Realism vs Pandering, Negotiation vs. Capitulation: hallmarks of the new Israel FM

In Israel, a voice of realism
by Jeff Jacoby The Boston Globe April 5, 2009
http://tinyurl.com/cvoqz2
IF ...Israel's new foreign minister did nothing else, it certainly
vexed the media..."dropped a political bombshell,""sparked an
uproar,"..."blunt and belligerent," ...
***The NYTimes hates him.. how bad can he be? ****
Headlines summed...as an attack on peacemaking: "Lieberman
dashes peace hopes," "Israeli official hits peace efforts,"
"Lieberman dumps peace deal." But the headlines
were wrong, as anyone can ascertain by
reading Lieberman's short address. ... committed himself to
upholding the Roadmap --a step-by-step blueprint to a "two-state
SOLUTION" adopted by Israel,the Palestinian Authority (assuming it has any authority), and the international
Quartet (the United States, the United Nations,Russia, and the
European Union) in 2003.
****He just doesn't want to skip steps.***...the Roadmap,
... binds this government as well." However, he insisted, it must
be implemented "exactly as written" and "in full." The Road Map
imposes specific obligations that the Palestinians must meet prior
to achieving statehood --above all, an unequivocal end to violence,
terrorism, and incitement against the JEWISH state -- and
Israel will not agree to waive them
in order to negotiate a final settlement.
***The other side is now even denying that
one of the two states, Israel, be a JEWISH state...we may
finally see an end to Israel's fruitless attempts to buy peace
with ever-more-desperate concessions and retreats. Under
Ariel Sharon and Ehud Olmert,Israel surrendered the entire
Gaza Strip, released hundreds of terrorists from prison,
expelled thousands of Jews from their homes, and even offered to
divide Jerusalem..."none of these...measures... brought peace,"said Lieberman.
"To the contrary."The steeper the price Israel has been willing to pay
for peace,the more it has been repaid with violence...
stop genuflecting to a feckless and counterproductive "peace
process" and to return instead to the pre-Oslo policy of
deterrence. "The fact that we say the word'peace' 20 times
a day will not bring peace...only makes Israel seem weak and
irresolute, encouraging ...murderous jihad, ...redouble(d)...
Sixteen years of appeasement have left Israel more demonized
and isolated than ever...when was Israel most admired...?
"After the victory of the Six Day War," when no one doubted
the Jewish state's audacity or resolve..."If you want peace,
prepare for war," ...more clearly understand the nature
of Israel's adversary if the media weren't forever
fanning moral outrage at the Mideast's only bulwark of
freedom and democracy.
In recent weeks, the Palestinian Authority has: warned Arabs that it
is "high treason" punishable by death to sell homes or property to
Jews in Jerusalem; shut down a Palestinian youth orchestra
...because the ensemble played for a group of ...Israeli Holocaust
survivors; and celebrated the
deadliest terrorist attack in Israel's history -- a PLO bus
hijacking that left 38 civilians dead -- with a TV special extolling
the massacre;...after a Palestinian terrorist used an axe to murder
a 13-year-old Jewish boy,...a wing of the supposedly "moderate" Fatah
party -- issued a statement
claiming
responsibility.
There is no appeasing such hatred,and demonizing those who
say so will not change that fact. "If you want peace, preparefor war."
How refreshing, at last, to hear an Israeli leader say so.
(Jeff Jacoby is a columnist for The Boston Globe.)