Place the Ball in Their Court

Submitted by Ben Hogan (United States), May 2, 2003 at 15:04

I really enjoyed reading both the Pipes' article and the letters in response. I wonder, however, whether the "unilateral pullback" option might not work. This option is the one that calls for Israel to pull back to its pre-1967 borders, with some small adjustments.

My proposal takes into account the nature of world public opinion and the power it wields today to either support or obstruct national foreign policy.

Thus, if Israel decides to unilaterally pull back to pre-1967 borders, this puts "the ball in the Palestinians' court," in terms of world public opinion. Essentially, Israel and the world could then say to the Palestinians: "Okay, you got what you wanted. Now it's your turn to desist from further violence."

If the Palestinians then continue violence, with a view to destroy Israel, then Israel's responses would be more likely to have the support of world public opinion.

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