Former Mossad head advocates Saudi peace plan

[Recursion]

A former chief of Israeli intelligence, Meir Dagan, has urged political leaders to embrace the so-called Saudi peace initiative under which Israel would withdraw to its 1967 borders and give East Jerusalem back to the Palestinians.

In a forthright contradiction of the position of the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, that a withdrawal to 1967 borders posed an unacceptable security risk, Mr Dagan said Israel ''must present an initiative to the Palestinians''.

''We must adopt the Saudi initiative,'' Mr Dagan said.''We have no other way, and not because are my top priority, but because I am concerned about Israel's wellbeing and I want to do what I can to ensure Israel's existence.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/former-mossad-head-advocates-saudi-peace-plan-20110602-1fivf.html#ixzz1O8qwho27

If the former Mossad chief considers the 67 borders with no swaps defensible, who are we to argue?

[Exilednight]

1. Someone in Israeli government just blew their top. n/t

[bemildred]

2. Ex-Mossad chief's comments on Iran place him on collision course with Netanyahu

Meir Dagan's public warnings that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is leading Israel into disaster places the former Mossad chief in a new role - head of the opposition. After two years of the prime minister's complete control over the political message coming out of Jerusalem, there is finally someone who is standing up and warning the public of the risks inherent in a leadership that "is absent of vision and responsibility."

Dagan's message during a speech Wednesday at Tel Aviv University can be summed up in a single phrase - "military restraint and political initiative." In Dagan's view, Israel must not attack Iran, and it must accept the Arab peace initiative - a simple message that every Israeli can understand.

Dagan has some advantages when it comes to entering contemporary politics. He is a new product on the political shelf and has not been worn out in his public appearances. Second, he carries the security glory that comes with a mythical Mossad assassin. Third, at 66, and with his military and intelligence experience, he reminds us of Ariel Sharon, the most admired leader of the past generation. And finally, he is seen as a student of Sharon and enjoys the support of those who surrounded the former prime minister.

Dagan also has shortcomings. First, he lacks political experience. Second, as is the case with retired chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi, Dagan is bound by the law that bans him from elected office for three years after leaving his previous post. He could be defense minister but not prime minister.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/ex-mossad-chief-s-comments-on-iran-place-him-on-collision-course-with-netanyahu-1.365619

[Never Stop Dancin]

3. what a terrible idea

another fool in the tradition of Olmert & Barak who opts for national suicide.

[Recursion]

4. If Israel's continued existence depends on the continuing of the settlements

then Israel cannot and should not continue to exist. If they cannot find a way to exist without annexing the West Bank, there will be a single, bi-national state.

Fortunately, I don't believe that Israel's continuing existence requires perpetual land theft.

[Never Stop Dancin]

5. It's easy

for you to make judgements from the outside--you don't have to live with the consequences. Never, ever judge an Israeli.

[Recursion]

6. Sorry, you don't get a free pass on my judgment

Any more than Serbs or Palestinians do.

And the operative portion was not the moral "should not" but the factual "cannot", which is based on simple demographics.