Israel is one of the few states in the world that for most of its history has been under repeated military assault by its neighbors. Yet Israel's vulnerability is expected to increase in the future after territorial concessions that may be part of an eventual peace treaty with the Palestinians. A formula does exist to make such peace arrangements stable. .... the idea that Israel need(s) new defensible lines to ensure a lasting peace.
While Israel's right to defensible borders has been recognized most recently by the Bush administration, unfortunately this has been largely overlooked in much of the recent public discourse on Middle East peace-making, which stresses the territorial aims of the Palestinians but rarely gives equal weight to long-held Israeli rights and defensive requirements. Indeed, in certain quarters, including parts of Europe, many of Israel's security needs are dismissed ....
This study concludes that the underlying strategic logic justifying Israel's claim to defensible borders, as well as its international legal validity, is just as relevant today as in 1967, and perhaps even more so: (go to the Executive Summary to see the explanation of each of the points below)
- Israel's strategic planning for the future cannot be based on a short-term reading of the situation after the 2003 Iraq War....
- Within the 1967 lines, from a purely military standpoint, Israel loses the ability to defend itself....
- The current West Bank security fence cannot become a future eastern border for Israel....
- Israel must retain the Jordan Valley in any future political arrangement with the Palestinians....
(go to the Executive Summary to see the explanation of each of these points)
© 2005 Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs
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