How I almost made peace

Obama

"The 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 middle name. Each time I face a problem, new ideas emerge. Sometimes these ideas are even 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 its thousands of glass eyes. When I finally carried out the delicate task of lifting my legs on the table successfully, I finished the exercise with an elegant touch leaning back putting my arms behind my 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 the 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 start contemplating the idea, "...they will have continuity, a border with a moderate Arab nation like Egypt that did not like war adventures, and two seaports as access to the world."

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

When Obama exclaimed the word 'wonderful' in English, it is not because he does not master Hebrew, which he really does not, but it indeed indicates that he is starting to get excited. His eyes sparkled as if he had just heard that he was just 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 accept this idea with open arms'."

I was not so sure that the Palestinians 'will accept this idea with open arms.' This is a good solution only if they really want an independent state that would live in peace alongside Israel, and not just a step forward to be in a better position to destroy Israel, according to their famous theory. But perhaps the idea will catch their imagination for they could not have a better plan for them if they will settle for peace. This solution answers all their excuses, like the one that they are in a prison-state cut off from the world.

Suddenly a wrinkle of concern appeared between Obama's eyes: "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 carries 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 insisted: "...Jerusalem actually was never Palestinian, or any other Muslim nations 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, their capital was another city - Ramle, and Jerusalem was neglected. In contrast, Jerusalem is the eternal capital and wishes of the Jewish people."

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 the proposed Jewish state will be, and it is far away from where the Palestinians state will be which is on the seashore plain according to this proposal."

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." The head piped in an urgent high, but still pleasant tone. Obama made an impatient movement one could interpret as: 'Wait a minute!', and turned to me in an unusual polite voice he never used when speaking with Israeli prime minister: "Would you care to meet later? I'll bring my ministers, and you can bring anyone you want." I nodded in approval but thought to myself that 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 to the press

My cabinet members did not react well to the plan when I explained to them the idea and argued: "In Gaza strip, 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 agree to another Palestinian state in the west bank, we will end up with two hostile Palestinian nations on either side of Israel.

It is unthinkable that both will be under one Palestinian government state as they have no common border. 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 fewer 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 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 gives away our industry, he can later point out that he objected if something will go wrong. 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 does not agree, we'll have the sympathy in the world public opinion. If they 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 is leaked to the press.

The very next day I was informed on the massive 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 had to confirm that there is such a plan, 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 with our ancient cities, Hebron, Bethlehem, Nablus and especially Jerusalem. The left wing will be happy for the Palestinian to have an independent and prosperous state living in peace with Israel. I signed the speech in the hope that these liberals who supported the transfer of Jews from the Gaza strip, will support the necessity of relocating peoples in this plan.

It did not help to convince anyone.

Talks under pressure

Obama invited Mahmoud Abbas and me to discuss the plan.

By now he took credit of the plan, I was happy to let him do it because it makes him committed to the idea.

At first, Mahmoud Abbas tried to evade commitment by raising many objections. I answered all of them patiently. For example, regarding the denial of the Israeli Muslim Arab citizenship.

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. As the debate continued, and Mahmoud Abbas raised more and more objections, Obama showed signs of anger. In response, 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 what's 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 to attack later. But I'm sure we can find an arrangement that will rest your mind at peace."

After six months of exhausting talks, giving more concessions, extending the Palestine state up to 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 in a flat voice: "Now, I understand." 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 Palestinian, and in this case, they cooperate with the Tel-Aviv's Jews that were not too pleased to give up their homes."

He was a man of few words. He stops talking and shot me in the head.