Zamuel wrote:... Israel essentially desires one thing, a secure state. Territory has value, but is not the primary consideration.
Whatever about primary or secondary, you do not understand the Israelis if you think they do not want the land. They already call the West Bank Judea-Sumeria. Their state is built on stolen Palestinian land and the occupation is a continuation of this.
Zamuel wrote:Israel's opponent(s) must be strategically forced to accept and assure this security.
Israel has many opponents who are not required by international law to disarm.
Zamuel wrote:They do NOT want to do that. OK?
The Palestinians want self determination and to retain their right to self defense.
Zamuel wrote:One element of Israel's strategy is to occupy disputed territory ...
The West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is not "disputed territory". International law recognizes Palestine as occupied by Israel.
Zamuel wrote:their occupation -IS- legal.
Occupation is only legal until there is an end to the war during which the occupation took place. Israel is not at war with Palestine or Jordan. Occupation is not supposed to continue for generations.
Zamuel wrote:Settlement of that territory is not, BUT ... if settlement takes place, it WILL eventually establish recognizable rights
The Jewish settlements are illegal and their continuation does not establish any right of the Israelis to claim them as part of Israel.
Zamuel wrote:... this puts pressure on the opponents, it's MILD pressure, not irrational aggression, just a systematic degeneration of a territorial reward desired by the opposition. At some point it is hoped that pressure coupled with other strategic programs motivates the opposition to grant Israel the security it desires by some mutually acceptable means that is open to negotiation. It's pretty obvious the pressure -IS- having an effect ... But it's necessary to keep in mind that political strategy is not a predefined composition, it's an improvisation.
Israel's attempt to annex East Jerusalem and the settlements is what makes a just peace less likely.