Naivety as a Path: Peace May Be Distant, But We Must Strive for It

The October 7 massacre moved the people to the right. And although it is possible that there is no other solution but to reach an agreement with the Palestinians, the option is currently off the table. Except for a stubborn core of the left, there is no broad support for the two-state idea. Trust has been lost and will have to be rebuilt; the other side needs to prove that its intention is to live alongside us and not to strike at us.

Alongside this, one must look the truth in the eye and say out loud that extensive efforts are being made by the extreme right wing in the current coalition to make the situation in Judea and Samaria irreversible. Farms, which have become a whitewashed name for outposts throughout the territory, have one goal — to prevent Palestinian territorial contiguity. To settle and separate — this is the supreme goal. To hold onto the land in different places and separate the Palestinian villages so that a Palestinian state can never be established.

A few years ago, I toured Judea and Samaria accompanied by members of the Yesha Council. A fascinating and educational tour, at the end of which I said, even then, that the situation on the ground was almost irreversible. Recently, I received reports and photos that the names of Arab villages in Judea and Samaria are being removed from large road signs. There are small signs at the entrance to each village. In my opinion, by the way, this will not change their consciousness, only increase their anger and desire for revenge.

And the territory is bubbling. Endless friction between Jewish settlers and the Palestinians living in Area C. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that it involves 150 wayward teenagers. He downplayed their number, because it is not just about hill youth eager for battle. Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir instructed to prevent friction between them and the local population. So he said. The territory has its own laws.

The situation is explosive and dangerous. Already today, 26 battalions are stationed in the Judea and Samaria area, while the IDF is stretched across four other sectors — Iran, which has not yet said its last word in the current round, Gaza, Lebanon, and the Syrian border.

The conduct, including that of the settler leaders, borders on irresponsibility towards the army in general and the citizens of Israel in particular, because the continuation of this conduct could lead to a third intifada. It is true that it is the responsibility of the army and the Shin Bet to prevent such an outbreak — which they are apparently doing less of, because the fact is that the friction has become daily. But responsibility also lies with the public leaders in Judea and Samaria and also with the Prime Minister and his ministers to condemn what is being done there.

It is worth remembering that even the possibility of agreements, even if in quite a few years, is an option that a significant public supports.

It is worth turning an eye towards Syria, where Syrian President Al-Shara said that he is working to achieve a security agreement with Israel, and after that is achieved — to continue to achieve a peace agreement. Advanced talks are also being held with Lebanon.

There will be those who will click their tongues at my naivety that it is possible to reach peace with Syria and Lebanon, and that this will also radiate to Judea and Samaria. I prefer that they laugh at my naivety, and the main thing is that something moves in the direction of peace and not bloodshed.

I prefer a cold peace with Egypt and Jordan than a state of war on the country's borders.

In 22 years, we will mark 100 years of Israel's independence. Let us hope that in these years, a striving for peace will be recorded, and not for eternal war.