Gershon Baskin said he regards the election of Obama as “essential for Israel,” but he also said that the majority of Israelis will never agree with him as he doesn’t have the knee-jerk reaction of using force to fix everything, which is a widespread Israeli position on much of the left as well as the right.
Gershon Baskin calls Palestinians and Israelis who support real peace with Palestinians to wake up now and to begin to prepare the strategy for failure, that we hope will never have to be used. Failure in negotiations may happen. Violence after failure should not be the answer. It is time to get smart.
Dr. Gershon Baskin thinks it is “great” that Carter wants to meet with the Hamas leader and it would take someone like Carter to open a dialogue with the Hamas.
Gershon Baskin feels that the fulfillment of Palestinian national aspirations is what will enable the ultimate fulfillment of Jewish national aspirations. Our security is their security, their security is ours. Time is running out for both of us, but there is still sufficient time to reach an agreement that will save both national movements from mutual destruction.
Gershon Baskin thinks that if the process fails, the time will come for evaluating other strategies and possibilities. Until that time, wisdom calls upon us all to give the process the full chance that it deserves.
Gershon Baskin wishes that thousands of Israelis and Palestinians could join him and walk the Green Line in search of understanding and peace. They too would have the opportunity to experience the real possibilities for creating neighborly relations that would benefit both peoples.
Gershon Baskin, an Israeli with deep roots in that country’s peace movement suggested a framework for resolving the conflict in the Middle East with maintenance of the “Jewish character” of the State of Israel.
Gershon Baskin wishes wholeheartedly to all of his Palestinian friends: “I hope that you too will soon be able to celebrate your independence!”
Gershon Baskin feels that Jimmy Carter’s insistence that Hamas would accept a two-state solution is enormous, and the first indication that Hamas is turning its back on its own covenant of never recognizing Israel.
If Olmert doesn’t agree to release 450 terrorists, every Israeli soldier will know that his government will not go the distance to bring him home.