If you read this blog on a regular basis, you understand that I am a strong supporter of Israel.  I believe Israel has a right to exist as a free nation with an undivided Jerusalem as its capital.  I don’t want to see a Palestinian state until that moment when the future leaders of such a state renouce their previous goal of wiping Israel off the planet (and stop sending rockets into Israel aimed at civilian populations).  There is an old expression, “If all the Arab nations around Israel gave up their weapons and declared peace, nothing would change.  If Israel gave up her weapons and declared peace, she would be destroyed in a matter of minutes.”  I think that says it all.

Reuters reported Tuesday:

“President Barack Obama brokered the direct talks that were relaunched in September but broke down over the issue of settlements built on captured land that Palestinians seek for a state.

“”We reached the conclusion this is not the time to renew direct negotiation by renewing the moratorium,” a senior U.S. diplomat told reporters in Israel, ending weeks of intense U.S. diplomacy aimed at forging a settlement deal.”

When I read this, I was encouraged.  We need to realize that Israel is a sovereign nation and has a right to build settlements anywhere within its country where it chooses to build, and I thought we have finally realized that.  Well, not so fast.

The article further reports on the progress of the United States’ quest for peace in the Middle East:

“”We’re not throwing in the towel at all. Our objective is still a framework agreement … (but) we are going to look for a different mechanism,” the (U.S.) official said.”

What might that different mechanism be?  There are some clues near the end of the article:

“Palestinian officials have said they may seek to declare statehood unilaterally in the occupied West Bank if negotiations with Israel foundered.

“Three Latin American nations — Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay — declared recognition of a Palestinian state at the weekend, drawing Israeli condemnation.”

Normally I would celebrate the birth of a new nation.  However, I cannot celebrate the birth of a new terrorist state.  There is no doubt in my mind that the new state of Palestine would be a center for people who are opposed to the existence of the state of Israel.  Recognizing a Palestinian state at this time is not a move toward peace–it is a move toward the destruction of Israel.  It is a bad move.