“We Are in the service of the Jewish people, and we do not wish for any other service.”
Zeev Jabotinsky-1905 (click for biography)
The World Likud believes in the vision of Jabotinsky. Following his vision, we will achieve the goals of Zionism, Peace and eventually, a home land for the Jewish People. The World Likud has an important function inside the Likud Movement. We always remember that our way is the Ideological vision of the Revisionist Movement.
INTRODUCTION
This document presents the background and plan for the creation of a lasting peace in the Middle East. It proposes a blueprint for solving the Palestinian refugee problem, while maintaining a secure and strong Israel. Traditional approaches to the Middle East conflict have been based on a land-for-peace paradigm. This approach has failed repeatedly because it has always placed the onus of solving the Palestinian refugee problem on Israel alone. This proposal differs from previous approaches by involving all Arab countries in solving the Palestinian refugee problem in terms of territory, funding, culture, and religion.
For reasons of practical implementation, this proposal divides the plan into long-term and short-term components.
FACTS
1. The Jewish nation has earned its right to exist within secure borders
a. Jews conquered the land of Canaan 3,000 years ago; they reconquered it in 1882, 1948, 1956, 1967, and 1973.
b. There has been a continuous and significant Jewish presence in Palestine for over 2,000 years.
c. With the Balfour Declaration in 1917, Britain (the Mandatory ruler at the time) not only recognized the Jews’ right to a home in their ancestral land, but also committed itself to working to create such a home in an area including both sides of Jordan River (including today’s Jordan).
d. The League of Nations and the international community reaffirmed the Balfour Declaration on August 12, 1922.
e. United Nations Resolution 181 (II) of November 29, 1947 confirmed once again the right of the Jewish nation to live in Israel, and proposed a division of Palestine into two states. While the Jews accepted this resolution, all Arab countries opposed it, and attacked Israel on May 14, 1948, the day of its rebirth.
f. According to international law, land lost by an aggressor belongs to the successful defender.
2. Only a strong Israel can survive
a. Israel has never called for the destruction of another sovereign country. In contrast, even today, the destruction of Israel is a stated aim of many of its neighbors and factions within them, such as Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah.
b. Israel is therefore under continuous threat. It needs to substantially improve its surveillance and intelligence. It needs to equip itself to repel such threats.
c. Land for peace has not worked in Gaza, and it will not work in the West Bank. Arab rhetoric, Palestinian schoolbooks, and mosque sermons consistently deny the legitimacy of the Jewish state. Any sign of negotiated land for peace is understood by the Arabs to show weakness. This situation provides Israel’s enemies with the possibility of Israel’s piecemeal destruction.
d. Consistent and unceasing demonstration of effective military power, coupled with a unified diplomatic ideology, should eventually disabuse the Arab dream of Israel’s destruction. Jihadist ideology will never give up on the destruction of Israel as long as Israel and its allies show weakness. Unfortunately, compromise is interpreted as weakness.
e. Therefore, any hostile activities should be effectively neutralized. Wavering political will and lack of military preparedness, which hampered combat in the recent Lebanon war, must never occur again.
f. Israel exists in a de facto state of war with many of its neighbors; it cannot allow hostile elements operating within its borders. Any activities that sabotage the democratically elected government, regardless of the perpetrator’s ethnic affiliation, should be treated harshly and punished accordingly, e.g., Knesset Members cannot decide on their own to meet with enemy countries such as Syria.
3. The Palestinian refugees are a shared problem
a. A major portion of the Jewish homeland has already been given to the Palestinians In 1923, Britain tore away more than two thirds of the area designated for the Jewish homeland and gave it to King Abdullah to form Transjordan, in violation of the 1922 League of Nations resolution and the spirit of the Balfour Declaration.
b. Arab countries were and are parties to the Palestinian refugee problem Arab countries encouraged Arabs to leave Israel in 1948, promising them a victorious return upon the annihilation of Israel. As a result, more than 650,000 Arabs left Israel.
c. Arab neighbors have exacerbated the Palestinian refugee problem Arab countries enacted laws to deprivePalestinian refugees and their descendants of citizenship, as well as equal participation in the local economy and society.
d. Arab neighbors have the capacity to solve the Palestinian refugee problem First, total Arab lands measure 500 times the size of Israel; second, most of this land is uninhabited and short on human resources; third, these Arab countries, which are largely Muslim, share a religious, linguistic, and cultural heritage with the Palestinian refugees.
e. Arab countries also created a Jewish refugee problem With the creation of Israel, most Arab countries engaged in state-sponsored anti-Semitic propaganda and pogroms against Jews. As a result, more than 800,000 Jews left Arab countries and emigrated to Israel, France, Canada, the US, and Latin America.
f. Israel, along with other Western countries, solved the Jewish refugee problem Israel and the West have absorbed all Jewish refugees from Arab countries, built the necessary infrastructure, and provided Jewish refugees economic assistance, as well as everything they needed to get situated in their new home. As a result, a Jewish refugee problem no longer exists.
4. A Palestinian State within existing Israeli territory is not feasible
The land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea and the natural resources therein are insufficient to sustain two independent states. Also, giving up the West Bank will create a major security threat to Israel, as is already apparent by the ongoing hostility from Gaza, where from Israeli civilians withdrew.
THE PLAN: THE IMMEDIATE PHASE
1. Talks on the establishment of a Palestinian State will cease, effective immediately, as per the facts provided above.
2. Israel will declare its right to exist within its current borders, with no further surrender of territory,
Including the Golan Heights. After the lesson of the Gaza withdrawal, Israeli citizens will be assured, once and for all, that they will never again be forced from their homes. Israelis will continue to establish and develop communities wherever they so choose.
3. Israel will annex most of Judaea and Samaria
Annexation is a key element of this plan, to be applied immediately. The annexed areas will include all of Judaea and Samaria except for Arab population centers such as Ramallah, Nablus, and Jericho, which will be designated as Arab Self-Ruled Areas. Arab residents of the annexed areas will be offered Israeli citizenship with all due rights and obligations under Israeli law.
4. Israel and its neighbors will jointly bear the costs of relocation
Israel will work together with neighboring countries to create a joint compensation and relocation program for those individuals residing in the annexed territories who choose to relocate.
5. Arab self-ruled areas
The population of the above-mentioned areas excluded from annexation will enjoy self-rule and eventually be confederated with Jordan. These territories will include access ways that ensure uninterrupted contiguity, so that life in these areas is conducted independent of Israel. The population of these areas will also have access to Jordan via a corridor that runs through the Jordan Valley.
6. Citizenship
All citizens, Jewish and Arab alike, will have equal rights and duties under Israeli law. Every citizen, including Arabs, must perform compulsory IDF or alternative civilian service.
7. Any threat to Israel and Israeli citizens will be dealt with decisively
Gaza, with the current buildup of terror and hostile acts, will be the first issue dealt with. Israel should not tolerate its citizens being under ongoing attack. Gaza has declared war on Israel, and Israel needs to respond swiftly and decisively. Unlike how the Hezbollah was handled during the 2nd Lebanon War, all sources of hostility in the Gaza Strip must be removed.
THE LONG-TERM PLAN: PEACE AND SECURITY
1. Lasting peace in the Middle East is our long-term goal
We do not call for further territorial expansion, nor do we call for the destruction of any nation.
2. The Arabs must recognize Israel’s right to exist
This requirement must be met unconditionally before negotiating peace. Recognizing Israel’s right to exist must be an explicit and clear act, in contrast to unkept promises, e.g., the Oslo Accords.
3. Peace through partnership All Middle Eastern countries must participate in solving the refugee problem.
a. Upon adoption of the Immediate Plan, described above, Israel will absorb the Arab residents of the annexed areas.
b. Arab countries, which are fellow stakeholders in peace, will help the remaining Palestinian refugees as follows:
I. Self-ruled areas within the West Bank - Financial aid will be required to support the self-ruled territories.
II. The Gaza Strip - Two elements are needed here: (a) territorial extension - Egypt will allow the Gaza Strip to reach El Arish. The Gaza Strip can more than quadruple in size by Egypt making a concession on a relatively marginal area; and (b) all Arab countries will provide financial aid.
THE LONG TERM PLAN: SOCIAL WELFARE AND ECONOMY
This portion of the plan is not directly related to solving Israel’s securities issues. However, it is an essential component of the overall plan, as only a prosperous and united Israel can successfully face the challenges ahead.
1. Infrastructure Continue massive investments in infrastructure, favoring underdeveloped areas, e.g., the Galilee and the Negev; investment in high-tech, including pharmaceuticals and biotech.
2. Expand tourism
3. Address the substantial economical gaps Enable disenfranchised groups to progress financially and socially; invest more in re-energizing the declining educational system; provide better safety nets for those most vulnerable.
4. Taxation Reduce taxation and create incentives for increased productivity and investment.
5. Privatization Privatize most state-owned companies to enable fair competition and private initiative.
6. Incentives for increased legal immigration
7. Simplify and increase land allocation.
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