No Military Solution for Iran or Palestine

DAOUD KUTTAB, in the WaPo, HERE

Are Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Obama on a collision course over Iran and the Palestinian problem? What would be the consequences of a breach between the United States and Israel?

"If Netanyahu and Lieberman continue on their course of denying Palestinians their right to self-determination, and continue denying that they have nuclear weapons while threatening to bomb Iran's civilian nuclear facilities, yes - this will bring Israel and the U.S. onto a collision course.

President Obama is trying to find a peaceful, negotiated solution to the Iran nuclear program. This is the only sensible way forward. If we have learned anything in the last 60 years is that there is absolutely no military or violent solution for Palestine or for Iran. 

On Palestine, the Obama administration must be firm about the need for Israel to end its occupation of Arab lands. The Arab peace plan offers Israel a unique opportunity to normalize relations with 57 Arab and Muslim countries, if Israel leaves the areas it occupied in 1967 and agrees to a "fair" solution for the Palestinian refugee problem. An agreed solution for the refugees would give Israel a direct say in the details of that agreement, eliminating any worry that this will be done at the expense of Israel's demographic worries.

Before dealing directly with Iran, I believe that the U.S. must put more attention to reaching a comprehensive solution for Iraq. Neighboring and involved countries like Syria, Jordan, Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia must be directly involved in that. A regional conference is probably needed. I believe a successful regional plan for Iraq will go a long way toward easing the negotiations on Iran. The U.S. should allow Iran to develop civilian nuclear weapons but firmly oppose its militarization of such nuclear facilities."