Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., October 03, 2009 Tishrei 15, 5770 | | Israel Time: 11:36 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Jewish World Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Focus U.S.A. Strenger than Fiction Business Real Estate Magazine Week's End Anglo File Books
Share |
Last update - 20:43 11/05/2009
Michael Oren, Ambassador, or, this is how the occupation ends
By Bradley Burston
Tags: Israel News, Palestinians 

Click here for more articles by Bradley Burston


I was reading an Etgar Keret book of gently hallucinatory short stories when I got the news. It fit right in.
Advertisement
The Foreign Minister, who was now Avigdor Lieberman - himself nothing if not an Etgar Keret invention - had approved the choice of Michael Oren as Israel's next ambassador to Washington.

Michael Oren is a singular, spellbinding historian. His authoritative accounts of the 1967 war and on U.S. relations with the Mideast are second to none. He is persuasive, credible and fluent when pressing Israel's case on world television. He is as original in thought as he is courageous in argument.

Which is why the most oft-quoted of his recent statements deserves a close second look.

"I may be the last of the standing unilateralists," he was reported to have said at the end of a March lecture in Georgetown University.

"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.

Years from now, we may come to realize that Oren's position on a unilateral withdrawal from the West Bank was more prophecy than advocacy.

In a region where the only workable solutions have something to outrage and ultimately disappoint everyone involved, the unilateral withdrawal has this much going for it: No one wants it.

Inevitably, at home, the statement has been criticized from both right and left. The Qassams that followed the unilateral pullout from Gaza were enough to persuade a majority of Israelis to agree with hardliners and rule out a parallel withdrawal in the West Bank. Committed doves, meanwhile, have often cited the Qassams as proof that if Israel is to relinquish territory, it must do so exclusively in the context of a peace agreement with the Palestinian Authority.

Unilateralism also ill-serves the Obama administration, the PA, and even radical Islamists, the first two because of its skirting the two-state issue, the last because, paradoxically, it could actually strengthen the Jewish state.

"I have one ideology: I'm a Zionist," the influential New York Jewish Week last week quoted Oren as saying. "I believe in the existence of an independent, sovereign, strong and secure Jewish state. A state that is closely allied with the U.S."

The fact remains, that even though the Gaza pullout - coupled with wrong-headed Bush administration pressure for Gazan elections - brought Hamas to power, there has been no serious Israeli call, even from hardliners, for a return to the Strip and permanent re-occupation.

It was right to leave Gaza. We were wrong to mistreat and fail to provide for the settlers, we were wrong to leave Israelis along the border vulnerable to rocket attacks, we were wrong to fail to counter those attacks with fiercely intelligent military strikes with minimal civilian casualties, we were wrong to fail to follow rocket attacks with a mammoth world diplomatic offensive and an international observer force, we were wrong to fail to aid the Gazans by helping foster employment and enlisting the Saudis and others to provide investment and foster education, health care, and jobs, we were wrong to allow the Bush administration to pressure for ill-fated elections - but we were right to leave.

In the end, there may be no way to leave the West Bank, other than to make the decision ourselves and leave.

It was right to end the occupation of Gaza, which sapped and harmed and weakened and corrupted Israel.

And when the time comes, as Michael Oren has been brave and sage enough to suggest, we'll be right to help the settlers go and leave the West Bank as well.

Recent blogs:

Could the Taliban get the bomb before Iran does?
Obama, Netanyahu, and Zionists Against Occupation
Pharaoh for Passover, a dead son, and the Jews
The Mideast conflict in 27 words or less
Why does the world media love to hate Israel?
The racist Israeli fascist in meHillary Clinton, Gaza, and the six-state solution
Winslet, 'Waltz,' and how Hollywood likes its Jews
Sure the Israeli right won? Peace lost? Look closer
Will Livni, Netanyahu settle for rotation, sharing premiership?
PROMOTION: Mamilla Hotel
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
He did Israel a favor
It's a pity Israel waited for Goldstone to probe Gaza war rather than look hard at itself
Iran faces West
Talks on Iran's nuclear program were 'significant' - but hard work lies ahead
  1.   And the Palestinians? 17:27  |  Marilyn 04/05/09
  2.   The wisdom of diference 17:44  |  MK 04/05/09
  3.   The Palestinians Can Do What They Will 17:50  |  Jane 04/05/09
  4.   Where`s the need for unilaterism if the Saudi Plan fits the bill? 18:05  |  Ivar 04/05/09
  5.   Wow 18:06  |  Amazed 04/05/09
  6.   To #1 18:36  |  MK 04/05/09
  7.   Ivar- No Need for the Saudi Plan=1 State Solution 18:42  |  Jane 04/05/09
  8.   It`s Always Hard To Find The Center... 18:44  |  Yosemite 04/05/09
  9.   THE OCCUPATION MUST END 18:59  |  indrajaya 04/05/09
  10.   to Marilyn 19:02  |  Israeli 04/05/09
  11.   # 1 Marilyn....the Pals can get moving and develop 19:03  |  Lynn 04/05/09
  12.   # 4 Ivar...where`s the need for any plan? 19:11  |  Lynn 04/05/09
  13.   #1 - Marilyn 20:00  |  JES 04/05/09
  14.   The wisdom of deterrence 20:03  |  Jordan 04/05/09
  15.   I strongly agree with Burston and Oren 20:04  |  JES 04/05/09
  16.   unilateral withdrawal has this much going for it: No one wants it 20:21  |  John 04/05/09
  17.   If so, get the Arab League on board ! 20:28  |  Fortuna Benmayor 04/05/09
  18.   Un-said but important 20:45  |  RfaelMoshe 04/05/09
  19.   Who are we kidding? So no document which spells "END OF CONFLICT" 20:48  |  Smadar 04/05/09
  20.   Indrajaya the occupation must end indeed...that is... 20:50  |  Leo 04/05/09
  21.   Marilyn 20:58  |  David Latner 04/05/09
  22.   Leo 22:07  |  alan 04/05/09
  23.   IVAR The govt of Palestine does NOT accept the Saudi plan 04:40  |  PETER SM 05/05/09
  24.   Reality Check on Dr. Oren... 04:47  |  Wedi Asmara... 05/05/09
  25.   MARYLIN ever heard of land purchases?Obviously not,you are living 05:02  |  PETER SM 05/05/09
  26.   12 Lynn - Couldn`t Disagree More 05:34  |  Mark of Lewiston 05/05/09
  27.   Alan..two wrongs don`t make it right... 05:42  |  Leo 05/05/09
  28.   Unilateral vs two-state: compromise? 08:38  |  Samuel 05/05/09
  29.   Peter 23, Lynn 12, Pals embrace Saudi Plan with returnee limits 09:22  |  Ivar 05/05/09
  30.   Unilateral withdrawal specialists 09:33  |  allang 05/05/09
  31.   The problem is 11:08  |  Chris Linthwaite 05/05/09
  32.   what you dont understand, Brad... 11:08  |  ed 05/05/09
  33.   #25PeterSM. You and your tribe have another country - Israel. 11:20  |  Maureen Ann 05/05/09
  34.   `spellbinding historian` rose-tinted specs,Burston? 11:27  |  Roo 05/05/09
  35.   0ccupation must end 11:30  |  Hermann Kuntz, 05/05/09
  36.   Will not achieve peace 11:56  |  Davids 05/05/09
  37.   MAUREEN.Practice what you & Marylin preach at Israel 12:08  |  PETER SM 05/05/09
  38.   `spellbinding historian` rose-tinted specs,Burston? 12:12  |  Roo 05/05/09
  39.   Obama`s response to this should be unequivocal 12:25  |  Roo 05/05/09
  40.   End the Complete Occupation 12:48  |  Shmuel 05/05/09
  41.   IVAR Where does Hamas say "returnee limits"? 12:56  |  PETER SM 05/05/09
  42.   # 1 13:25  |  BAR KOCHVA 05/05/09
  43.   #33 Qassams must end,too,Mr.Kuntz 13:30  |  Hastaroth 05/05/09
  44.   ROO Exactly No Peace No deal 13:44  |  PETER SM 05/05/09
  45.   "#22 13:45  |  oz 05/05/09
  46.   Right of return 13:46  |  jennifer 05/05/09
  47.   RfaelMoshe 13:55  |  jennifer 05/05/09
  48.   # 33 KUNTZ 14:10  |  EHUD 05/05/09
  49.   peace 14:23  |  oz 05/05/09
  50.   Lynn and `pea brains` #11 18:14  |  Roo 05/05/09
  51.   Lynn # 12 right of return 18:35  |  American in NY 05/05/09
  52.   # 26 Mark of Lewiston...what? 23:07  |  Lynn 05/05/09
  53.   Unilaterally Withdraw To Where, Mr. Bradley Burston? 23:41  |  Jeff Northridge 05/05/09
  54.   # 51 American from NY....It surely makes more sense then 23:45  |  Lynn 05/05/09
  55.   52 Lynn - Gaza Before Hamas 23:47  |  Mark of Lewiston 05/05/09
  56.   # 17 Fortuna Benmayor.....that would be where some coalition 23:51  |  Lynn 05/05/09
  57.   Ivar....last week in Haaretz 23:55  |  Lynn 05/05/09
  58.   easy and simple solution... 01:03  |  patrick hammel 06/05/09
  59.   Leaving The West Bank Unilaterally.. 02:22  |  Tim R 06/05/09
  60.   Burston`s take on Oren 03:28  |  Ojos Criollos 06/05/09
  61.   Right of return 03:48  |  Arnold 06/05/09
  62.   #50 Roo...here`s some realism for you 03:56  |  Lynn 06/05/09
  63.   how stupid can one be? how indifferent to the history of the last 04:13  |  dante 06/05/09
  64.   #51 American...what about the Pals in Lebanon? 05:31  |  Lynn 06/05/09
  65.   You know who brought Hamas to power? 06:31  |  Jonas Menchik 06/05/09
  66.   52 Lynn - Gaza Before Hamas 07:09  |  Mark of Lewiston 06/05/09
  67.   Dear Mr. Burston 10:00  |  zeev 06/05/09
  68.   to dante #58 11:24  |  zeev 06/05/09
  69.   Lynn # 54 not really 15:13  |  American in NY 06/05/09
  70.   To Tim R# 59 ,...Briefly put it would change nothing but more .. 15:23  |  Whiskey 06/05/09
  71.   To Jeff N.#53 And my take on Our New Ambassador. 15:34  |  JUST ME 06/05/09
  72.   American In NY #69 02:16  |  Tim R 07/05/09
  73.   Whiskey #70 02:23  |  Tim R 07/05/09
  74.   Withdraw from Tel Aviv 04:04  |  Justin White 07/05/09
  75.   Oren is right withdraw from the West Bank 10:30  |  Hawthorne 07/05/09
  76.   American in NY #69 10:51  |  Tim R 07/05/09
  77.   Whiskey #70 10:53  |  Tim R 07/05/09
  78.   Given the great sucess from gaza withdrawal.... 15:28  |  trumpeldor 07/05/09
  79.   What about .... 02:12  |  Mohammad 11/05/09
  80.   Leaving the West Bank 18:35  |  David 12/05/09
  81.   To those Israelis bashing Australia #1 18:48  |  Skippy 18/05/09
  82.   To those Israelis bashing Australia #2 18:49  |  Skippy 18/05/09
  83.   To those Israelis bashing Australia #3 18:50  |  Skippy 18/05/09
  84.   To those Israelis bashing Australia #4 18:51  |  Skippy 18/05/09
  85.   to leave or not 09:44  |  EW 03/10/09
Special Offers
Advertisement
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
Holiday Greetings from the Heart
LIBI-Caring for Israeli Soldiers
JGooders Special Rosh Hashanah Gift Cards
Send Gift Cards to you Friends and Family and Taste the Sweetness of Giving
Date Local Jewish Singles
Ready to meet your match? Join Jdate today!
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
Amazing Jewelry
Visit SoKoBe.com for the best priced fine jewelry in the world
More Headlines
09:56 'Obama won't press Israel to reveal nuclear arsenal'
10:50 'Amnesty bemoans UN body's deferral of Gaza war report'
09:45 Israel bombs Gaza weapons lab following Hamas rocket attack
07:36 Gilad Shalit in video: I've been longing for my freedom for a long time
20:51 Noam Shalit: Gilad is suffering and rotting in Hamas captivity
21:39 Hamas vows to try to kidnap more IDF soldiers
18:04 ANALYSIS / Shalit video means a deal with Hamas is a question of when, not if
01:40 TV ROUND-UP: Israel awaits Shalit video, first Palestinian prisoner freed
08:13 Congress readies tough Iran sanctions if nuclear talks fail
00:45 Warsaw Ghetto uprising hero Mark Edelman dies aged 86
19:05 Amos Oz named a favorite to win Nobel prize for literature
23:32 Gilad Shalit video / Footage with full English transcript
23:03 Families of Palestinian prisoners celebrate their return following Shalit video deal
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
| Advert: Recommended Restaurants | Makom: Engaging on Israel
| Search engine marketing
Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved