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Last update - 10:48 24/04/2009 Candidate for U.S. envoy: Israel must unilaterally quit West Bank By Barak Ravid Tags: West Bank, Dr. Michael Oren  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's candidate for Israeli ambassador to Washington, Dr. Michael Oren, supports a unilateral Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank and an evacuation of most of the settlements. Oren, a visiting Georgetown University professor, said in a lecture there last month, "The only alternative for Israel to save itself as a Jewish state is by unilaterally withdrawing from the West Bank and evacuating most of the settlements." Oren, a Middle East expert and senior researcher at Jerusalem's Shalem Center, gave a 90-minute lecture entitled "The Gaza Crisis from an Historical and Personal Perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict." Advertisement Answering questions from attendees, Oren voiced his opinions about possible solutions to the conflict and the policy Israel should take. He emphasized that he does not represent the majority of Israelis. "I may be the last of the standing unilateralists," he said. "The only thing that can save Israel as a Jewish state is by unilaterally withdrawing our settlements from the West Bank," and waiting for a new Palestinian leadership. Oren said he does not believe that a solution to the conflict could be achieved at this stage. Instead we should find ways to "better manage the conflict, to relieve tensions and ameliorate the conditions under which people live to ensure against future flare ups." "Peace as a solution is not a question of next week but a generational issue," he said. "One of the lessons that the failed Oslo process has taught us is that peace must be built from the bottom up. We cannot impose peace from the top down, it doesn't percolate from the top down." Establishing a Palestinian state would require the evacuation of tens of thousands of Jewish settlers from the West Bank and from holy cities like Hebron, Oren said. To take such a traumatic step most Israelis must be convinced that they would be getting "absolute peace" and the "end of the conflict," he said. Oren said he supported the disengagement from the Gaza Strip. After they started firing Qassam rockets from Gaza, he said Natan Sharansky asked him if the disengagement wasn't a mistake. Oren said he replied that it had not been. The mistake was Israel's failure to react to the Qassam fire, which sent a message of weakness to the entire Middle East. Oren also spoke about his personal experience regarding the Gaza Strip and said he had "traumatic relations" with the Gaza Strip and Hamas leadership. He said he could only regret the killing of civilians in Gaza in the course of Operation Cast Lead and especially the daughters of Dr.Az A-Din Abu Ayash. But as an Israeli, he also cannot forget that his sister in law was killed by a suicide bomber from Gaza and that 70,000 Palestinians cheered the attack in the Gaza stadium, he said. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Swine killed over flu Egypt orders pigs killed in anticipation of pandemic. Obama greets Israel U.S. President salutes Israel's 61st independence day.   1.   Oh Brother, ANOTHER KNOW IT ALL from waaay over here ... 07:18  |  chuckmeister 24/04/09   2.   And he thinks that is enough?? 07:36  |  KYOT 24/04/09   3.   Oren has lost his perspective 07:43  |  IW 24/04/09   4.   Unilateral withdrawal from the West Bank? 08:02  |  Lou Medel 24/04/09   5.   For informaton - the Quran, the Jews and the ?Palestinians?. 08:21  |  Jean Van Daem 24/04/09   6.   This guy acts like he`s working for tipsi!only chance for Israel 08:41  |  glenna 24/04/09   7.   Oren brings valuable, welcome ideas to the table. 09:04  |  Ivar 24/04/09   8.   Stating the obvious 09:31  |  MarkC 24/04/09   9.   Dont Blame God 12:08  |  Mark Turner 24/04/09   10.   What a relief... a small sliver of hope... 12:12  |  Esther 24/04/09   11.   Why not? 12:14  |  ChanahS 24/04/09   12.   Oren has FAR-LEFT backround, not right-wing 12:19  |  Chaim 24/04/09   13.   An insightful Israeli 18:30  |  jayemmay 24/04/09   14.   Didn`t the Gaza withdrawal teach these guys anything? 19:29  |  D 24/04/09   15.   Israel must unilaterally quit 19:59  |  Rabbi Yitzchok Wolf 24/04/09   16.   chuckmeister - contempt for Christians too? 20:32  |  Don 24/04/09   17.   Oren is just plain nuts. 20:37  |  Chaim 24/04/09   18.   Don 21:31  |  Oren is right 24/04/09   19.   Because unilateral withdrawals were so successful in past? 21:39  |  Nechama 24/04/09   20.   two state solution 22:02  |  Timoteo Uelese 24/04/09   21.   Unilateral withdrawal - this is Convergence 23:17  |  Reid 24/04/09   22.   Unilateral Withdrawal - This is convergence II 23:29  |  Reid 24/04/09   23.   Ivar - Hamas rejected the Arab Peace Initiative 23:39  |  Reid 24/04/09   24.   10 Esther - A Monumental Mistake 05:51  |  Mark of Lewiston 25/04/09   25.   Reid, 18, throws the baby out with the bathwater 07:36  |  Ivar 25/04/09   26.   Ivar avoiding Reid`s concerns 09:05  |  curious 25/04/09   27.   Curious, when Israel finally gets serious, so will Arabs 10:24  |  Ivar 25/04/09   28.   Neither Western Wall, nor "Temple Mount" are a Jewish concern 10:26  |  Ivar 25/04/09   29.   Oooh you are expecting Jew will be allowed worshipping there Ivar 17:24  |  curious 25/04/09   30.   Temple Mount 16:53  |  David 26/04/09   31.   For Jean van Damn 00:26  |  Dr. Reality Check 27/04/09   32.   Response to Havar 00:34  |  Dr. Reality Check 27/04/09   33.   Response to Curious 00:37  |  Dr. Reality Check 27/04/09   34.   Esther # 10 Michael Oren is a stage prop fro Netanyahu. Bibi is t 02:42  |  American in NY 27/04/09   35.   #31 take responsibility for those who you killed. 04:32  |  curious 27/04/09   36.   For Curious again 03:47  |  Dr Reality Check 30/04/09

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