In the Arena

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On how Obama might actually earn the peace prize.

A couple of additional points on David Makovsky’s extremely creative proposal:

1. It would be a tangible benefit for Israel, which–too often in these negotiations–is playing for abstractions (like recognition of its statehood). This would redraw the map to include settlements that have become integral suburbs of Jerusalem, for the most part, in the state of Israel.

2. The issue of “natural expansion” of these settlements would immediately be resolved–it would, obviously, be permitted within the new boundaries.

3. It would make the other issues on the table–Jerusalem, the right of return and so forth–less daunting; indeed, it would create a momentum for peace.