Google Sidewiki entry by Russell

A very effective and convincing presentation, but here’s a few other perspectives on the issues:

Is it possible that the best way for Israel to gain secure and defensible borders is through making peace with all its neighbours, including the Palestinians?

I would love to see an Israel that encompasses the entire Eretz Israel west of the Jordan, but what about the several millions of non-Jewish inhabitants of these territories? Do we expel them (or worse)? Give them Israeli citizenship, and watch Israel disappear as a Jewish state? Keep them under occupation, and watch Israel become a true Apartheid state?

Immediately after the Six-Day War, it was clearly understood by all that changes to Israel’s borders would need to be made, for sound strategic reasons. In the 45 years that have elapsed since then however, the picture has been completely muddied and obscured by all the pseudo-Halachic BS around the Land of Israel and the public relations disaster that is “The Settlements”. We wanted it all, we failed to explain clearly and categorically what our red lines were, and as a result we will end up with nothing. The so-called Settlement Blocs are useless to Israel strategically, and will now only be gained by means of “land swaps”, something that was never contemplated back then.

A strong IDF – without the morally debilitating occupation – and peace with all her neighbours are Israel’s only hope for survival as a flourishing Jewish and democratic state. The outlines of Israel’s alternative are already clear to those with vision. A grim garrison state, ruled by bearded, black-garbed madmen who refuse to work or bear arms, until it eventually falls to the sword of Islam.

Time is not on our side, and Israel today is led by a pompous windbag who has just rejected the notion of a two-state solution within Israel’s existing borders, the very thing that we begged for after 1948 and 1967. Another opportunity is slipping away…

in reference to: YouTube - Israel's Critical Security Needs for a Viable Peace (view on Google Sidewiki)