The Hamas Truce Offer: Peaceful Coexsitence?

Israelis and Palestinians have been killing each other for years. I have discussed peace and war on this blog many times, but have not discussed a real, possible solution. On the tail end of Pesach, where we celebrate our freedom, it is relevant to discuss freedom from the fear of terrorism and the security of our future.

Right before the Jews in Gaza were expelled by the Israeli government, I said that I would support leaving Gaza if it would lead to peace, but I did not believe it would lead to peace, so we should not leave. I was right, there is no peace. The only real result of the Gaza evacuation is a generation of mentally damaged and emotionally scarred Jewish youth.

With Hamas offering a "10 year truce" to Israel if we leave all territory captured in the 1967 war, deciding what to do is not an easy decision. Hamas is sworn to the destruction of Israel. It is in their charter. According to the Quran, the world is divided into two sections. The Islamic world, and the lands yet to be conquered. There is no peaceful solution for the world yet to be conquered, there is only a waiting period. Hamas offered this, which is nice in the mean time, but will lead to the same situation we are in today, only with less land to defend.

Eastern Israel, often called the "West Bank", is part of our biblical homeland. We took control in a war that was started by the Arab Muslim countries. Why should we give the land back? According to the rules of war, it is ours. If the Arabs took control of Israeli land during the 1967 war, do you think they would give it back for anything? No. They would not.

Our Muslim neighbors will never be happy with an Israeli neighbor. At least Jordanian leadership and current Egyptian leadership are willing to peacefully tolerate the Jewish state next door. Parts of the Jordanian and Egyptian population do not, however, tolerate Israel. If they ever take control, peace on those boarders will end.

So, what should Israel do? Hamas has an offer on the table. Israel should take it for what it is, a delay. The Palestinians are getting fed up with their living conditions. It is easy to blame Israel, but the fact of the matter is that corruption and war are hurting the people. They will wise up to it sooner or later. Israel does not need to negotiate with a group who ultimately wants to destroy it. Israel should NEVER give away any part of Jerusalem. Israel should NEVER give away any land area where major Jewish populations reside, such as Gush Etzion or the Golan Heights. If we give away Jenin and Ramallah, good riddance. They are hostile population centers of people who do not want anything to do with us, and will likely never change their mind. But we should never give away Jewish cities or Jewish lands. Most of Israel was purchased from Palestinians. The rest was won in a war, by traditional rules. We do not have to give anything back. Should we give anything back? If there is a real prospect of peace, some lands can be negotiated. But if any Arab leader thinks we are going to give away everything we won in 1967, they are unrealistic and mistaken.