How I almost made peace

Obama

"Your peace with the Palestinians is going nowhere,..." Obama said in a bored voice, putting his feet on the desk, leaning back with his hands behind his neck. "We need new ideas."

New ideas are my specialty. Each time I face a problem, new ideas emerge. Sometimes ideas are good enough for others to act upon them.

I thought about what Obama said, while I put my feet carefully on the table, trying not to break the coffee cups and plates on the desk, and making sure there is enough room for Obama's long legs. His black shoes glittered and reflected the grand chandelier watching us from the ceiling with it's thousands glass eyes. When I achieved my brilliant exercise of lifting the legs on the table, I finished the exercise with an elegant leaning back on the comfortable chair, putting my arms behind the neck, as a sign of solidarity with the popular president.
"No problem. I have a new idea..." I said before the idea really crystallized in my mind. "How about giving the Palestinians a state that would stretch from El - Arish in the Egyptian border, up to north of Tel-Aviv, and in exchange we'll get the west bank?"

Obama raised his thick eyebrows in a real surprised: "Will you really give them Tel-Aviv, your main and largest city?"

Now I surfed on the rising tide of ideas. "Of course. This will give them everything they need to establish a state with a good chance for peaceful coexistence."

"Yes, I see what you mean..." Obama said slowly wrinkling his brows. I watch him starting contemplating the idea, "...they will have continuity, a border with a moderate Arab nation like Egypt that did not like war adventures, and two ports as an access to the world."

"In particular they will own most of Israel's economic industry that is now focusing in Tel-Aviv." I added encouraging the hissing embers of Obama enthusiasm.
Obama swung his feet off the table, which was and indication of a serious interest. He leaned toward me: "Wonderful."

When Obama said the word 'wonderful' in English, it is not because he does not master Hebrew. It certainly indicates that he is starting to get excited. His eyes sparkled, as if he had just heard that he was elected for a second term.

"Do you think you can convince your friends in the coalition on this idea? I'm sure the Palestinians will jump on such an idea."

I was not so sure that the Palestinians 'will jump on the idea'. This was a good solution if they really want an independent state that would live in peace alongside Israel not just to destroy Israel. But I had my doubts. Still if they could not have a better plan if they want peace. It satisfy all their excuses, like the one that they are in a prison-state with Israeli forces controlling all its borders.

Suddenly a wrinkle of concern appeared on Obama's face: "What about Jerusalem?" he asked.

"We will give free access to the believers. We have proved in the past that we are the only ones allowing freedom of worship."

"Yes ..." his face still with a thoughtful look he argued: "...but they insist that Jerusalem will be their capital."
"Well, they will have to give up on that point..." I insist: "...Jerusalem actually was never Palestinian, or any other Arab nation capital for that matter. Jerusalem is not mentioned in their holy book at all. It was only recently proclaimed as an Islamic holy city. When the Arabs ruled the land they pointed another city - Ramle, as their capital. In contrast, Jerusalem is the eternal capital and wishes of the Jewish people."

All this I said in one breath and with raised tone. There is no room for compromise here. Then I added in a quieter voice explaining the geography of Jerusalem: "Jerusalem is on the mountain where I the proposed Jewish state to be, and far from the the Palestinians land, according to this plan which is on the seashore plain."
The door opened in a narrow slit through which a woman's head full of curls, spoke: "Sorry, but your guests for the next meeting are waiting." Piped the head. Obama made an impatient movement, one could interpret as: 'Wait a minute', and turned to me in an unusual polite voice: "Would you care to meet later? I'll bring my secretary of state, and minister of defense, and you can bring anyone you want."

I nodded in approval. I did not want to bring anyone at this point, I wanted time to think about it myself. Even on the plane on the way home, I kept this to myself. I just sat there in silence pondering.

The news leaked

My cabinet members did not react well to the plan. I explained to them the the plan. "In Gaza there is already an independent Palestinian state.", I said, "It is a reality that no sensible person could think to change. We can only offer them to expand to the north, for I don't think Egypt will volunteer to give them some part of their land in Sinai. If we'll agree to a Palestinian state where they are now, we will end up with two hostile Palestinian state on either side of Israel, as it is unthinkable to cut Israel into two, for the sake of the continuity of the Palestinian state. I looked around at the faces of my friends to estimate their reactions. Avigdor my minister from the coalition nodded: "Yes it is a great idea, even if difficult to do. The difficult part is to transfer ​​millions of Palestinian from the west bank to the shores, and no less Jews, from Tel-Aviv to the west bank."

Ehud my defense minister, looked like he had constipation, his face wrinkled in frustration, searching the right words to express his opposition. Bosie, my left wing party coalition member nodded but kept silent. He cannot oppose openly to such a plan, but I am sure he'll find some harsh words later. A lot of harsh words. Dan, my friend and party member, objected doubtfully, "If you'll hand over most of Israel's economic power to the Palestinians, we risk destroying the country, no less." I noticed his clever phrasing. I'm the one who give away our industry and endangers everyone, not he. Moses, my other party member came to my aid: "Economic power is determined by the quality of the workers, not the buildings with ticking fax machines." Other members continued to strengthen my side: "If the Palestinian will not agree, we'll get some good points in the world public opinion. On the other side, if they'll agree to give us all our heritage cities in the west bank, we'll have back our biblical holy land. It is a win-win situation."
Well, I got my war cabinet consent. The next step - the government. It will be messy because government discussion usually are leaked to the press.

The very next day I was informed on the huge demonstrations in Tel-Aviv following the publication of malicious attacks by the media.

As I foresaw the secret leaked from the government meeting. I had no choice but to defend the plan on the media. I confirmed that there is such an idea, but it is only in its initial development. I argued that such a solution is suitable both for left and right. The right wing gets its heart's desire to return to our biblical land of Judea, the birthplace of our ancient kingdom 2000 years ago the ancient cities, Hebron, Bethlehem, Nablus and especially Jerusalem. The left wing will be happy for the Palestinian to have an independent prosperous state living in peace with Israel. I signed the speech in the hope that these liberals who supported the transfer of Jews from part of Gaza, will support the necessary people transfers in this plan.
It did not help to convince anyone.

Talks under pressure

Obama invited me and Mahmoud Abbas to discuss the plan.

By now he took credit of the plan, I let him do it because it makes him more commited to the plan.

At first Mahmoud Abbas tried to evade commitment. He raised reservations for example regarding the fate of the Arab citizens of Israel, and other such excuses. I answered all of them patiently. The Muslim citizens will remain in their places. I pointed out that they and their leaders always declare that they are first and foremost Palestinians, therefore their place in the state of Palestine. Anyway they will have the freedom to choose whether to stay or go along with the Jews. As the debate continued, and Mahmoud Abbas raised more and more objections, Obama showed signs of anger.

Mahmoud Abbas changed tactic and suggested improvements to the program: "Jerusalem will be the capital of Palestine and will be connected by a corridor three miles in width with the State of Palestine."

I vigorously opposed. Obama tried to return to the old president Clinton format regarding Jerusalem, but when I pointed out that this corridor will cut Israel in half, and whats more, it contradicts the idea of a continuous and viable defense of both israel and the Palestinian state, he agreed to support me.

His next idea was to first of all bring the Palestinian diaspora to the new state of Palestine. This idea was rejected outright by Obama who began to give signs of losing his patience. I thought that he is too young to be a president. In a diplomatic debate one cannot be impatient, but in this case it helped me. Mahmoud Abbas turned to me and playing in what was probably the last card: "will you leave all the weapons in the military barracks in the land you'll evacuate?"
"Of course not! but we'll Leave all the bases intact, including the military headquarters in Tel-Aviv, but the weapons would go with our soldiers to protect us within the new state."

"Then I fear that after performing an exchange of population, you'll attack us and we'll lose the whole area again."

I looked at him in amazement: "That really was never on my mind. We do not make peace in order to attack later. But I'm sure we can find an arrangement that'll rest your mind at ease."

After six months of exhausting talks, giving more concessions extending the Palestine state up to to the Haifa, an agreement was reached. Throughout the negotiations, Abbas tried many times to back off from the plan, but in the end Obama erupted in anger, and almost forced him physically to sign.

I finished my story and looked at the man standing over me. He broke his silence and said: " Now I understands." I saw this as a good sign. I tried to get up, but he motioned me to stay on the ground. I tried to make friends with small talk: "Who ordered the contract? It could not be the Palestinians, for they'll get a big and developed country."

The big man nodded "Yes, it was indeed the Palestinian, and in this case they cooperate with the Tel-Aviv's Jews that were not too pleased to give up their house."

He was a man of few words, he stop talking and shot me in the head.