Plan for Arab-Israeli Reconciliation
The P.A.I.R. Initiative

The mission of MiddleEastSolutions.com is to convert the present lose-lose conflict between Arabs and Jews into a win-win peaceful outcome for both sides.

MiddleEastSolutions.com is an independent grass roots organization that has developed the PAIR Initiative, a comprehensive peace plan designed to replace the present lose-lose schemes with a true win-win approach.

PAIR stands for Plan for Arab-Israeli Reconciliation. It is a bold, fair and comprehensive approach to achieving a win-win outcome for both Arabs and Jews. We do not claim to have all the answers, but rather to offer a plan that is far superior to anything else that has been put forward thus far.

The Roadmap’s dangers to both Arabs and Jews must be exposed along with the questionable qualifications of its backers.

PAIR is a true peace plan in the interests of Arabs and Jews and backed by a grass roots coalition.

PAIR is a timely response to voices of reason starting to emerge from deep within the Arab/Muslim world.

PAIR must enter the public debate and be able to compete openly and fairly with the Roadmap.

War is too important to leave exclusively to the generals and peace is too important to leave exclusively to the politicians.

This is a battle of ideas in the cause of peace and justice. Your support can help promote a much needed public debate. Please indicate your interest by joining our e-mail list for periodic updates.

The case for fresh thinking.Resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict has thus far defied long term efforts by the affected parties and by outside intervention. Nevertheless the same failed Oslo Accords, dressed in new clothes, and with the possibility of an externally imposed solution, is being re-introduced as the Roadmap plan. Merely calling something a “peace plan” does not necessarily make it so. A genuine solution requires the courage to engage in radically fresh thinking that is free of prior assumptions and constraints. Furthermore, this conflict cannot be solved in isolation from its many historical, religious, political, economic and social roots, all of which must be taken fully into account.

The time is long overdue to consider other approaches and open the field to independent grass roots initiatives - i.e. a ‘free market’ for peace plans. If “war is too important to leave exclusively to the generals”, as they say, then peace is also too important to leave exclusively to the diplomats. History shows that better ideas can also originate from non-official sources and those ideas should be judged entirely on their merits and not on their origins. All those claiming to seek a just and peaceful resolution have a moral obligation to consider all proposals, regardless of origin and with an open mind.

Four essential negotiating principles more fundamental than values and ideologies.

There can be disagreement over values and ideologies but there must be some common starting point upon which all must agree. We insist that any viable approach must begin with faithful adherence, by all sides, to the following four immutable principles which precede values and ideology.

1. Tell the truth, the whole truth. and nothing but the truth.*

2. Apply the same standards to all sides with no exceptions.**

3. Keep all promises unless there are overwhelmingly compelling reasons not to do so.

4. Respect and protect the vital interests of all sides, i.e. no “winner take all” solutions.

* “... you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness against your fellow.” - Commandments eight and nine of the Ten Commandments.

** “O ye who believe ! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be against rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts of your hearts, lest ye swerve, and if ye distort justice or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well acquainted with all that ye do.” - Qur’an 4:135

Crafting a new approach.

It is far more difficult now to introduce an alternative plan, than it would have been years ago, before attitudes became deeply entrenched, but that is no reason to forgo the effort. Because the current situation is so dangerous, any real peace plan must therefore be bold and imaginative, yet fair and practical while also realizing that it may generate fierce opposition by entrenched interests.

We believe this plan can withstand scrutiny, reasonably answer any objection, and win out in any open debate. Success toward peace and security cannot be guaranteed, but no harm can come from advocating for this plan and debating it. However, failing to even try all approaches would be irresponsible.

Backers of the Roadmap enjoy undeserved and unearned credibility mainly by virtue of their being part of the establishment with its attendant prestige. This makes it difficult for any alternative plan, having grass roots origins, to be noticed, much less allowed into any serious debate. It will therefore be necessary to first demonstrate the total un-workability of the Roadmap plus the lack of qualifications of its originators and backers to advance such a plan. Only after this is done will people be ready to seriously consider an alternative approach to peace and to engage in a free and open debate.

We invite serious readers to patiently examine this plan with an open mind. We will try to respond to serious and sincere questions. A conflict possessing such deep roots cannot be solved in a simplistic manner. We do not claim to have a perfect solution containing all the answers. We do claim that our plan is far superior to any others that have been put forward. We believe that our plan deserves to be given a fair hearing and allowed to compete on its own merits with all other proposals.

******** SUMMARY ********

The PAIR Initiative is divided into Parts I, II and III. Each part contains multiple topics arranged in modular form. Where details are too extensive to be contained within Parts I, II and III, readers are then referred to a corresponding entry in the Appendix.

Part I of the plan argues that the present approaches are fatally flawed and cannot bring peace. It demonstrates why the Roadmap cannot work and is bad for both Arabs and Jews. It makes the case that all outside proponents of the Road Map, including U.S. officials, by their past performance have demonstrated their lack of qualifications to dictate solutions to both parties. It demands full recognition for Jewish rights while preserving legitimate Arab rights. It is essential that old thinking must first be completely discredited and discarded to open the way for consideration of fresh ideas and a true win-win solution.

Part II outlines a phased, peaceful, long-term resettlement solution with compelling reasons for its support. The Palestinian Arabs would be offered a far better future than under any competing plan. Many related issues are addressed.One glance at the map of the Middle East virtually shouts out the logical solution. Twenty two Arab states already have 99.8% of the land and can easily accommodate resettlement of their Palestinian Arab brethren with ample land for them on which to live and thrive in their own independent state. Jews with only 0.2% of the land also need more space, not less space, and space that is also free of hostile Arabs, so they too can live and develop securely in a State of Israel that can permanently maintain its Jewish character.

There are no practical reasons why an orderly and peaceful resettlement plan cannot work, and work smoothly. Given the right attitudes this conflict becomes among the most easily solvable. And Saudi Arabia is a prime candidate to offer 35,000 square miles, comprising only 4% of their vast territory, for a Palestinian Arab State which would be 15 times the size of the West Bank and Gaza combined. It is now time for the Saudi rulers themselves to ‘take a risk for peace’.

Present approaches are inherently impractical, illogical and small minded. What is needed is fresh thinking that is bold, optimistic and even visionary so that the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will be able ultimately to reconcile with the descendants of Abraham, Ishmael and Esau. Nothing less can succeed.

Part III provides examples of the larger beneficial implications for both parties, for the peoples of the region and beyond. An immense amount of human suffering would be ended and a prime pretext for anti-Israeli hatred would be removed. Beyond that a living model for future progress within the Arab world, and even the larger Muslim world, would be created. A strong and secure Israel would now be free to make its own positive contribution to the region and on the world scene as well. A new momentum would be created for social and political reforms that are urgently needed throughout the Arab societies. And a vast cooperative project to totally transform the region by converting the vast deserts into productive fertile lands along with huge forests. This task alone would create a vast project requiring millions of local workers engaged in wholesome, productive, labor for many decades to come.

Topics in Part I
Why the Roadmap and its ‘Land for Peace’ approach cannot work

I-A Historic truths are being ignored and distorted.

I-A.1 There never was a state of Palestine or a Palestinian People.

I-A.2 How the Arabs/Muslims acquired ten million square miles of territory.

I-A.3 The League of Nations ratified an international Arab-Jewish agreement over eighty years ago.

I-A.4 The land of Israel was the biblical home of the Jewish People three thousand years ago.

I-A.5 The Qur’an, the Hebrew bible and the Christian bible all confirm Jewish claims to the land of Israel.

I-B There is no development plan to avoid a demographic time bomb.

I-C Proponents of the Roadmap lack the credentials to design a true peace plan.

I-C.1 American officials’ secret war against Jews and against Israel.

I-C.2 Disgraceful treatment of the Native Americans.

I-C.3 Mismanagement of energy resources.

I-C.4 Failure in the war of ideas.

I-C.5 Actions that alienate foreign peoples.

I-D The bitter hostility toward, and rejection of, Israel and Jews is not being addressed.

I-E Imposing a settlement on Israel would create dire risks to everyone.

I-F Part of the responsibility for the current conflict rests with some Jews.

I-G The nations have failed to recognize the historic rights of, and the immense debt they owe to, the Jewish People.

Topics in Part II
The case for an orderly resettlement program.

II-A A better way to achieve President Bush’s proclaimed goals

II-B The peace that almost happened

II-C A Palestinian Arab State

II-D A Jewish State of Israel

II-E New attitudes for Arabs and Jews

II-F An orderly resettlement plan

II-G Defending the general principle of relocation

II-H But won’t the Palestinian Arabs reject this idea?

II-I Many Arab states are moving toward their own internal crises.

II-J Another vision of the future

II-K The future choices can be visualized by presenting three maps.

II-L The opposition

II-M Islamic voices of moderation

II-N On the world scene

Topics in Part III
Beneficial implications for the region and beyond

III-A Creating a new Palestinian Arab self-identity.

III-B An inspiring national purpose to go with their new identity

III-C New energy, the missing ingredient. 

III-D A just place among the nations for the Jewish people.

III-E Reducing the causes for big power intervention.

******** P.A.I.R. - PART ONE ********
Why the Roadmap and its ‘Land for Peace’ approach cannot work

The Roadmap approach contains fatal flaws that must be exposed along with the lack of qualifications of the Quartet, its four official sponsors. To pursue a true peace with justice it is necessary to first demonstrate the futility and danger inherent in pursuing this Roadmap approach and make way for fresh thinking.

CONTENTS OF PART I

I-A Historic truths are being ignored and distorted.

I-A.1 There never was a state of Palestine or a Palestinian People.

I-A.2 How the Arabs/Muslims acquired ten million square miles of territory.

I-A.3 The League of Nations ratified an international Arab-Jewish agreement over eighty years ago.

I-A.4 The land of Israel was the biblical home of the Jewish People three thousand years ago.

I-A.5 The Qur'an, the Hebrew bible and the Christian bible all confirm Jewish claims to the land of Israel.

I-B There is no development plan to avoid a demographic time bomb.

I-C Proponents of the Roadmap lack the credentials to design a true peace plan.

I-C.1 American officials’ secret war against Jews and against Israel.

I-C.2 Disgraceful treatment of the Native Americans.

I-C.3 Mismanagement of energy resources.

I-C.4 Failure in the war of ideas.

I-C.5 Actions that alienate foreign peoples.

I-D Arab hostility toward, and rejection of, Israel and Jews is not being addressed.

I-E Imposing a settlement on Israel would create dire risks to everyone.

I-F Part of the responsibility for the current conflict rests with some Jews.

I-G The nations have failed to recognize the historic rights of, and the immense debt they owe to, the Jewish People.

...............................................

I-A  Historic truths are being ignored and distorted.

I-A.1 There never was a state of Palestine or a Palestinian People.

To speak of Palestine as a real country and of Palestinians as a distinct people is to perpetuate a giant falsehood that creates an insurmountable roadblock to peace. In adhering to the first of the four essential negotiating principles, one must tell the whole truth without fear or favor. Falsehoods must not be allowed to become conventional wisdom simply because they have been repeated endlessly.

The name Palestine originated with the Romans almost two thousand years ago following their crushing of the Jewish revolt and their intention to erase Jewish history from the Land of Israel. The name, Palestine, was intended to replace the name, Judea. It only represented a geographical renaming and redistricting but never introduced a new nation or a new national identity. Until Israel’s rebirth in 1948 the term Palestinian was used almost exclusively for the Jews who were reclaiming, resettling and revitalizing their ancient homeland after nearly twenty centuries of exile. Arabs in the area did not wish to be called Palestinians. Following the re-birth of Israel the Palestinian Jews logically became known as Israelis. This presented an opportunity for hostile Arab leaders to appropriate the names, “Palestine” and “Palestinian”. They thus created a new national identity setting themselves apart from the neighboring Arab countries by appropriating a key part of Jewish history as their own. By failing to challenge this event at the beginning, Jewish leaders mistakenly and tragically allowed a giant falsehood to take root that would later grow to challenge to Israel’s own legitimacy. A just and lasting peace requires recovering the whole truth regardless of how long it has been ignored. More details are found in Appendix I-

I-A.2 How the Arabs/Muslims acquired ten million square miles of territory.

Today’s maps show a vast Arab/Muslim area encompassing over fifty countries and spanning multiple continents, a situation which everyone accepts as unquestionable and legitimate. However, there was a time when Arabs occupied less than one tenth of their present domain. Mohammed, the founder of Islam, was born in Arabia some fourteen hundred years ago. It was only during the century following Mohammed’s teachings that Arabs embarked on a jihad to spread Islam and conquered vast areas of the Middle East, North Africa, parts of Europe and parts of Asia. In Mohammed’s time Arabia comprised less than one million square miles and contained multiple ethnic groups, including Christians and Jews. Mohammed’s Islamic conquest virtually eliminated non-Muslims from Arabia. Today the Islamic conquests extend over some ten million square miles. About half of that territory contains twenty-two Arab Muslim nations. The other half contains dozens of non-Arab Muslim nations.

The historic land of Israel [link to a map of the time] was conquered by the Muslims in the year 638, over five and a half centuries after the Jewish revolt against Rome was crushed and many Jews were expelled from their country.

Many Arab/Muslims today espouse the doctrine that any land conquered by Islam must forever remain Muslim. There are even some Muslims who argue for a Muslim re-conquest of Spain which was under Muslim rule centuries ago. Over ninety percent of present Arab/Muslim lands was acquired by Islamic conquest. More details can be found in Appendix I-A.2.

I-A.3 The League of Nations ratified an international Arab-Jewish agreement over eighty years ago.

An amicable, far-reaching and far-sighted agreement between Arabs and Jews was reached over eighty years ago. Had the terms of that agreement been faithfully implemented it would have provided a historic opportunity to establish an enduring peace and perhaps avoid the current Arab-Israeli conflict. Following WWI, a series of peace conferences were held by the victorious allies under the auspices of the League of Nations (the predecessor to the United Nations). The League of Nations convened to draw new boundaries in the vast territory of the defeated Turkish Ottoman Empire which had ruled over those lands for four hundred years.

The Arabs were promised sovereignty in a number of newly-created "countries" comprising about five million square miles. The Jews were promised a national home inside their biblical territory of Judea and Samaria which the Romans had earlier renamed Palestine in their attempt to erase the historical Jewish connection to that land. The Jews were to receive a territory which included present day Israel, Jordan, the “West Bank”, Gaza and the Golan Heights, all of which comprised less than one percent of the area assigned to the Arabs.The Arab and Jewish delegations to the peace conferences were both in amicable agreement over the area to be assigned to the Jewish State and both expressed their anticipation of friendly cooperation in the future. The League of Nations strongly endorsed that idea with an internationally binding agreement to be known as the League of Nations Mandate for Palestine. England was assigned the responsibility for faithfully implementing that Mandate.

The Arabs received their promised territories but the Jews did not because England failed to carry out the terms of the Mandate to which it was assigned. Soon after accepting responsibility for the Mandate England began to incite Arab hostility against the Jews. Shortly afterwards England detached three-fourths of the Mandated territory and unilaterally created Trans Jordan and unilaterally detached the Golan Heights for transfer to French-controlled Syria and Lebanon. The Jews were promised full control in the remaining one fourth of the land. But in 1947, the United Nations decided to ignore all prior agreements and partitioned the remaining area into a Jewish and an Arab state which the Jews accepted and the Arabs rejected, launching a war against Israel.

Had England honored its original obligations under the Mandate, a Jewish State might have emerged prior to WWII, and in time to rescue many of those who ultimately perished in the Holocaust. That would also have produced a far stronger Israel and a less tempting target to her enemies, thus increasing the chances for peace. France and the U.S. went along with this clear violation of an international treaty, thereby forfeiting credibility and trust as honest brokers in Middle East affairs. For more details see Appendix I-A.3.

I-A.4 The land of Israel was the biblical home of the Jewish People three thousand years ago.

The Jewish People have legitimate land claims. The Hebrew bible is the historical record of the Jewish People from the time of Abraham, some 4,000 years ago. The Israelites led by Moses formally became a Jewish nation at Mount Sinai thirty-three centuries ago when they received the divine Law of the holy Torah, including the Ten Commandments.

King David established Jerusalem as the capital of ancient Israel over 3,000 years ago. That event took place over fifteen hundred years before Mohammed was born and before the Arabs even set foot outside of Arabia. [link to a map showing Arabia and Jerusalem] King Solomon, the son of King David, built the First Temple in Jerusalem in ancient Israel which then existed as a fully sovereign nation. Later they were attacked, defeated and driven into the Babylonian exile from which they returned seventy years later to build their Second Temple under King Herod.

During the Roman occupation of the Land of Israel, about two thousand years ago, the Jews revolted against Roman domination. In the ensuing savage war lasting over three years the Jews sustained horrific loses, the Holy Temple was destroyed and Jerusalem was sacked. Most of the survivors were sold into slavery and ultimately driven into an exile lasting into modern times.

Some Jews always remained in the Land of Israel throughout the centuries. They survived conquests by multiple invading armies including those of European Christian Crusaders and Muslim jihads. The State of Israel is the Third Jewish Commonwealth existing on a small part of the holy land that G-d first promised to Abraham. Israel does not "occupy" one inch of land that is not theirs. Claims against Israel have no basis in law, history or theology. Those claims are not based upon equitable considerations because the Arab and Muslim nations combined occupy more than one thousand times the area controlled by Israel. They already possess far more than their fair share of land on this planet. During the past millennia many nations came and went; many boundaries were drawn and redrawn time and time again. However, the Jewish People remains eternally connected to that small sliver of holy land to which G-d assigned them. Acknowledging that truth can go a long way toward promoting peace and justice to that region. Contesting the right of the Jewish People to their holy land will create endless strife and suffering to that region and beyond.

I-A.5 The Qur’an, the Hebrew bible and the Christian bible all confirm Jewish claims to the land of Israel.

It is not true, as so many Arabs and Muslims have been led to believe, that the Qur'an rejects Jewish claims to the Land of Israel/Palestine. In fact the Qur'an confirms Jewish claims to the land of Israel. Sheikh Prof. Abdul Hadi Palazzi, Secretary General of the Italian Muslim Association, has said the Jewish right to the Land of Israel is indeed inscribed in the Qur'an. He also traced how the original message of acceptance became perverted into one leading to implacable rejection and bloody conflict. The following verses from the Qur'an are but three examples supporting the Jewish right to the Land of Israel/Palestine.

"And thereafter We said to the children of Israel: ‘Dwell securely in the Promised Land. And when the last warning will come to pass, we will gather you together in a mingled crowd.’ " (Qur'an 17:104, The Night Journey)

"Remember Moses said to his people: "O my People! call in remembrance the favor of Allah unto you, when He produced prophets among you, made you kings, and gave you what He had not given to any other among the peoples." (Qur'an 5:20)

"O my people! enter the holy land which Allah hath assigned unto you; and turn not back ignominiously, for then will ye be overthrown, to your own ruin." (Qur'an 5:21)

Additional documentation will be found in Appendix I-A.5

I-B There is no development plan to avoid a demographic time bomb.

The Roadmap peace plan proposed by the U.S., European Union, Russia and the U.N. is inherently unworkable on a demographic basis alone and it contains other fatal flaws as well. It attempts to confine two conflicting parties within a space far too small to permanently accommodate even one of them. In a few years the natural growth of both Arabs in the disputed territories and Jews and Israeli Arabs inside Israel will generate bitter conflicts from competition for limited space and resources.

Modern infrastructure projects routinely come with comprehensive development plans to assure that long term needs can be met. If the Roadmap plan was truly feasible, its proponents would have already presented a comprehensive development plan along with it.

Proponents of the Roadmap propose to confine about 5 million Jews and about 6 million Arabs, including refugees from surrounding Arab countries, within only 10,165 square miles ( Israel, Gaza and the "West Bank") The initial density would be over 1,000 people per square mile (ppsm). The present densities of China and India are 360 and 930 ppsm, respectively, and they are considered crowded nations. Even America, with only 80 ppsm, has many pockets of high population densities, which are already causing infrastructure and transport-related problems due to overcrowding.

Any credible development plan should accommodate growth requirements for at least 100 years. In only 50 years the total Israeli population comprising Jews and Israeli Arabs is projected to become 20 million with 2,550 ppsm. The proposed Palestinian state would contain 19 million Arabs with 8,100 ppsm. Even if birth rates decline gradually there would still be a problem because birth rates would have to decline dramatically and soon to avoid trouble. Any viable plan must assure jobs, food, water, energy, a viable economy, infrastructure, etc. combined with rising living standards which acts as a multiplier on the demand for resources. These problems would exist even without an ethnic conflict. Simply put, the Roadmap announced on April 30, 2003 offers no practical development plan because none is possible given demographic realities. More details and references are available in Appendix I-B.

I-C Proponents of the Roadmap lack the credentials to design a true peace plan.

The Roadmap plan would establish conditions under which Jews and Arabs will have to live on a long term basis. It is not sufficient to only evaluate the plan and its requirements. It is also necessary to examine the credentials of the Roadmap’s sponsors, namely the Quartet. With so much at stake for Jews, Arabs and Middle East peace it is logical and reasonable to also examine the credentials of those who are promoting their own solutions to the Arab-Israeli conflict. America’s three partners in the Quartet all present serious credibility problems. The United Nations record is highly tarnished on many issues and it is highly politicized with at least a quarter of all resolutions being biased against Israel with a free pass on Arab aggression. Russia is becoming more authoritarian while rapidly arming Israel’s enemies, Syria and Iran, and ignoring pleas for restraint from America and Israel. The European Union has long supported militants among the Palestinian Arab radicals and generally followed a pro-Arab policy that disadvantaged Israel. The United States has protected its own security interests from these three Quartet members while inviting these same entities to help shape Israel’s future.

The United States is the best of the four Quartet members and is also the most dominant. Therefore the credentials of American officials should receive prime attention regarding their qualifications to promote any plan for Jews and Arabs. A failed attempt to establish a durable and just peace will not only harm Jews and Arabs but will damage American interests as well.

The announced goals of this administration include fighting terror and promoting freedom and democracy. Some American officials charged with implementing these commendable goals have acted inconsistently and are also endangering the security of America, its Israeli ally and the Palestinian Arabs as well. It will be shown that actions by some officials are highly irresponsible and call into question their fitness to exercise power. It is not anti-American to point out problems that need correcting and offer constructive alternatives. In a free society this is a civic responsibility and a patriotic duty.

It will be demonstrated by past performance that those American officials who back the Roadmap are not qualified to dictate solutions to either party. It will also be shown that U.S. officials in general have failed in other policy areas including protecting U.S. national security. For example, more than three years following 9/11 the Administration still fails to control the porous U.S. borders from mass illegal immigration. The inexplicable, ongoing, U.S. failure to seriously pursue energy independence also endangers national security and creates a conflict of interest over oil which operates to Israel‘s disadvantage. There are other major failures to protect the national interest.

At the least this calls into question U.S. credibility regarding the Roadmap and its security component.At this point a clear distinction must be made between the American people and the actions of American foreign policy officials. Americans are a people of good intentions and generous spirit as has been amply demonstrated over many years. They and their elected representatives in congress have been sympathetic to Israel and to its long struggle to achieve peace with its neighbors.

However, the State Department, the C.I.A., and other influential officials are able to ignore the wishes of the American people, of the U.S. Congress and sometimes even of Administration policies and directives. They sometimes operate in secret without the knowledge or approval of the American people or their representatives. It is specifically this ‘other, un-elected, America’ that is the subject of this critique. This section will identify some major issues that are still ongoing and which call into question the qualifications of U.S. officials to intervene objectively and wisely in Middle East affairs. Five diverse issues have been selected, each of which demonstrates a critical failure in leadership qualification.

I-C.1 American officials’ secret war against Jews and against Israel.

The widespread belief that American policy is highly, even uncritically, supportive of Israel must be challenged based on the actual record, including serious negatives. The following quotes are from the book jacket of The Secret War Against the Jews-How Western Espionage Betrayed the Jewish People by John Luftus and Mark Aarons: "The major powers of the world have repeatedly planned covert operations to bring about the partial or total destruction of Israel. The savage extent of the secret wars against the Jews will horrify the Western public. ... The authors demonstrate that numerous western countries, especially the United States and Great Britain, have conducted repeated and willful spying missions on Palestine [i.e. pre-state Israel] and later Israel over many decades." [Read a review of this article at www.john-loftus.com/bookreview.asp]

It is essential that Americans learn the truth about the actions of their own officials. In every crisis involving Jews, including the Holocaust and in every war that Israel has had to fight, up to and including the present intifada, American policy has consistently harmed the Jews and favored their enemies. More details are contained in Appendix I-C.1.

I-C.2 Disgraceful treatment of the Native Americans.

Protecting the national interest may sometimes require moral compromise due to extenuating circumstances. That is unfortunate at best and it should be held to a minimum. However, there are no extenuating circumstances here to justify the disgraceful treatment of Native Americans. This involves a moral failure in a situation with a striking resemblance to the Roadmap and its promise of ‘land for peace’. Native Americans also traded almost all of their land for peace and were grossly cheated. If American officials can callously betray the Native Americans and ignore the many treaties signed with them they forfeit their moral credibility. Without that essential moral credibility American officials cannot ask Jews and Arabs to trust them with their future security. Morality and honor are indivisible and must be consistent in all dealings. American national honor is at stake and should be valued and preserved by honorable conduct. Additional details are found in appendix I-C.2

I-C.3 Mismanagement of energy resources.

Long term mismanagement of its energy programs has left the U.S. increasingly dependent on foreign sources, including rogue regimes, to meet growing requirements for energy. Long term suppression of research on the most advanced and safest energy breakthroughs has also boosted the case in favor of nuclear power. Supposedly ‘innocent’ nuclear power plants in the hands of regimes such as Iran and North Korea have become stepping stones for their developing and proliferating nuclear weapons. The U.S. has even failed to exploit the full potential of more conventional alternatives such as solar, wind, conservation and efficiency. Other developed countries consume considerably less energy per capita than the U.S. while maintaining comparable living standards. There is compelling evidence that U.S. failure to achieve energy independence with clean, safe, non-nuclear technologies was a policy imposed from the top.

America’s growing, dependence on imported oil and gas harmfully distorts its foreign relations while it enriches America’s enemies and funds terrorism. Huge and growing consumption of fossil fuels, including oil, also contributes to the greenhouse effect which risks destabilizing the global climate. The U.S. had decades of lead-time to develop a variety of clean, safe alternatives to become energy independent and avoid its present predicament.

U.S. dependence on imported oil has allowed the oil lobby and the Saudi government to influence its energy policy and, by extension, its Middle East policy. Key players have been the C.I.A., the State Department, the oil lobby and the Saudis. Those officials willing to subvert American interests in favor of sometimes hostile foreign interests, cannot command trust as honest brokers in crafting Middle East proposals involving Israel’s security. The existence of advanced energy technologies is unfamiliar to most Americans as is the politics of energy. Informative references on the complex issues related to energy are presented in Appendix I-C.3.

I-C.4 Failure in the war of ideas.

“A failure of imagination” (that phrase from the report of the 9/11 commission), and a lack of alertness among our high officials in waging a war of ideas constitutes a serious weakness in protecting the national security. America and the Western world are being challenged by a fanatical Islamic ideology which is motivating huge numbers of Muslims to join in a “holy war” against the Western world. Unless America can launch an ideological counter-offensive, it cannot neutralize the source of the Islamists’ strength.

Evasive clichés about ‘fighting terrorism’, and ‘promoting freedom and democracy’ sound hollow to Muslims who distain Western civilization as composed of unworthy infidels with a debased culture. Fighting communist ideology was easier because the Soviets were basically materialistic and America’s far higher standard of living and greater personal freedom were its strongest arguments against the promises of totalitarian socialism. But Islamist ideology is far more immune to western influence. Osama bin Laden delivers periodic and lengthy lectures to the Muslim world in which he compellingly presents his religious ideology, and his case against America and the West.

The mainstream media provides only superficial coverage of the ideology, aims and resources of the Islamists, thereby depriving westerners of awareness of the threat posed by the Islamists to their way of life. And President Bush is missing a valuable opportunity to respond to bin Laden and his Muslim audience with convincing counter-arguments. So Muslims hear only the Islamist case. This is a major failure of intellectual competence and public relations management.

Excerpts from a recently published Pentagon report highlight this failure: "In plain English, it means waging and winning the war of ideas between the United States and Islamic extremism." "The blunt conclusion of the report, ... was that "U.S. strategic communication must be transformed" because it "is in crisis." In plainer English, the United States is simply not communicating its message at home or abroad in the war on terror and is losing this contest of ideas." See Appendix I-C.4 for further details.

I-C.5 Actions that alienate foreign peoples.

It matters as to who really represents America and American values to other countries. Criminal actions over past decades by certain American officials and certain American corporations have harmed many people in other countries. This has generated a deep and widespread hatred for America in general, although these actions were done without the knowledge or consent of the American people and in violation of what America stands for. This has made it far easier for America’s enemies, both foreign and domestic, to incite additional hatred against America by adding their lies to the already damaging truth. Anti-American sentiment also spills over to include Israel which suffers the fallout because of its loyal support of America.

Recently new revelations have surfaced in the form of a best selling book Confessions of an Economic Hit Man by John Perkins. The following quote from the book’s back cover describes the basic problem.

The inside story of how America turned from a respected republic to a feared empire.

"Economic hit men", John Perkins writes, "are highly paid professionals who cheat countries around the globe out of trillions of dollars. Their tools include fraudulent financial reports, rigged elections, payoffs, extortion, sex and murder."

John Perkins should know--he was an economic hit man. His job was to convince countries that are strategically important to the U.S.--from Indonesia to Panama--to accept enormous loans for infrastructure development, and to make sure that the lucrative projects were contracted to U.S. corporations. Saddled with huge debts, these countries came under the control of the United States government, World Bank, and other U.S.-dominated aid agencies that acted like loan sharks-- dictating repayment terms and bullying foreign governments into submission.

The American foreign policy establishment failed to adequately monitor these activities and alert Congress to legislate the necessary laws to rein in these practices. The is the same policy establishment that designed and promotes the Roadmap.

I-D Arab hostility toward, and rejection of, Israel and Jews is not being addressed.

The failure of consecutive American administrations to oppose Arab/Muslim hatred of Jews and Israel has served to encourage Israel’s enemies. Arab media, Arab leaders and Arab/Muslim clerics have long directed inflammatory invectives and incitement against the State of Israel, the Jewish People and even against Judaism itself. This incitement has moved some Arabs to violence and even a total rejection of Israel’s right to exist. American administrations and their foreign policy establishments have long failed to confront and oppose this incitement, presumably to avoid offending some of America’s Arab ‘allies’. Even worse, some administration pronouncements come close to assigning moral equivalence as they invoke a double standard in their eagerness to appear "even handed". Wild accusations and a rewriting of history have been uttered in the presence of high U.S. officials without evoking an objection, much less a deserved reprimand.

In sharp contrast, when Ariel Sharon expressed his valid concern over Israel’s being betrayed as in the case of Czechoslovakia before WWII, the Bush White House responded immediately by publicly criticizing Sharon and demanding a public apology.

Israel’s enemies are certainly observing all this and may conclude that U.S. support for Israel’s right to self-defense and to live securely is not at all solid. They note the capitulations of two administrations to Arab demands over Jerusalem. Two administrations continue to ignore a ten-year-old Congressional law requiring the U.S. embassy be moved from Tel Aviv to Israel’s capital of Jerusalem.

Additionally, the PLO/PA has long received American funding even as their maps continued to show a Palestine as encompassing all of Israel. With no American objection, one could reasonably conclude that the U.S. government quietly shares their ultimate goal of eliminating Israel.

I-E Imposing a settlement on Israel would create dire risks to everyone.

Despite all public statements to the contrary the U.S. administration exerts heavy pressure on Israel to comply with its wishes even when such compliance weakens Israel’s defenses and results in her sustaining more casualties. Therefore it is necessary to contemplate the unthinkable and point out that any existential threat to Israel’s survival could provoke Israel to unleash her maximum response with dire consequences for other countries as well. So it can be argued that it is not in the interests of America to push Israel too far; but that does not guarantee that some U.S. officials will not ignore the obvious danger and do it anyway.

U.S. actions have long included pressures on Israel to weaken its defenses. (See appendix I-C.1.) The current Roadmap comes with heavy U.S. pressure that would tip the security balance sharply against Israel even while the administration insists that the parties must make their own decisions. Israel’s security situation leaves little margin for error and losing a war would endanger Israel’s very survival. This issue is covered in more detail in Appendix I-E.

I-F Part of the responsibility for the current conflict rests with some Jews.

By their failure to tell the truth in their own behalf, much of the mainline Jewish leadership have contributed significantly in worsening the Arab-Israeli conflict, albeit unintentionally. The entire foundation of the current conflict rests on giving credence to the false claims that Israel has stolen, and occupies, land belonging to the so-called Palestinian Arabs. Wide public acceptance of those false claims in turn serves to justify all manner of Arab terrorism in the name of ‘ending the illegal and oppressive Israeli occupation of Palestinian land’. Conversely, disproving that foundation would demolish the entire case against Israel. Israel would then be seen as the occupied party and Arabs as the occupiers. Israel would then acquire the moral right to liberate her land from the Arab occupiers.

Throughout the decades when the Arabs were issuing false claims the Israeli government remained inexplicably and foolishly silent. Instead of promptly and vigorously refuting false claims at the outset, they responded mainly by expressing their desire for peace and of their willingness to make ‘painful concessions’ for a true peace. Over time this behavior has allowed false history to become deeply imbedded in the minds of Arabs, the general public and even of many Jews. When an accused party fails to refute the accusations, the public cannot be faulted for assuming that the accusations must be true.

Today this false history has become the basis for fatally flawed peace plans such as the Oslo Accords and the Roadmap. Although these plans would greatly weaken Israel’s ability to defend herself they are difficult to refute at this late date, being based on entrenched assumptions. With so much pressure upon Israel to accede to these flawed peace plans the result could be yet another war when the Arabs sense their strength may be sufficient to finally conquer a greatly weakened Israel. This scenario has occurred before and only serves to prolong the conflict and prevent the establishment of a true peace. Attempts to establish the truth are now, unfortunately, often met with incredulity and dismissed out of hand.

The majority of mainline Jewish leadership in Israel and in the Diaspora have sometimes been dangerously naive. Their intense yearning for peace has clouded their judgment causing them to repeatedly make one-sided concessions lacking in true reciprocity. This yearning is based largely on wishful thinking while underestimating the hostile intentions of their enemy.

Despite much bloody experience to the contrary, some Jews even believe that by continuing to make one sided concessions, even in the face of ongoing terror, the PA/Arabs will eventually become less hostile and more inclined to make peace. This attitude also explains why much of the America Jewish leadership is unwisely supporting the Roadmap without giving due consideration to its inherent dangers to both Jews and Arabs and the cause of a just peace.

There is also a small, malevolent, extremist Jewish fringe which seeks to exploit its Jewish ancestry in the service of Israel’s enemies. What they lack in numbers they make up in single-minded intense activism. They hide their true agenda behind a ‘human rights’ facade or behind deceptive claims to be promoting ‘peace’. Some include tenured academics and authors who publish their propaganda and go on international speaking tours. They falsely accuse Israel of committing the most extreme human rights violations. In effect they validate the message of racist anti-Semites including neo-Nazis and Islamic extremists as they incite murderous hatred for Israel and her supporters. Because many people cannot believe that anyone would betray their own in such a manner they are able to gain undeserved credibility. The antidote to this political poison is for the public to be made aware of this dangerous phenomenon and be armed against it with the truth. See Appendix I-F for more details.

I-G The nations have failed to recognize the historic rights of, and the immense debt they owe to, the Jewish People.

Any just settlement of the conflict must respect full Jewish rights and also the unique contribution of the entire Jewish people to the world community over thousands of years. Recognizing Jewish rights does not diminish Arab rights nor conflict with them, provided we adhere to the whole truth. It is usual to hear people speak in support of specific “rights” of the “Palestinian Arabs”. It is unusual to hear people speak equally in support of specific rights of the Jewish People in Israel. This type of anti-Jewish bias is reflected in one-sided ‘peace’ arrangements such as Oslo and now the Roadmap. Both are doomed to fail because they are one-sided and make justice and Israeli security impossible to attain. The Arabs will often deny and denigrate Jews and Jewish history, even in front of American officials who generally remain silent. Such inaction reinforces and perpetuates an atmosphere the practice of institutionalized inequality where Israel cannot obtain justice in any agreement. For more details see Appendix I-G.

******** P.A.I.R. - PART TWO ********
The case for an orderly resettlement program.

The essence of the PAIR Initiative for peace is the orderly resettlement of Palestinian Arabs into a large new state of their own, inside Arabia. However, current thinking is so entrenched in favor of confiscating Israeli land for that Palestinian Arab state, that many strong objections will likely arise to this alternative approach. It is therefore necessary to present this concept from various sides, and in some detail, in order to answer likely objections and demonstrate both its feasibility and desirability.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

II-A A better way to achieve President Bush’s proclaimed goals

II-B The peace that almost happened

II -C A Palestinian Arab State

II-D A Jewish State of Israel

II-E New attitudes for Arabs and Jews

II-F An orderly resettlement plan

II-G Defending the general principle of relocation

II-H But won’t the Palestinian Arabs reject this idea?

II-I Many Arab states are moving toward their own internal crises.

II-J Another vision of the future

II-K The future choices can be visualized by presenting three maps.

II-L The opposition

II-M Islamic voices of moderation

II-N On the world scene

II-O  Dealing with the Jewish "fifth column".

...............................................

II A  A better way to achieve President Bush’s proclaimed goals

The PAIR Initiative seeks to achieve the five points listed below, which the Bush administration has also proclaimed to be their goals in resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict.

1. Achieve a ‘two-state’ solution.

2. Exchange ‘land for peace’.

3. Solve the Palestinian Arab refugee problem.

4. End the ‘occupation’.

5. Have both Israel and a Palestinian Arab state secure and at peace.

These five can be achieved, but only with the inclusion of point 6 below.

6. Establish a genuine peace, based on historic truth, enabling both sides to safeguard their vital interests and with ample land in which to grow and to thrive.

The PAIR Initiative will achieve a two-state solution with a Jewish Israel and a separate Palestinian Arab state, with both states of viable size to accommodate future growth for at least the next century. It will bring about an exchange of land for peace - with land-rich Saudi Arabia providing the land for peace. It will solve the Palestinian Arab refugee problem through resettlement of refugees, and other Palestinian Arabs, into decent homes of their own, on land of the their own and in their own sovereign state. This process will also end the ‘occupation’, however such may be defined.

This proposal may appear bold and audacious but judgment should be reserved until after thoughtful consideration of the entire plan. Achieving a just and lasting peace with honor requires the courage to be bold and audacious and not bound by the limitations of the past. The constituent elements of the PAIR Initiative, as defined throughout the following sections, comprise an integrated whole.

II B  The peace that almost happened.

For a brief period following WWI it appeared that both Arabs and Jews were poised to embark on a future of peace and prosperity. The logical question is what went wrong?

The ‘roots’ of the current Arab-Israeli conflict are neither Arab nor Israeli but British. Following WWI The League of Nations drew new boundaries for the Middle East. Arabs would gain sovereignty in multiple countries covering five million square miles. Jews would finally have a homeland in under one percent of that area. England, the dominant regional power, was assigned, and accepted, a League of Nations Mandate to facilitate the establishment of the Jewish homeland in the region called Palestine. The British sabotaged that Mandate thereby ruining any prospects for a future peace between Arabs and Jews.

In 1919 the Arabs and the Jews were poised to embark on a peaceful and bright future as friends and neighbors in the Middle East. But it was the British government itself which sabotaged that Mandate and instigated the Arabs to oppose the Jewish presence which led to anti-Jewish riots. This direct British incitement against the Jews continued until 1948 when they finally withdrew their troops from Palestine. After that withdrawal they continued their war against the Jews, but in more covert ways.

At the Paris Peace Conference of 1919 His Royal Highness Emir Feisal Ibn Hussein, head of the Arab delegation and acting on behalf of the Arab Kingdom of Hejaz and all Arab peoples, warmly supported the Jewish return from exile in his letters to Jewish leaders Dr. Chaim Weizmann and Felix Frankfurter. After WWI there was an amicable agreement between Jews and Arabs, based on the Balfour Declaration of 1917. This declaration called for a Jewish National Home in Palestine comprising 45,000 square miles. [show map of the 45,000 mile territory] It is noteworthy that this 45,000 square miles extended both east and west of the Jordan river in what are now Jordan and Israel! That agreement was formalized and ratified by the League of Nations and should be viewed as part of international law.

The noble spirit exemplified by Feisal and Weizmann deserves to be publicized and rekindled as the basis for a just and lasting peace. British duplicity needs to be exposed to its principle victims among both Jews and Arabs, and to the entire world, including the American and British peoples. Let responsibility be placed where it properly belongs in order to press for a full accounting and for policy reform. Too many peoples have already suffered from the legacy of British imperialism in various parts of the world.

II C  A Palestinian Arab State

Size requirements: As shown in Part I - B, the 2,300 square miles of Judea and Samaria (a.k.a. the “West Bank”) plus the Gaza Strip is hopelessly short of what is needed for a long-term solution. A more adequate space would be about 35,000 square miles for a long-term permanent solution. This area would be sufficient to absorb all Palestinian Arabs in the Middle East, now estimated at about 6 million, should they all chose to migrate to one place. It would also allow ample space for natural population growth over the next century for a people that is presently doubling in size about every 25 years.

Possible site: Although most of Jordan’s current population is Palestinian Arab, its ability to absorb millions more Palestinian Arabs is highly limited due to economic, political and security factors. A far better choice would be Saudi Arabia with its vast area populated by only 25 million people plus its immense oil wealth. This would also place sufficient distance between Israel and the Palestinian Arabs to reduce that proximity which leads to confrontation. Saudi Arabia is the largest Arab country with about 850,000 square miles and a Palestinian Arab state of 35,000 square miles would require only 4% of Saudi territory.

Saudi Arabia, in particular, has a huge moral obligation to extend itself for peace. They have benefited lavishly from their western-developed oil wealth and from continued western support and protection. At the same time they have been among the leading instigators of hatred toward Israel and the West and have funded terror and the teaching of radical Islamic beliefs in many countries, including the U.S. They must now be pressed to make genuine efforts to undo some of the worldwide tension they helped to create. A good start would be an improvement of their original “Saudi Plan” which called for a total Israeli withdrawal to pre-1967 boundaries. That plan would include painful uprooting of entire communities - home to hundreds of thousands of Jews in return for mere promises of peace and with no guarantee provided by anyone. The best way to improve the Saudi Plan would be their donating a tiny corner of their enormous territory for a fair and just solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict which they, in no small measure, helped perpetrate. Appendix II - C contains additional information.

II D  A Jewish State of Israel

Size requirement: The size of Israel should reflect both future needs and historic justice by including the following considerations:

    -  In 100 years the Jewish population of Israel could exceed 30 million.

    -  To keep the ultimate population density of about 30 million within a reasonable 1,000 persons per square mile (the U.S. has 80 persons per square mile) would require at least 35,000 square miles.

    -  The League of Nations Mandate assigned 45,000 square miles to the Jewish state and that agreement is still legally binding, despite being ignored.

    -  The millions of Jews slaughtered in WWII and during the past twenty centuries constitute a huge moral claim against the community of nations. This must be reflected in Israel’s final size which should serve to encourage accelerated growth to replace some of those lost in the past.

    -  Offsetting the unfair thousand-to-one inequality favoring Muslim territory over Jewish territory must become a serious consideration.

New boundaries: Arbitrary boundaries, drawn by outside imperialist nations for self-serving purposes, without historical, legal or moral justification cannot be considered sacred, legitimate, or permanent. Fresh thinking is required to correct historical injustices and to provide for future peace and prosperity. The following considerations should apply.

    -  The Jewish People was assigned modest national boundaries by the Creator, as defined in the bible, and were twice sovereign in the Land of Israel. [link to map of ancient Israel] This is in contrast to the ‘might makes right’ attitude over boundaries prevailing elsewhere in the world. Christians and Muslims both claim to respect the Hebrew bible and many among them already recognize the religious and historic right of Jews to their ancestral homeland. [Link to Christian and Muslim sources]

    -  Both Christians and Muslims already possess huge parts of the planet and cannot morally invoke a ‘might makes right’ attitude to begrudge the Jews having the small territory that is rightfully theirs.

    -  The present State of Israel must therefore expand both eastward and southward to
become at least 35,000 square miles although they have a right to acquire the full
45,000 as promised in the League of Nations Mandate.

New boundaries will naturally require relocation of most of those Arabs presently occupying land that rightfully belongs to the Jews. This would be historically among the least difficult of relocations and would represent a tiny price to achieve the great benefits of permanent peace and justice in the region.

Appendix II - D (under “boundaries”) contains additional information.

II E  New attitudes for Arabs and Jews

Destructive attitudes among both Arabs and Jews continue to fuel the conflict and must be addressed by both sides. Each side has their individual problem and must deal with it if there is ever to be a genuine reconciliation.

Many Arabs have been taught implacable hatred towards Israel and Jews. Arab children are indoctrinated with a narrative that demonizes Jews and portrays Arabs, and especially Palestinian Arabs, as victims of horrific crimes perpetrated against them by the Jews. Teachings include falsifying history, demonizing Jews and a religious duty to view Jews as an enemy to be conquered or even killed. Among some Arab governments and the terrorist organizations such as Hamas, Hezbolla, etc. there is no acceptance of a Jewish sovereignty of any size except as a temporary expedient awaiting the opportune time to finally eliminate that sovereignty. Even a signed peace treaty and diplomatic relations with two Arab neighbors has failed to end the ongoing attitude of hostility. The more reasonable Arab governments offer only grudging acceptance of Israel and that under very limited and demeaning conditions.

As long as Muslim clerics continue to teach and to preach hatred against Israel and Jews there cannot be a genuine peace. No amount of ‘peace treaties’, concessions by Israel or outside intervention can ever substitute for genuine reform in attitude among the Muslim masses and those who instruct them.

Amidst all the hostility there is hope because there exist independent Arab/Muslim voices of moderation and reconciliation. Expressing such views often entail considerable personal risk and such people deserve encouragement, especially from Western leaders who often pander to Arab/Muslim demonizing of Israel and Jews. They also deserve greater encouragement from Jewish leaders in Israel and the U.S. to help break the image of a solid wall of opposition to Israel. There are moderate Muslim clerics and theologians who have challenged the theology of Islamic extremists which is at the core of anti-Israel and anti-Jewish hatred. Religious Jews and moderate Muslim clerics must also provide a stronger public image of respectful dialogue. In 1919 Emir Feisal also addressed the Jews as “cousins” of the Arabs, noting both having suffered at the hands of great powers. He welcomed the Jews to come home and to live in peace and beneficial cooperation with their Arab neighbors. That wise and generous spirit must be encouraged and promoted.

Jews too need a new attitude. Too many, including their leaders, suffer from a lack of ethnic/religious self-respect. They are overly eager to appease and accommodate in a futile attempt to placate Arab hostility. What some Jews view as being conciliatory, their enemies view as an admission of guilt and an invitation to increase their demands and to always demand more than the Jews can safely concede. Arabs are a proud people who respect strength and who distain weakness. Demonstrating weakness serves to reinforce Arab perceptions of Jewish unworthiness and increase contempt which leads toward war. By offering ill-advised concessions to avoid war the Jews of Israel ultimately end up fighting more wars just to survive. The path to reconciliation requires both Arab/Muslim moderation and Jewish self-respect. Western officials must also be held accountable to reform their attitudes in ceasing their double standard which overlooks Arab intransigence and places excessive demands upon Israel.

II F  An orderly resettlement plan

Resettlement has worked elsewhere to resolve other conflicts and it can work here as well. There is great social and political value in making a clean break and offering a fresh start to the Palestinian Arabs. Those who migrate are usually obliged to think in fresh terms about their future. It has been true for immigrants to America and it can certainly be true for Arabs as well. They would be beneficially occupied for many decades building their own country and structuring their own society. There would be less time to sulk and nurture old hatreds. They could design their physical environment and finally reform their present political regime, still operating under the PA, which all know to be highly corrupt. Reform is in the air and a clean break could further empower the reformers.

There are no material problems that cannot be resolved. Only 4% of the vast territory of Saudi Arabia would provide 35,000 square miles for a new Palestinian Arab state 15 times larger than Gaza and the West Bank combined. Resettlement would be phased in over a 5-10 year interval as fast as new homes and infrastructure can be ready. Far larger and more difficult relocations of various populations have occurred during the last century. It is reported that well over 100 million people in the world are currently crossing borders in search of a better life.

Building their new country would generate jobs and excitement as people become caught up in anticipating a better life that was actually taking form. Funding would come from a combination of sources including huge reductions in bloated arms budgets of the Arab countries, from international grants and loans and sale of their present homes. Fifty billion a year over ten years would provide $80,000 per head for all six million Palestinian Arabs with the knowledge that this is a one-time expenditure for peace that will pay generous dividends in the future.

This would offer a superb opportunity to attempt a new initiative for peace and create a bright new beginning. Located well away from Israel, it would eliminate direct contact between the two sides and the associated suffering it has engendered. It would not depend on anti-Israel hostility subsiding first. It would only require that they opt for a better future for themselves - a far easier option. The Palestinian Arabs would be gainfully employed for a century in building their own country. Vast oil resources in this area would provide additional support for the Palestinian economy. Both sides would also experience a huge reduction in the severe economic costs associated with their conflict. Many years of hateful indoctrination against Jews could finally begin to dissipate, given enough time and proper conditions. There would be no more ‘occupation’ and Palestinian Arabs would have ample room for future population growth. They could exist peacefully within the Arabian Peninsula. They would even be near the holy sites of Mecca and Medina, the foci of their ancestral/religious roots.

It is relevant that some 900,000 Jews fled Arab countries between the 1930’s and 1960’s and forced to abandon property worth about $100 billion which is rightfully owed to them. Just as the PAIR Initiative advocates fair compensation to Palestinian Arabs who are resettled to better conditions elsewhere, there remains a just claim by Jews from Arab lands to finally receive compensation for property that they were forced to leave behind. Let there be equal justice and reconciliation for both sides.

This resettlement program should also appeal to the 1.2 million Israeli Arabs who could see a better future in resettlement than in remaining. Their birth rate, being considerably higher than Israeli Jews, will make them an increasing minority. Their strong separate identities will lead to increasing tension and conflict as these two distinct peoples increasingly compete for political power on limited land containing limited resources. Confining two distinct ethnic groups inside one political boundary has produced bloody failures in other instances and it will fail here as well. Tragic examples such as Rawanda, Kosovo/Bosnia, Northern Ireland, Sudan, Lebanon, India/Pakistan, etc. come to mind. (The United States is cited as an exceptional example of a successful melting pot of different peoples and cultures adapting and living in harmony. But if one asks the Native Americans about their tragic experience this example looks much less congenial.) With so much available land in the Middle East there is NO compelling reason to confine these two peoples inside this one tiny space.

The Israeli Arabs would provide a very valuable leadership element in the new Palestinian Arab state because they have been exposed to a modern democratic society plus a good level of education. They could be motivated to become the generation of new leaders and managers replacing the highly corrupt regime of the PLO/PA. They would also be needed to assist in the absorption of low skilled Palestinian Arabs arriving from refugee camps and poor towns in the West Bank.

In contrast to the total ethnic cleansing against Jews practiced by Saudi Arabia and Jordan, the PAIR Initiative allows some non-Jews, and their families, who have demonstrated their loyalty to the State of Israel would continue to live inside Israel. Among the Arabs, Christians, Muslims, Druze, Beduins, Bahai, and others inside Israel, there are those who volunteered in the Israel Defense Forces or served in other capacities, sometimes at the cost of their lives, who deserve to remain. On the other hand, those Arabs who presently hold Israeli citizenship but who identify themselves as Palestinians and Arabs, not as Israelis, and who view the Jewish State as an enemy or a foreign entity, now could join their Palestinian brethren in building the new Palestinian State, on its own territory.

On a practical level some critics might argue that Arabia is mostly uninhabited desert with only about 1% of the area being cultivatable land and therefore cannot accommodate resettlement there of Palestinian Arabs. At the time of the Balfour Declaration following WWI, there also were ‘experts’ and critics who argued that the land mandated to become the Jewish National Home was too barren to support a mass influx of Jewish refugees. The Jewish pioneers proved them wrong by making the desert bloom again as it did in ancient times by using methods of modern agriculture to heal the land. The same can and ‘must’ be done in the vast areas of Arabia with Palestinian Arabs leading the transformation. It is a ‘must’ situation because the world is losing arable land to desertification at a time of rising populations. The world needs the Middle East to again be a verdant garden and a regional ‘breadbasket’ as it was in ancient times. More details on creating this transformation and the benefits to the local population are provided in Part III and in Appendix II - G.

II G  Defending the general principle of relocation

Any discussion of an Israeli-Palestinian Arab settlement often encounters the automatic assumption that, of all the peoples in the world, only Palestinian Arabs living inside Israel and the territories cannot be relocated elsewhere. We are told that ‘relocation’ can only mean more Palestinian Arabs moving from refugee camps in neighboring countries into Israel and of Jews being forcibly evicted out of Judea, Samaria (the “West Bank”) and Gaza . This concept is, inherently racist, a double standard, and cannot be justified under any circumstances.

History is replete with example after example of mass population relocations. The creation of India and Pakistan involved bi-lateral relocations even in the midst of extreme violence which led to over one million deaths. Many Germans were forcibly relocated in the immediate aftermath of World War II. Fifteen million ethnic Germans were forcibly relocated from areas that had previously been part of Germany and Austria, but were awarded to Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and other countries by the victorious Allies after World War II. None of those Germans received financial compensation for their confiscated properties. And, over the last two thousand years, no other people has faced one expulsion after another --- or one mass slaughter after another, than have the Jews. The Jews of Arab countries were virtually expelled en masse between the 1930's and 1960's. Their property was seized without any compensation. In most cases, the Arab Jews were just lucky to make it out alive. Now it is time to complete the population exchange. The Arab countries can take back their Arabs just as Israel took in its Jews.

Relocation of Palestinian Arabs under the P.A.I.R initiative would be radically different from the numerous instances of forced, violent and unplanned expulsions and displacements of peoples that have occurred in the past. Resettlement would be conducted in an orderly and carefully planned way, with full compensation for any property left behind, and with provision for new land, housing, employment, and general infrastructure to enable the resettled communities to acquire a decent standard of living.

II H  But won’t the Palestinian Arabs reject this idea?

We are constantly told that virtually everyone opposes resettling the Palestinian Arabs. Unfortunately outside nations are opposed as are all Arab governments along with the PLO/PA and even the Israeli government seems afraid to oppose Arab-inspired international pressure. The PLO/PA not only rejects any talk of resettlement but also demands the ‘right of return’ of millions of Arabs to places inside Israel itself.

It would seem that everyone has been heard from - everyone except the Palestinian Arabs themselves. We are told by their corrupt leaders and various non-Palestinian Arab voices that they are unanimous in strongly rejecting any possibility of resettlement. These voices seem overly anxious to bury this idea in advance even before the Palestinian Arabs have had a fair chance to hear of this plan, to debate it freely and to give it full consideration.

If some Palestinian Arabs began to look favorably upon a viable and generous resettlement plan it would then become progressively more difficult for others to reject resettlement on their behalf. Is the zeal to reject resettlement in reality a purposeful attempt to lock the Palestinian Arabs (and Israel too) into a bad solution before they have had a chance to choose freely?

Self-appointed Palestinian Arab spokespeople will naturally attempt to reject any idea of resettlement while claiming to represent all Palestinian Arabs. However, a poll conducted among the Palestinian Arabs by the Maagar Mohot Interdisciplinary Research and Consulting Institute Ltd., in collaboration with the Palestinian Arab Center for Public Opinion in 2004, found that over 70% of Arabs in Judea, Samaria and Gaza could be induced to relocate. To the question: "What would induce you to emigrate permanently?”, only 15% stated that nothing would induce them, while 71% specified one or more material factors that would induce them to emigrate permanently (such as substantial financial compensation, a guarantee of a good job abroad, or good housing).

These encouraging numbers are prior to their receiving a credible offer which might be even more tempting. This shows the great potential of the PAIR Initiative with its many attractive incentives. Even an initial response of 10%-20% would be sufficient to start the process moving. The successful adjustment of those who resettled first would build confidence for others to follow.

The Palestinian Arabs deserve the opportunity to consider the PAIR Initiative, to fully explore it, to extensively debate it, and to respond freely and without intimidation. The unseemly haste by the U.S. administration to ram their ‘Roadmap’ down the throats of both Israelis and Palestinian Arabs is a violation of the right of these people to freely and democratically chart their own future. We have already had far too many imposed solutions by outside interests at the expense of peoples in the region. It is time for outside meddlers to cease interfering and give real peace a chance.

II I  Many Arab states are moving toward their own internal crisis.

The PAIR Initiative has the potential to play a constructive role in responding to a regional dilemma. The principle factors moving some Arab states towards their own internal crisis are: government corruption; oppression of their people; stagnant economies; burgeoning youth populations (in Syria, Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia over half the population is under 25); high unemployment; no clear program for reform; increasing popular unrest. These regimes are facing a severe dilemma. They are too corrupt and inept to effect genuine reform on their own initiative. If they cannot reform voluntarily and soon, the radical Islamic extremists will attempt to topple these regimes and Taliban-type regimes may replace them.

The unresolved Palestinian Arab refugee problem also poses dangers to the stability of some Arab states in the region. Many Arab states fear that an unresolved Arab-Israeli conflict could provoke a regional war that will draw them in, radicalize their populations and threaten their own stability.

The dilemma confronting the Saudis, other Arab regimes and American policy makers is exemplified by two equally bad choices. On the one hand, oppressive regimes are sitting atop social pressure cookers fueled by intense anti-American sentiment heightened by the U.S. war on terrorism. Maintaining an oppressive lid on the unrest, without improving conditions, assures an eventual explosion. On the other hand, a number of Arab regimes have responded to internal tensions with limited reforms designed to calm domestic unrest. But these reforms may be far too little to assure stability, while they also open the door to possible takeover by the extremists. They appear both unable to manage peaceful reform and to significantly reduce the risk of violent takeovers by the militant fundamentalists. Meanwhile time is running out.

II J  Another vision of the future.

What is needed now is another vision of the future for the oppressed Arab masses, namely a transition toward moderate, representative societies. The U.S. and Europe had not pushed for such a transition prior to 9/11. The Bush administration has now finally begun to press for increased democracy in the region in the hope that this will halt the trend towards Islamic extremism and lead, instead, towards moderate self-government. Unfortunately, certain Arab regimes, the mullahs and the Islamic extremists are all opposing Bush’s vision.

Pressures for reform are emerging with increasing strength from within the Arab public and independently of governments and of Islamic extremism. Besides Iraq and Afghanistan, there are active movements seeking greater freedom in other Arab states including Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the Gulf states. In the recent Palestinian Arab election younger leaders are taking power. They reject the extreme corruption of Arafat’s old guard and they favor political reform, even while many remain hostile towards Israel.

Stagnant old beliefs are new being challenged by progressive new thinking. This is the time for a bold initiative to resettle the Palestinian Arabs and finally resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict. Many experts have long insisted that democracy could not be transplanted into Arab society and also that resettling Palestinian Arabs elsewhere was unthinkable. Just as these voices of the past are being proven wrong about democracy for Arabs they are just as wrong in opposing a beneficial resettlement plan. When old attitudes begin to change, new opportunities open up. What previously was considered impossible may now become eminently possible.

The PAIR Initiative could well fit within the Bush Administration’s announced effort to democratize the Arab nations and defuse the Arab-Israeli conflict. The image of Palestinian Arabs building their own independent future inside Arabia might fire up some imaginations. It would represent Arabs successfully helping themselves in a peaceful and honorable manner and without the presence of foreign troops and constant killing as in Iraq. This would represent a breath of fresh air in the Arab world where their restless youth could see a successful model of hope for a better future, free of the corrupt Arab dictatorships, free of the Islamic terror organizations and also free of direct Western influence and meddling. It would also be in step with the yearning for positive changes now starting to manifest among the Arab masses. The West would also have a big stake in seeing a truly progressive Arab society emerge as an antidote to a militant and hostile Islam. For this reason the West might well assure that this bold experiment is quietly nurtured and well supported.

Saudi rulers could also benefit. Their corrupt and inefficient regime has produced the likes of Osama bin Laden who threatens their monarchy as well by stirring justified resentment among the Saudi population. A successful Palestinian Arab state, supported by the Saudis, could begin to defuse the negative feelings among their own population who might become inspired by a better alternative than Osama bin Laden and, in the process, give new life to a constitutional monarchy that can implement peaceful reform with stability.

The oppressed, resentful public throughout the Arab and Muslim world could be inspired with pride in this bold, peaceful Palestinian Arab initiative taking place and with the Saudis acting as midwives to a new Palestinian Arab state. It could defuse much of the arguments and appeal of Arab dictators against Israel and the West. The Saudis could feel pride in supporting a unique social and political accomplishment on the world scene with their energies channeled towards peaceful development instead of war. The potential implications of peaceful change could extend far beyond just solving the Arab Israeli conflict.

II K  The future choices can be visualized by presenting three maps. [Link]

Map one, the IMPOSSIBLE map, which is currently on the table means returning approximately to the pre 1967 lines, i.e. the Road Map. That option is totally unacceptable and impossible for reasons given earlier in Part I.

Map two, the WAR map, is the PLO/PA map in which Israel no longer exists. The world pretends not to notice it but the PLO/PA continues to use that map to define Palestine both past and future. Trying to implement that map leads directly to the nightmare scenario of all out war.

Map three, the PEACE map of the PAIR Initiative, means a new Palestinian Arab state inside the Arabian peninsula thus removing the main pretext for hostility against Israel by other Arab states. It shows suggested borders for the new state and proposed secure, defensible borders for Israel, consonant with the original League of Nations mandate for a Jewish National Home.

II L  The opposition.

It is anticipated that any proposal to relocate Palestinian Arabs will likely trigger immediate and extreme opposition from many sources including the charge of racism. However the Roadmap is inherently racist in its demand for total ethnic cleansing of all Jews living in areas ceded to the Palestinian Arabs while Arabs in Israel remain exempt from the same rule. This is yet another example of an anti-Jewish double standard that must be rejected.

Note that the PAIR Initiative benefits both Arabs and Jews, unlike the Roadmap which cheats both Arabs and Jews. Further, the PAIR Initiative makes allowance for some non-Jews to remain in Israel for justifiable cause and on a case by case basis. The anti-Jewish racism of western governments was demonstrated by their acceptance of the earlier expulsion (ethnic cleansing) of some 900,000 Jews from Arab countries along with their acceptance of the ‘judenrein’ policies of Saudi Arabia and Jordan. As mentioned earlier, peace requires strict adherence to four immutable principles, mentioned earlier, including telling the whole truth and rejecting double standards.

The PAIR Initiative is actually very pro-Palestinian Arab and that point is readily demonstrated by comparing its results with the perpetuation of suffering and conflict for both sides if the current Roadmap plan is implemented. Proponents of the PAIR Initiative would welcome open debate because all opposing arguments can be answered. Some critics may prefer to attack this plan while avoiding open debate.

Palestinian Arab moderates willing to consider this plan could face intimidation. The opponents will ignore the fact that, during the last century, countless millions of people have resettled, often under far less favorable conditions than proposed here. They will have to argue that, of all the people in the world, the Palestinian Arabs alone cannot be resettled, even if it is to an infinitely better life. They will ignore the Arab regimes that have deliberately kept Palestinian Arabs rotting in refugee camps for decades as an open wound to be used as a political weapon to undermine any settlement with Israel. They will have to argue in favor of continuing a zero sum game where both Arabs and Jews remain locked into a lose-lose situation. And they will have to ignore the millions of Jewish refugees, many expelled from Arab countries, that migrated to Israel to build a strong vibrant Jewish nation and better lives for themselves.

II M  Islamic voices of moderation.

There are important voices of Islamic moderation who deserve to be heard. Some support Israel and its historic right to the land. Others focus on their support for democracy and pluralism and strongly oppose the extremists. These voices of moderation include religious Muslim scholars who can cite the Qur’an with authority in support of their views. Unfortunately, these voices of moderation are not being given adequate recognition and the support that they deserve. The response to the PAIR Initiative must also include opinions from moderate Muslims which can help open the door to the win-win approach being offered for both Arabs and Israelis.

Moderate Muslims encounter various obstacles that serve to mute their voices. Within their own communities moderate Muslims face opposition, ostracism and sometimes even personal risk if they express their opinions. The major media is reluctant to accord them sufficient exposure. C.A.I.R., the Committee on American Islamic Relations, attempts to silence all those, including moderate Muslims, who point out the dangers of Islamic extremism. C.A.I.R. has had considerable success in gaining credibility to speak on behalf of American Muslims while establishing influence with U.S. government agencies.

The American Jewish leadership should be doing much more to actively reach out to moderate Muslims and help them gain needed public exposure. Meanwhile American Jewish leftists organize national speaking tours for Israeli leftists who come paired with anti-Israel Arabs to propagate their nihilistic message. This presents a false ‘balance’ designed to denigrate Israel and convey the image of a solid anti-Israeli attitude among all Israeli Arabs.

Visitors to the web sites of moderate Muslims will be impressed with their extensive knowledge and positive attitude that is reaching out to Jews and Christians in the spirit of peace and friendship. These are people of great personal courage because their activities require intense dedication and fearless determination. they are in the best position to challenge the influence of radical Islam which is being taught in America with Saudi funding. Appendix II N contains a list of web sites representing views from a variety of moderate Muslim sources.

II N  On the world scene.

This is not just a local dispute between Arabs and Jews. Yasser Arafat had succeeded in internationalizing the conflict to an extreme degree. He drew support from the Islamic countries, from the intractable terrorist organizations, from the rogue Arab regimes, from the ‘moderate’ Arab regimes, from the European Union, from China, Russia, North Korea, the totalitarian left and the anti-Semitic right wing extremists. In short, all of the reactionary and nihilistic forces on the planet had lined up to support Arafat and the Palestinian Arab cause as he defined it.

Normally the European Union would be threatened by the aggressive posture of radical Arab regimes. Many European governments, however, still harbor latent anti-Semitism, are jealous of American power and success and would not mind meddling in the Middle East at Israel’s and America’s expense. Many also have vocal and growing Arab minorities that threaten social harmony by their aggressive actions. And all wish to protect their sources of Arab oil and their Arab markets. Betrayal of Israel and irritating America seems a trivial price to pay. Sadly, these are the same kind of politicians that underestimated Hitler; thought that he only threatened the Jews and decided to appease Hitler by betraying Czechoslovakia.

Today, as then, the Europeans calculate that they can purchase their security at Israel’s expense and assume a moral posture in the process. Today, as then, they are in denial as to the true danger to themselves. Militant Islam is infecting more and more of the 1.3 billion Muslims in the world. Militant Islam is quite open about its plans for Christians and is already persecuting Christians in various Muslim countries. Militant Islam is very conscious that two thirds of the world’s oil reserves are located inside Islamic countries and this translates into a potent political, economic and military weapon. China, North Korea and Russia have all been earning money by massively arming the Arabs with weapons of increasingly destructive force. Even America and the West are fueling this insane arms race.

The prime rationalization for this fanatic arming is to help the Palestinian Arabs gain their own country. But the Arab people and many Muslims as well are themselves captives of a brutal Islamic fanaticism. Many have had their minds poisoned by years of systematic indoctrination in hatred. Others, who may know better, remain oppressed and intimidated by regimes that tolerate no dissent. The totalitarian Arab regimes and their foreign supporters display a uniform hate towards Israel. The forces of intolerance and reaction reveal their inherent brittleness by their obsessive need to present a unanimous front without any dissent. And that is their vulnerability. If our side can demonstrate that in all of these countries, including Arab countries and among the Palestinian Arabs, there are dissenting voices, we can start to tip the balance in favor of moderation and conciliation.

If we can spark open debate on all the issues addressed in this plan, then many people will begin to see that this is not just about Arabs and Israelis but about totalitarian forces that threaten all of humanity. In this global battle for humanity’s future it is Israel that is on the front line for all of us. Any setback for Israel will embolden all the reactionary forces to redouble their efforts to stamp out democracy and freedom all over the world.

The converse of this process can also hold true. If we can visualize even small numbers of people in various countries coalescing around this PAIR Initiative, it will give encouragement to the forces of democracy and decency everywhere. When the first few courageous Palestinian Arabs speak out and are heard, it will be the first crack in the ideological and rhetorical ‘Berlin Wall’ of hatred. It will remove the false excuse used by Arab dictators to arm massively and to suppress their own people. A democratic Palestinian Arab country emerging within the Arab world can be politically infectious. It could start to defuse Middle East tensions and undermine the iron grip of Arab dictators. The PAIR Initiative could spark a genuine movement towards peace that could benefit the entire region and beyond.

II-O  Dealing with the Jewish "fifth column".

The PAIR Initiative cannot be limited only to encouraging Palestinian Arabs to resettle elsewhere in order to promote peace and justice for both sides. The four basic principles, which guide the PAIR Initiative, must also be applied consistently to Israeli Jews. The security of Israel is also endangered by the presence of what can only be called a Jewish “fifth column”. These are renegade individuals, who exploit their Jewish ancestry, who work obsessively and maliciously to undermine the security of the Jewish people in general, and the State of Israel in particular.

Although a small minority, they have infiltrated the centers of power. They hold positions of influence in: labor unions, academia, the courts, the media, political office, and even the military. They also include self-styled ‘activists’ who elbow their way to prominence and claim to speak for the masses. They consistently denigrate and subvert legitimate Jewish rights in favor of advancing antagonistic Arab interests, often by way of deception, malicious falsehoods and double standards. They readily misinterpret Judaism for ideological purposes and even demonize those Jews who are religiously observant. They often hold ideological allegiance to the militant international left, which raises the question of their having dual loyalties.

Claiming to be promoting peace they push lopsided and unworkable schemes such as the Oslo Accords, the Geneva Accords and now the Roadmap, all of which undermine Jewish rights, endanger the Jewish character of the country and endanger Israel’s physical security.

It is this radical Jewish left whose activities increased Israel’s vulnerability to Arab terrorism resulting in many additional Israeli and Arab casualties. It is the radical Jewish left that contributed to the immense moral and political corruption that pervades the Israeli government and many institutions. The destructive influence of this Jewish “fifth column” has caused hundreds of thousands of patriotic Israelis, who had their fill of this corruption, to emigrate to other countries.

These individuals have long forfeited their claim to be considered legitimately Jewish and to live freely in the Jewish State of Israel. Unlike the Arab terrorists who are brainwashed from early childhood, these Jewish “fifth columnists” are consciously malevolent and know full well what they are doing. They should each stand trial before a Nuremberg-style tribunal on the charge of perpetrating war crimes against the Jewish people and for crimes against humanity. Those found guilty should be given a near-term date to emigrate voluntarily, forfeiting only their real property, or face physical expulsion minus all their assets. This would be extremely lenient considering that many victims of their treasonous actions have been killed and wounded. Just as they vigorously supported the expulsion of Jews from Gaza, even under brutal conditions, in the name of peace and security, they cannot now object to their own removal, also, in the name of peace and security.

******** P.A.I.R. - PART THREE ********
Beneficial implications for the region and beyond

III-A Creating a new Palestinian Arab self-identity

III-B An inspiring national purpose to go with their new identity

III-C  New energy, the missing ingredient

III-D A just place among the nations for the Jewish people

III-E Reducing the causes for big power intervention

...............................................

III-A  Creating a new Palestinian Arab self-identity

A true Arab-Israeli reconciliation will require far more than just physically resettling the Palestinian Arabs as described earlier. It will also require a radical transformation in their self-identity and mindset.

The present Palestinian Arab self-identity was manufactured and imposed by radical Arab leaders. It was intended to become a political weapon in opposition to the existence of Israel, but it was not based on historical truth. This Palestinian Arab identity has, at its core, an unquenchable sense of grievance, humiliation and victimization. There is a seething resentment towards Israel and a determination, intensified by an urge to satisfy violated honor, to create a ‘Palestinian State’ no matter what the cost or how much conflict and suffering it generates, even upon themselves.

This perpetual obsession with their national grievance deflects creative energies into endless and sterile conflict which blocks the way to a normal life and a better future. The PAIR Initiative holds out the prospect of the Palestinian Arabs finally letting go of that monumental hatred in exchange for another, more positive, identity. For the first time these Arabs could choose their own identity - one that was not imposed by England or Arab exploiters - one that is free of hatred and which incorporates a positive, ennobling, national purpose.

History demonstrates that new self-identities can be acquired. The countries of Iraq and Jordan for example, along with some of the Gulf States, were created by England in pursuit of British national interests. The American identity was formed only a few hundred years ago by people migrating to a new continent. Today that American identity comprises peoples of many diverse backgrounds and is as durable as any other nation. The Jewish identity also evolved over time. In the book of Exodus we learn how the Israelites became transformed from their being slaves in Egypt to becoming a free people with a unique identity including people-hood and religion.

The Palestinian Arabs will find problems in simply looking to Arab governments for their future identity. Those governments may profess solidarity with them against Israel but they are still rejected by every other Arab country and denied permanent settlement. Hundreds of thousands were cast out of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait following the 1991 Gulf War because Yasser Arafat supported Saddam Hussein. Egypt wanted no part of them and kept them bottled up inside Gaza. Syria and Lebanon keep them severely confined inside refugee camps. Even Jordan, which is mostly Palestinian Arab, still has refugee camps for fellow Palestinian Arabs who are not allowed to settle permanently. It is Israel alone where 1.3 million Palestinian Arabs are voting citizens with human and political rights that do not exist for them in any other Arab country.

Despite the constant reinforcement of anti-Israeli hatred by their own leadership there are younger Palestinian Arabs who are starting to question the old hatreds. They understand very well the oppression and corruption of the Palestinian Authority on their lives and their rejection by Arab governments. Some are now calling for more freedom and democracy, an end to the hostilities and even for beneficial economic cooperation with Israel. Under PA rule expressing such views can be risky and requires personal courage. This demonstrates that there is indeed potential support for fresh thinking, which must be encouraged. Without the constant reinforcement of anti-Israeli hatred by their Arab leaders the Arabs would be less inclined towards conflict.

So much depends on this radical change in self-identity. If the Palestinian Arabs were to abandon their old enmity it would then be very difficult for other Arab and Muslim countries to use this pretext to sustain their anti-Israel posture. They, in turn, would lose their main excuse for delaying much-needed internal reforms.

Once inside their new country, located in the Arabian Peninsula, the old sterile hatred could be replaced by a forward-looking national purpose. Once that process takes hold it could be possible to embrace a noble national purpose that would heal old wounds and elevate their entire society. They could apply their talents and energies to becoming a model Arab society with the added advantage of having a fresh start.

III-B  An inspiring national purpose to go with their new identity

A fresh start in their new country is an opportune time to undertake bold initiatives. One initiative would be to begin greening the region with the new Palestinian Arab state setting an example for the Arab world. It would mean starting a vast project to turn the desert green with grasslands, agriculture, forests, industrial crops, etc. That effort would evolve into a vast project over the next century while productively employing millions of workers. The entire landscape would change from desert brown to lush green along with a more benign climate replacing the harsh desert environment. When people heal the soil they also heal themselves. This happened when Jewish pioneers built a vibrant society by healing their neglected homeland and making the desert bloom.

Greening the region means pursuing self-sufficiency in food and farm-based industrial products. True wealth cannot be based primarily on oil production which employs a small, select work force along with foreign experts and foreign entanglements. The future of oil is also limited because reserves are finite and the resulting carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, is posing a growing threat to the global climate. The future is not with oil.

True wealth must include productive and fertile land that can provide food and a good living for many people. This is contrary to the western model with its over-industrialization, exploitive factory farming practices, huge non-farm population and unstable economic and political cycles produced by excessive concentration of power and greed. Some of the finest members of a society come from the land rather than from those occupations far removed from nature and basic labor. Let those positive sentiments found in Islam be implemented in combination with restoring the land. Industrialization yes, but not to the point of plunging into the excesses of western societies. This is only to offer a concept from the outside. The Palestinian Arabs will have the opportunity to work all this out for themselves.

III-C   New energy, the missing ingredient

To economically green large areas in the region will require vast amounts of agricultural water at very low prices. Desalination is highly energy dependent. Saudi Arabia, with its vast oil reserves, could not afford the cost of desalinating the sea in sufficient quantities to green their desert, even when oil was cheap. Once an area becomes green the natural hydrological cycle begins to function by producing normal rainfall to sustain further growth. The watering operation can then shift to greening new desert areas. Think of the Amazon rain forest that is self-watering while sustaining a treasure of plant and animal life.

There are advanced energy technologies that could desalinate the sea far cheaper than the best technologies available today. These technologies have been suppressed for decades to benefit the special interests in the Middle East and in the west. The losers have been the western public and millions of Arab people who do not share in the oil wealth and who will lose again when the oil runs out. The Palestinian Arabs, along with Israel and other peoples in the region, could now exert intense pressure to finally end the suppression and allow a new era of clean, cheap, abundant energy to emerge for the benefit of all humanity. This is a struggle that must be fought and won because it is also a global necessity. Pursuing effort would do great honor to the Palestinian Arabs who could lead the region in this noble cause.

III-D  A just place among the nations for the Jewish people

Eliminating the debilitating conflict with the Palestinian Arabs would free up huge material resources and human energies inside Israel that were previously consumed by conflict. Israel could accelerate her development to achieve even greater success in the arts and sciences and, even more significantly, in the realms of social progress and of the spirit. Throughout the centuries, and despite often-severe persecution, Jewish talent and creativity still made an immense contribution to human progress. With more space to grow, and with increased security, their progress could become truly astounding and Israel could strive to fulfill the prophetic dream of becoming ‘a light unto the nations’.

As long as humanity remains trapped inside the current primitive mindset, there will be no peace and no security for anyone. If allowed to do so, Jewish spirituality, thriving in an expanded and secure Israel, may yet offer the key to a more sane and peaceful world. Israel’s potential should not be judged by her tiny size. In the realm of the spirit and of the biblical prophetic vision the Jewish people have already demonstrated that being both few and of small size is no limitation.

There would also be an opportunity for a more secure Israel to undertake major internal political reforms. They need to resolve the conflict between the religious and the anti-religious. They need to reform a corrupt political system that empowers the few, denies full representative government and causes a growing gap between the rich and the poor.

III-E  Reducing the causes for big power intervention

There have been at least two main reasons for outside powers to meddle in the Middle East. 

1. The quest for Middle East oil has drawn outside intervention for decades.

2. The conflict between Jews and Arabs has been exploited and exacerbated by outside powers in pursuit of their own national interests.

A reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinian Arabs would remove the excuse for outside powers to meddle in Middle East affairs and exploit local conflicts. Jews and Arabs could then press for an end to the suppression of advanced energy technologies and eliminate oil as the object of contention by the big powers including America, Europe, China and India. Making oil obsolete will also deprive local dictators of their oil wealth which has been used to fund terrorism, accumulate weapons, oppress their own people and retain power.

Ending the suppression of advanced energy technologies would make cheap, clean energy available to everyone. The peoples of the Middle East would be better off and be able to afford to green the desert. The oil importing powers could now have all their energy needs met internally and without competing one against the other. The PAIR Initiative envisions these possibilities which would contribute to regional tranquility and to world peace.