We in Israel and Palestine need a U.S. president who understands this, and will act on it. Someone who will turn to diplomacy before force, someone with the vision of a peace maker. We hope that American voters will take our message to heart, and support a candidate who will help to make Israeli-Palestinian peace a priority. Americans need peace, too.
Gershon Baskin was in Atlanta sharing his insights about peace in the Middle East.
Rita Baskin (April 15, 1931-February 24, 2008) died from internal injuries, three days after a car crash in Palm Springs FL. Her funeral service was held at Riverside Gordon Memorial Chapels west of Delray Beach and she was interred in the Wellwood Cemetery in Pinelawn, Long Island NY. A rnold Read more
A military attack against Gaza will not achieve the strategic objective of ending the attacks from there against Israel. Only an agreed on cease-fire with Hamas will stop the Qassams.
Gershon Baskin’s feels that the present policy of pressure and strangulation of the Gaza Strip in order to weaken Hamas has backfired and Hamas is stronger now.
It is therefore of the utmost urgency that de-escalation of forces and tensions takes place on both sides of the Gaza border. The government of Israel and the PA in Ramallah should enter into direct consultations on the emerging situation on the ground.
The key to staying in power is not only in reaching an agreement, but in ensuring that both peoples remain hopeful that peace is actually a real possibility. In this area, they have a lot more work to do.
Gaza will not disappear and the people there will remain part of the Palestinian people and when there is a peace agreement that will create the Palestinian state next to Israel, Gaza will have to be included in those developments.
Gershon Baskin believes that Jerusalem needs someone who will put the unique needs of the city and its people first.
The very future of the viability of the two-state solution is at stake. The Annapolis process has taken off. It must now succeed.