July 25, 2009 ... E1

According to the hyperbole which exists in the international media--in lieu of the reality on the ground--the development of the E1 project would be 'extremely damaging and corrosive', and would irrevocably bisect the West Bank in such a fashion, as to make it impossible for a Palestinian state to be established, within the context of a contiguous territory. This, of course, is utter nonsense.

It is true that Jerusalem would be entirely annexed. But since Jerusalem is Israeli sovereign territory, anyway, this is hardly catastrophic, even to the Palestinians, who can establish a capital in Jericho, as a valid alternative.

It is also true that the established roadways, which currently link Hebron to Jericho, for instance, would be no longer available to the Palestinians. But there are many other opportunities to create new roadways--and the employment associated with them--to circumnavigate the E1 development.

Therefore, it is only those outside of Israel who would find the E1 development problematic, since it would cut into their political calculations and alliances of expediency. In 1948 Israel was established by way of boldly taking the initiative, before other regional actors could exercise their options. In 2009-2010, Israel must again seize the moment and do the right thing, as per its self-interest.

After all, the deal agreed upon in 2008 with the international community, the US in particular, was that Iran would not become a nuclear threat to the region and/or beyond. But, as per Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the White House is now resigned to Iran becoming a nuclear threat, with a policy shift towards arming the region, as a counter to Iran. Which will, of course, be no impediment to Iran's activities, via Iran's radical Islamist proxies, since who is going to escalate a conflict into a nuclear conflagration, over the likes of Hamas and/or Hezbollah, etc.

President Abbas has threatened to withdraw from any further negotiations if E1 is not thwarted. Well, let him, it will simply allow him and his cohort the time to attend to new roadways and Jericho.