The phrase "YES WE CAN" caught the imagination of the American electorate. The following article applying this to the conflict in the Middle East, perhaps should cause Obama to read the following:-
YES WE CAN – hold on to Cuban territory (Guantanamo Bay), and refuse the demands of the Cuban administration to return the area – yet at the same time demand that Israel transfer Abu Dis (a neighborhood in East Jerusalem) to Palestinian Authority control BEFORE negotiations are even begun.
YES WE CAN – incarcerate Iraqi and Afghan POWs in inhuman conditions – stating that because Guantanamo is not on U.S. soil, the prisoners have no rights under the U.S. Constitution, and, at the same time, demand that Israel release Palestinian terrorists as a gesture of goodwill to Abu Mazen.
YES WE CAN – send U.S. military forces to fight against any regime deemed to endanger U.S. interests – Vietnam, Panama, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. – yet, in the same breath, demand that Israel relinquish Judea and Samaria without receiving any security guarantees.
YES WE CAN – treat the Israeli Prime Minister like the chieftain of an Indian reservation who has come to visit the White House.
YES … YOU … CAN – because you are a Great Power, for which everything is permitted and justified.
But let's point out what YOU CAN’T…
NO YOU CAN’T – understand the Middle East mentality. You are unable to understand this different culture; you cannot comprehend that as long as the Palestinian Arabs believe that the State of Israel can be destroyed, there is no reason for them to enter true negotiations on coexistence and a two-state solution.
NO YOU CAN’T – influence the Palestinian Authority to change its Charter, calling for the destruction of the State of Israel.
NO YOU CAN’T – influence the Palestinian Arabs to recognize that the people of Israel have the inalienable right to live within the 1967 borders.
NO YOU CAN’T – influence the Palestinian Arabs to accept the fact that the Jews have a centuries-old attachment to the Land of Israel.
NO YOU CAN’T – prevent the Palestinian education system from teaching hatred and jihad – holy war – against Israel.
Only if – and when – you are able to change the NO YOU CAN’T's into YES WE CAN's, will I believe in the U.S. commitment to the continued existence of the State of Israel.
Just a note: The Palestinian Authority HAS changed its charter and has deleted every reference to the destruction of the State of Israel or any other reference to its non-recognition. The PA ha publicy recognized Israel.
ReplyDeleteIt is Hamas who hasn't.
I would be delighted to read such a copy of the PA charter, perhaps the above writer can supply me with a reference or a link to the document he refers to. To date I have not seen any reference to recognition.
ReplyDeleteIn fact the continuous incitement by Imams, TV and school books does not give one confidence of any change in PA policy