"Crossing Swords"

[johnkarls]

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On 1/2/2024, the following analysis was received by participants in the weekly Zoom Chat for members of the Harvard Law School Class of 1967.

HLS-67-m102-Stu Eizenstat's HAMAS WAR IN GAZA HLS'67 010124.docx

(41.78 KiB) Downloaded 90 times

The analysis was prepared by Stu Eizenstat who --

(1) is a regular participant in my Harvard Law School Class of 1967 Weekly Zoom-Chat ("my" only in the sense of participating, not facilitating);

(2) is still active in Covington & Burling (Washington DC's most prestigious law firm) and is still a "mover and shaker" in the national Democrat Party; and

(3) prides himself in having served in three US Gov positions requiring Senate confirmation - including Ambassador to the European Union for Bill Clinton.

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The analysis makes the case for the “two-state solution.”

NB: Our plea to Pres. Biden for a Palestinian “Marshall Plan” is compatible with EITHER a “two-state solution” OR the Netanyahu/Dermer plan to destroy Hamas and proceed to occupy Gaza for years thereafter, similarly to the way the U.S. occupied Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan for many years to transform German/Japanese society so that today, Germany and Japan have for nearly 8 decades, been two of America’s most loyal allies.

HOWEVER, the choice of the “two-state solution” or the Netanyahu/Dermer plan is an existential one for the world which, with nuclear arms soon to permeate the Middle East, may experience a nuclear holocaust.

ACCORDINGLY, the attached analysis from Stu Eizenstat should be contrasted with the following e-mail response --


---------------------------- Original Message -----------------------------
Subject: HLS-67- Stu Eizenstat’s “Hamas War in Gaza HLS 67 010124”
Date: 2024-01-03 01:41
From: john@johnkarls.com
To: Stu Eizenstat
Bcc: Harvard Law School Class of 1967 Weekly Zoom-Chat Participants
Attachments -
(1) Stu Eizenstat’s “Hamas War in Gaza HLS 67 010124” [available above]
(2) RL-kc16- LetterToPresidentBiden-MarshallPlanForPalestinians.pdf [available at viewtopic.php?f=778&t=2449&sid=c79542f4 ... e50c900b18]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Stu,

[NB: Bcc to HLS-67 Zoom-Chat Participants.]

Thank you very much for your comprehensive and thoughtful analysis of various aspects of the Hamas War in Gaza (a copy of which is attached).

Since it appears you intend to discuss it with us next Monday, several points are respectfully raised herewith to provide maximum time for your consideration before Monday.


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FIRST, your attached statement is saturated with the idea that a two-state solution is the only possible way forward.

HOWEVER, I was shouted down during one of our recent Zoom chats for attempting to point out that the UN Resolution 181 was the first two-state solution because it was based on a careful year-long assessment by the United Nations Special Committee on Palestine (USCOP) formed 5/15/1947 to oversee the termination of the British Palestine Protectorate (one of 5 protectorates established by the League of Nations to administer the remnants of the Ottoman Empire’s possessions following World War I).

Not surprisingly in light of the policy of the Arab Empire and its successor, the Ottoman Empire, that everyone including Jews were welcome to buy land and settle down in their domains, UNSCOP found that there were only 1,077,000 Muslims out of a total population of 1,846,000 – or 58.3%.

Accordingly, the UNSCOP Report resulted in U.N. Resolution 181 ending the British Mandate on 5/14/1948 and partitioning Palestine into what the Resolution called a “Jewish State” and a “Palestinian State” based on who owned what even though the Jewish State and Palestinian State resembled a “checker board” of land ownership.

Israel accepted U.N. Resolution 181 and declared its independence on 5/14/1948.

And was immediately invaded by Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon.

SO MUCH FOR THE FIRST “TWO-STATE SOLUTION”!!!

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Another failed “two-state solution”

In 2000, President Clinton succeeded in negotiating a “two-state solution” with Israel and Yasser Arafat (Chairman of the Palestinian Liberation Organization and President of the Palestinian National Authority which, at that time, “governed” (subject to Israeli occupation) both Gaza and the West Bank).

However, Yasser Arafat reneged on the agreement because, in his Arabic speeches to his Palestinian followers, he had always promised undying enmity toward Israel and promised to never rest until Israel “was thrown into the sea” and, when he returned to Palestine, he found that he hadn’t prepared his followers sufficiently to accept his Peace Plan and that he would be deposed.

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Yet another failed “two-state solution”

Israel in 2005 unilaterally provided a “Semi” Two-State Solution, by voluntarily withdrawing unilaterally from Gaza -- including the forced repatriation of all Jewish settlers back to Israel.

Hamas was elected to power in Gaza in 2006 – the last election held in Gaza and Israel has been attacked with bombs and missiles, on and off, ever since.

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The Basic Problem – Israel’s Right to Exist

Both Hamas’ foundational documents and continuing pronouncements, and Arafat’s Palestinian Liberation Organization which morphed into the Palestinian National Authority and still governs the West Bank REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE ISRAEL’S RIGHT TO EXIST.

So how do you, Stu, think Hamas and the PLO/PNA and their followers WHO HAVE BEEN INDOCTRINATED SINCE BIRTH NOT TO ACCEPT ISRAEL’S RIGHT TO EXIST can be re-programmed overnight???

This leads to my second point which is respectfully submitted for your consideration.


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SECOND, the Dermer/Netanyahu plan for Gaza

You assert –

(Part IV-1-A of your attached outline) that “no one wants to ‘own’ and run Gaza.”

(Part IV-4 of you attached outline) that “Israel does not want long-term occupation of Gaza…”

HOWEVER, your assertions are contradicted by both –

(1) Ron Dermer – Israeli War Cabinet Member whose portfolio is Minister of Strategic Affairs and who was the Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. 2013-2021; and

(2) Prime Minister Netanyahu.

They have since mid-November proposed to destroy Hamas and proceed to occupy Gaza for years thereafter, similarly to the way the U.S. occupied Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan for many years to transform German/Japanese society so that today, Germany and Japan have for nearly 8 decades, been two of America’s most loyal allies.

Since you, Stu, have studiously ignored the Israeli Government’s Hamas/Gaza proposal, it would be appreciated if you would do so next Monday. [Sic – should say “if you would address it next Monday.”]


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THIRD, the Proposed “Marshall Plan for the Palestinians” which Pres. Obama rejected

Most of our Zoom-Chat participants are tired of hearing about the 229-member monthly non-partisan public-policy study/action group that I have facilitated for 18 years during which we have made 56 policy recommendations on various topics to national and international policy makers – many of which have been surprisingly effective.

Our 12/13/2023 monthly meeting decided to re-direct to President Biden our 10/14/2009 plea to President Obama for a Palestinian “Marshall Plan” which he rejected.

The second attachment to this e-mail is our 12/16/2023 “Marshall Plan” plea to President Biden.

More information about our Dec meeting can be found in –

(1) The 6 Reference Materials posted at viewforum.php?f=771&sid=6e5d4bd1039c2ea ... c05ab52b23.

(2) The 4 Participant Comments posted at viewforum.php?f=772&sid=6e5d4bd1039c2ea ... c05ab52b23.

(3) The 2 postings re Original Proposal at viewforum.php?f=770&sid=6e5d4bd1039c2ea ... c05ab52b23.

(4) The 3 postings re our meeting’s Discussion Outline at viewforum.php?f=775&sid=6e5d4bd1039c2ea ... c05ab52b23.

(5) Our 10/14/2009 plea to President Obama re-directed 12/16/2023 to President Biden at viewtopic.php?f=778&t=2449&sid=6e5d4bd1 ... c05ab52b23.

PLEASE NOTE VIS-À-VIS ITEM 5, THE E-MAIL EXCHANGE WITH “SOLUTIONS” RE WHETHER A “MARSHALL PLAN” FOR THE PALESTINIANS WOULD BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE NETANYAHU/DERMER PLAN FOR LONG-TERM OCCUPATION OF GAZA EMULATING THE LONG-TERM OCCUPATION OF NAZI GERMANY AND IMPERIAL JAPAN –

WHICH E-MAIL EXCHANGE CONCLUDED THAT THE ORIGINAL “MARSHALL PLAN” DID INDEED ACCOMPANY THE LONG-TERM OCCUPATION OF NAZI GERMANY AND, ACCORDINGLY, SHOULD BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE DERMER/NETANYAHU PLAN.


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Valediction

Thank you again for providing such a comprehensive and thoughtful analysis of various aspects of the Hamas War in Gaza.

And thank you in advance for any consideration you are willing to give the foregoing points which are respectfully submitted.

Sincerely,

John Karls

Bcc: HLS-1967 Zoom-Chat Participants