Weekly Commentary: Count To Three - Wadi Ara-Bloc Swap A Farce
Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA

You don't have to count to ten.

It should be enough to think for three seconds to realize that the idea of
"swapping" Wadi Ara for the Etzion Bloc is a farce.

A third rate lawyer can readily come up with five ways to insure that the
Israeli Arabs in Wadi Ara retain their Israeli citizenship even if the
area is transferred to the Palestinian Authority.

The result?

"Auschwitz Minus" borders and no change in the demographic composition of
the country.

Avigdor Liberman has been pushing this half baked idea for decades. Its
part of his portfolio of half baked ideas that include handing over security
responsibility for the Gaza Strip as well as most of Judea and Samaria (and
the Triangle and Wadi Ara) to third parties. Years ago Liberman wanted Egyptian security
forces deployed at the gates of Ashkelon (responsible for Gaza) while
Jordanian forces patrolled the outskirts of Netanya and the suburbs of
Jerusalem. Since then he's added the possibility of staking our survival on
the efficacy of the deployment of NATO and/or other international groupings
in a sovereign Palestinian state.

And he's labeled a "right winger"!!

Count to ten.

Yes. I am furious and disappointed that Israeli Arabs saw fit to give a
hero's burial to three terrorists who murdered two Israeli Druze.

But I count to ten.

And I see a bright future.

We are winning.

The Israeli Arabs are integrating into the mainstream at an ever quickening
pace.

And we are in the envious position that instead of having to battle over a
share of the pie we are constantly expanding the pie.

Consider what we are doing in India, China, Africa and many other promising
markets.

We are strategically positioned to gain regardless of whose "century" this
ultimately is.

The best is yet to come.

Count to ten.

And set this nonsense aside.
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IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis

Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on
Arab-Israeli relations

Website: www.imra.org.il