin negotiations without preconditions.

While the world seems to believe that if the Israel government would only stop settlement building everything could be resolved. However, keep in mind that Palestinians have two voices, not one. Hamas, which controls Gaza refuses to even recognize Israel, refuses to disavow its sworn intention to destroy Israel and refuses to accept previous treaties that have been established between Israel and its neighbors. If no preconditions have been asked from the Palestinians, why should the world expect preconditions for Israel?

Israel has said it was willing to consider land swap in the West Bank that would replace Israeli real estate for the land that is over the Green line and houses 250,000 Israelis. Israel has no unified Palestinian government to work with. While the West Bank is more moderate and willing to compromise, Hamas which rules Gaza will not join Fatah President Mahmoud Abbas in negotiations. Do not be taken in by this ruse. It is merely a smoke screen that will not work.

Who Should Israel Trust?

In case you missed yesterday’s news, the Tennessean picked up a USA Today reported story that Israel stopped a ship named the Francop off the coast of Cyprus and towed it to the port of Ashdod. There they discovered hundreds of tons of rockets, missiles, mortars, grenades and anti -tank weapons which were headed for Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon. As expected, Syria has denied the allegations. The containers of these weapons had the name “LR. Iranian Shipping Lines Group” written on the outside and Israel is claiming that these weapons were manufactured and sent by Iran. Israel further claims that this shipment was meant to be placed in the hands of the Hezbollah and Hamas guerrillas. Iran has also denied any involvement. It is news such as this that creates a feeling of mistrust for the Iranian leadership when they make such a denial and it is further proof that they will stop at nothing to help destroy the State of Israel. Many good people in Iran are protesting their government and truly want a change in leadership. The rest of the world must continue as well as increase economic sanctions against Iran which are already having an impact to hopefully, someday, bring about a change in Iran’s commitment to destroy Israel. With such news as today, one cannot blame the Israeli people and government if they are fearful of Iran’s intention or that someday that they may be forced to take military action against Iran.

Raise Your Voice!

Tennessee Voices column in today’s paper was excellent! Kudos to Vijay Kumar for his clear and accurate critique of Saritha Prabhu’s column about Iran and their nuclear aspirations. (Right click on the two hotlinks above and “Open In New Window” to see the original sources without navigating away from this page.)

Hashemi Rafsanjani, the former so called internationally moderate president of Iran was quoted saying that if Iran attacked Israel with atomic bombs and was able to kill as many as 5 million Jews (Israel has a total of 5.5 million Jews living in Israel) it would be worth it even if Israel would be able to retaliate by killing as many as 15 million Iranians since the world has 1.6 billion Muslims and that would be a small sacrifice for Iran and the world to pay to rid the world of Israel. And now we are faced with Iran’s president, Ahmadinejad stating that Israel should be wiped off the face of the earth while at the same time claiming that the Holocaust was a hoax and never happened. Putting all this together, it is not difficult to conclude that Iran means what it says and is committed to destroying Israel. With that in mind, one can hardly blame the Israel government from someday being forced into taking measures that would bring life to the words uttered many years ago after the world was introduced to what Hitler and Germany did to the Jews… “Never again”.

 The column written by Vijay Kumar written in Friday’s Tennessean makes that point very well and it was good to read his thoughtful criticism of Saritha Prabhu’s narrow minded views.