Before You Recognize Palestine, Hear Our Fears
As Western countries move to recognize a Palestinian state, many Israeli government reactions have been angry and confrontational. Here is an alternative which might achieve better results:
First, we acknowledge that countries recognizing a Palestinian state are doing so as part of a genuine effort to bring peace and security to both our peoples. You believe recognition of Palestine is the best path towards peace, and you are doing so for the benefit of both Israel and Palestine. We appreciate the sincerity of your motive.
Israel of course also desires to live at peace with our Palestinian neighbors. If so, it may seem strange to you that Israel opposes the recognition of Palestine. Recognition may even seem like common sense- one of the few practical steps countries can take now to move ahead in the peace process. But there is a problem: Quite simply, we are afraid. And we believe with very good reason.
Every nation recognizing Palestine envisions that new country living at peace with Israel. But what of the numerous statements of Arab leaders making clear their true desire is Israel’s destruction? What if they use statehood to further that goal? We see what happened when Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, and rather than lead to peace, that started a path of ever-intensifying warfare, leading to where we are today.
You may say this is far-fetched, and we are cherry-picking angry rhetoric of Palestinian leaders to justify denying them statehood. But should there be rocket launches or terrorist incursions from the new Palestinian state, they will target our homes and buses, not yours. We who have suffered through the intifadas and the atrocities of Oct. 7th are not easily convinced of Palestine’s peaceful intentions.
But our fear is much deeper. When we see hatred directed against us all around the world, we feel fear. When we see protesters justifying and sometimes even celebrating attacks against us, we feel fear. When we are targeted disproportionately by the United Nations and human rights groups with more condemnations than any other nation on Earth, we feel fear. Fear that if we are attacked again, by the new Palestinian state and its allies, the world will not rally around us, condemn aggression against us, and declare that especially now that Israel has taken risks for peace it must be protected. Instead, we are afraid that the world may side with our attackers, mock our newfound vulnerability, and support those who do us harm.
We are also afraid that the process of creating a Palestinian State may itself be weaponized against us. East and West Jerusalem are now integrated into one city- will you demand it be redivided? Much of Israel’s transportation infrastructure runs through the West Bank- are you going to insist that highways and rail tracks be uprooted? Are you going to support a right of return that would bring upon us a flood of Palestinian refugees we would be unable to integrate? We fear that Palestinian statehood may be used to demand concessions aimed at destroying our country.
In order for us to accept, or even join you in recognizing Palestine, we need you to first help alleviate our fears. Here are a few simple ways to start:
Many of the angry demonstrations against us, particularly surrounding sporting events or Eurovision, do not seem to us to be tied to protesting any specific Israeli policy. Instead, it feels like they are protesting our very existence. We sense the goal is to permanently exclude us from the global community, perhaps in the hope we will be weakened and someday destroyed. Help alleviate our fear by taking a stand against this. Make clear that while protesting policies is acceptable, protesting Israel’s existence as a state is not.
Make clear to Palestinians that while you support their statehood, you will not support maximalist demands that are designed to punish rather than facilitate implementation of the two-state solution.
Many of you included in your remarks recognizing the State of Palestine that you are also committed to our security. We need you to say that louder and more forcefully. To us, because we need to see that you mean it and it wasn’t just a throw away phrase you added on. And to Palestinians, so they understand that you mean it too, and this wasn’t tossed in as a political nicety or sweetener.
We hope as much as you do that someday we can achieve the vision of a free, independent Palestinian state. We understand that you are ready, and even impatient. Unfortunately, right now we are still not.
