If not two states, then what?

While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and German Chancellor Angela Merkel were meeting this week in the shadow of the diplomatic crisis over Israel's announcement of construction in the E1 area near Jerusalem, leaders of the Yesha Council (an umbrella body of settlements in Judea and Samaria) held a one-day seminar to discuss "diplomatic challenges to the settlement enterprise."

The starting point of the discussion was the idea these settler leaders had that they could thwart a two-state solution.

But what would come in its place-

Yesha Council head Danny Dayan and many settler leaders are careful to avoid creating a rift between themselves and the secular majority within the Green Line (Israel's pre-1967 borders). Right now, they are feeling about for the straw to break the camel's back.

For Israel to end its isolation in the world, isn't it a condition that we remain a democracy? Sure, we also support democracy, the settlement leaders say, in a somewhat subdued voice.

A majority of Israeli Jews would not agree to bear the burden of any sort of Western sanctions just to continue building settlements in places like E1. The settler leaders have not internalized this. In their eyes, I am too pessimistic.

In exchange for the revolutionary step of applying Israeli law to Jewish settlement blocs — which would prompt international hysteria — would settler leaders agree to the dismantlement of settlements on the other side of the security barrier? Dayan says no.

The settlement movement leadership represents a traditional and faithful population that has sacrificed much for Israel. Settlers are a key component in the mosaic of Israeli society, but they lack well-conceived restraint. It is impossible to convince them to let the government defer a decision about settlements to its successor and not force facts on the ground before the election.

One seminar participant expressed faith that God would stand by Israel. These people are certainly true believers. Unfortunately, the hour was too late to ask them where God was in 586 B.C. (the destruction of the First Temple) and 70 A.D. (the destruction of the Second Temple).

טעינו? נתקן! אם מצאתם טעות בכתבה, נשמח שתשתפו אותנו