Weekly Commentary: Best to Level With Trump
Dr. Aaron Lerner 25 November 2016

Ever since the Israeli electorate rejected Oslo at the ballot box over 20
years ago Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has engaged in verbal and mental
gymnastics to placate foreign leaders who adamantly insist that he pledge
alliegance to the "two state solution".

It has been confusing. but we might not have had a choice.

With the election of Trump there is an opportunity to get out of the rut.

I recommend we level with Trump

#1. Fundamental problem with sovereign Palestinian state – not conditional

There are all sorts of ostensibly well intentioned people with various
schemes of arrangements and guarantees that they claim would make it
possible to create a sovereign independent Palestinian state in our bedroom.

But we must never forget this simple truth: the moment that that sovereign
independent Palestinian state is actually formed in our bedroom, its
sovereignty and independence is essentially unconditional.

They can rip the arrangements and guarantees they signed to shreds and they
will still be a sovereign independent Palestinian state.

#2. Fundamental problem with almost sovereign Palestinian state -
extraneous developments.

There's countless scenarios that may lead to a large hyper autonomous
Palestinian state that shares a border with Jordan becoming a sovereign
independent state.

#3. Where we CAN go

Prime Minister Sharon’s retreat from the Gaza Strip was indeed a colossal
mistake. But it’s a fact. And its created an opportunity by defusing the
“demographic bomb”. With the Gazans out of the equation we enjoy the
unprecedented advantage that we can retain a substantial Jewish majority for
the foreseeable future even if we choose to annex all of Judea and Samaria.

Paradoxically, the more comprehensive our annexation the less the
opposition we will ultimately face. After all, many of the Palestinian
leaders themselves have said that we Israelis have to choose between
allowing them to be citizens of our state or citizens of a Palestinians
state. How would the Palestinians react to annexation? They might march in
the streets – but they would celebrate in their homes.

Stepwise program?

- First round of annexation includes the Jordan Valley and Jericho to land
lock whatever is left to potentially be a Palestinian state.

- Work and travel access into Israel for all Palestinians not in annexed
areas (with the exception of specific individuals denied access by the
security authorities) .

- Freight rail line from Ashdod Port to terminal at Erez Crossing (the
railroad already has right of way for the tracks) to give a jump start for
Gaza by slashing the costs of importing and exporting from the Strip
(integrated with a terminal inside Israel to slash the costs of moving
freight between the Gaza Strip and Judea & Samaria as well as Jordan).

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