Source Note #12: Israel is not ready for peace
Summary: Israel’s political leaders’ heads are ready for a two-state solution, but their hearts aren’t.
Topic: Should the Obama administration continue to fund Israel’s defense?
Category: Journalistic – mainstream
What is it? Webpage with the text of the article.
Title: Can Israel agree to peace?
Publication Information: Al Jazeera English; Feb. 9, 2009
Author: Ahmed El Amraoui
Location: http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2009/02/200927225945114103.html
Accessed: Feb. 11, 2009
Support:
Benjamin Netanyahu, Likud party leader
Tzipi Livni, Kadima party leader
Ehud Barak, Labor party leader
The Mitchell Report, a peace initiative
The Tenent Plan, a peace initiative
The Arab Peace Initiative
The Saudi Peace Initiative
Yitzhak Rabin, former Israeli prime minister
The above sources represent the leaders of the three major parties in contention for leadership of Israel, attempted and failed peace initiatives put on the table, and an assassinated prime minister who was killed for supposed Arab sympathizing.
Audience and Agenda:
Al Jazeera English claims it is “the world’s first global English language news channel to be headquartered in the Middle East” and aims to be the point of reference for English speakers seeking to learn more about events in the Middle East. Headquartered in Doha, Qatar, Al Jazeera English aims to be “accurate, impartial and objective .” The 24-hour news channel is available to over 130 million homes in over 100 countries, but is only available in the United States in Burlington, VT; Toledo, OH; and Washington, DC.
Usefulness:
In light of Israel’s most recent conflict with Gaza, the political heads of Israel have been forced to strongly consider paths to peace with Palestine in their campaigns. Although a two-state solution has been deemed the most plausible by all three, none seems ready to put the plan into action. The heart of the debate is in borders. The best that Israel can offer is just shy of the worst Palestine can accept and no one seems ready to compromise. Israeli leaders are not prepared to take the risk of removing outposts from the West Bank and Gaza, nor are they ready to handle the repercussions of a separate Palestinian state, and consequently a two-state solution and peace seem far off.
Works cited:
Can Israel agree to peace?
Al Jazeera: About Us
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