Since 1967, Israel has promoted the “land for peace” strategy to resolve the conflict with the Palestinians. As we have learned in the last 43 years, this strategy is flawed. Peace will not be gained by appeasing those that seek your demise. Peace will occur when both sides are willing to negotiate and so far, the Palestinians have never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity to have peace.

Land for peace has never worked in history except for one exception: Israel’s relinquishing of the Sinai to Egypt in 1979. However, the peace with Egypt was more of an exception to the rule rather than the norm, as other Arab states have not made any attempts for peace such as Jordan and Egypt. In 1993, when Israel yielded sovereignty over the West Bank to the Palestinian Authority, the Palestinians never followed through with their promise to end propaganda attacks and recognize Israel’s right to exist. The Palestinian National Charter still calls for Israel’s destruction.

History does not need another Neville Chamberlain. In 2005, Israel removed all Jews from the Gaza Strip without condition except for one: Gilad Shalit, an Israeli held by the terrorist organization Hamas. In return, Israel received an onslaught of terrorist attacks with over 8,000 rocket attacks launched from evacuated Jewish communities. We cannot allow the Arabs to call for more of Israel to be declared a Judenrein. We also cannot afford sacrificing another six million Jews at the hand of present-day dictators who preach hatred for the Jewish people and the Jewish State.

The truth is that the Arabs have not done enough to seek peace. The PA continues to glorify terrorists by naming town squares after “martyrs” and spreading propaganda in school textbooks. Israel recognizes all Arab countries but they have yet to do the same with Israel as a Jewish State. Israel has continuously sought direct talks rather than indirect proximity talks. The Palestinians continue to demand preconditions for direct negotiations, however these stipulations should be agreed upon by both parties.

Meanwhile, Israel has constantly shown its commitment. For the first time, a right-wing government has accepted and is determined to negotiate a two-state solution. Prime Minister Netanyahu has put in a place a moratorium on new construction in the West Bank and has removed approximately 409 checkpoints and roadblocks since April 2008. Within the month of June 2010, Israel dismantled 52 alone. The Arabs and Palestinians are reversing the progress made in the past, as neither Yasir Arafat nor Mahmoud Abbas have ever made preconditions about settlements, Jerusalem, or borders before their direct negotiations.

Pressure on Israel impedes progress, as Israel will not negotiate when it feels like it is endangered. Israel has sought the security and peace of both its people and its neighbors since its founding in 1948. Campaigns to delegitimize Israel, a lack of normalization and diplomacy, and unreasonable preconditions only serve to continue the conflict. Israel has shown it is ready to make peace. When will the Arabs and Palestinians do the same?

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