Posted by Richard Baehr 12/05/03

Bernard—Henri Levy is a serious thinker, so it is sad to see him join the delusional crowd banking on the new Geneva accord as a sign that better days are ahead for Israel and the Palestinians. Contrary to Levy's description, the new plan provides no security guarantees for Israel beyond a Palestinian promise to create a demilitarized state. This promise was also incorporated in the Olso accord, and after almost 1,200 Israelis have been killed by Palestinian terror attacks since then, Levy and other ffriends of Israel should demand more. Israel, under the Geneva plan, must continue to withdraw from territory and dismantle settlements even if terror attacks continue. They may complain to the group of 4 (US, UN, Russia and the EU) about it, but not take necessary security actions to defend themselves.The agreement is also silent about dismantling the terror groups. Does Levy really believe this agreement will insure Israel's security? So too on the right of return— the Palestinians who negotiated the Geneva accord have made clear in every public pronouncement that they have not given up the right of return. Even Yossi Beilin says the right of return is recognized in the agreement, but the number to be allowed back to Israel will be limited. How limited? A formula based on how many refugees are accepted by Arab countries will determine the number Israel must accept. This Geneva accord requires Israel to gives up its national sovereignty in the areas of security and immigration, in exchange for the promise of the "good" intentions of the UN, the EU, and Russia, among others. This is not an agreement to protect Israel's future, but to insure its demise. Fortunately, this is an agreement signed only by discredited and defeated Israeli politicians, and not by its government.