In other words, in order for Israel to be accepted by all 22 members of the Arab Leagye, it must first commit suicide. here’s what Hagel has to say about it:
Israel could not have immediately accepted the Arab initiative in its totality. All these issues will require negotiations. But this was an important opening. A very important opportunity. Progress toward an eventual peace is going to be difficult, painful, for both sides. Both sides are going to have to give and compromise. And the bottom line, the bottom line will be: are these compromises worth a just and lasting peace.
This is where Hagel is actually lying, as does anyone who has followed the Oslo process and still expects painful sacrifices from the Palestinians. To the Palestinians – and that’s not Khaled Mashal who openly declares he wants Israel dead, we’re talking Mahnoud Abbas, the peace lover – “painful compromise” means they accept Israel within the 1967 borders. Israel will get nothing more than that from in terms of a concession.
And this is where Hagel delivers the closing line that should alert every friend of Israel in the Senate, if they’re actually listening, rather than operating on pre-decided instructions from their masters:
Only the Israelis and the Arabs can decide that. Neither the U.S., nor any country or institution, can impose peace on them. But what we can do is facilitate a peace process, and act as a sponsor and facilitator of that process. And use our considerable influence to facilitate a just and wise outcome.
Read this line again, slowly:
“And use our considerable influence to facilitate a just and wise outcome.”
That, boys and girls, is what a scary threat sounds like, coming from the biggest power the world has ever seen.