How Israel Brought U.N. Resolution on Itself With Irrational Settlement Push

The controversy over the U.S. decision to abstain rather than veto a UN Resolution supported by every other member of the Security Council diverts attention from the most important threat to a secure future for Israel.

The single path forward for Israel to maintain its status as both Jewish and democratic is to realize upon the dream of two states for two peoples. The Palestinians have not made this easy. Whether through incitement, terrorism, stubbornness or poor judgment it does seem as if, to quote the legendary Israeli diplomat Abba Eban, the Palestinians “have never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity.”

That one can legitimately question whether the Palestinians are ready partners for peace, however, provides no excuse for foreclosing the possibility of the only option that is in Israel’s interest. As a lifelong Zionist, that the implementation of the two state policy poses a difficult challenge is simply another obstacle to be overcome. Ben Gurion would be ashamed by the failure of Israel’s current leadership to find an innovative solution. The challenges encountered by Israel’s original generation, which were overcome, were much more difficult than those Israel faces today when it is well established and possesses the most powerful military in the region.

Read the full article at The Forward.