Fareed Zakaria repeats in 2015 what David Ignatius wrote in 2004

The excerpt of the Fareed Zakaria column of May 7, 2015 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/will-israel-miss-its-moment/2015/05/07/624a582e-f4f1-11e4-bcc4-e8141e5eb0c9_story.html?wpisrc=nl_opinions&wpmm=1


quoted below:

"The danger for which [Israel] has no defense is that it continues to have control over Gaza and the West Bank, lands with 4.5 million people who have neither a country nor a vote.  The feeling on the Israeli right, which now rules the country, seems to be that if the Palestinian problem is ignored, it will somehow solve itself.  But it won't, and the tragedy is that this is the moment, with so many stars aligned in Israel's favor, when enlightened leadership could secure Israel permanently as a Jewish democratic state and make peace with its neighbors.  It is a golden opportunity, and it is staring Netanyahu in the face." 

reminds me of the 2004 David Ignatius column "Building a Wall Breaking a Relationship" I wrote of in October 2016 on this blog.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61947-2004Jan29.html

Ignatius wrote "...the Palestinian issue is leaching away Israel's security - not militarily, but politically and strategically....This problem isn't going away." 

Both Fareed Zakaria, in 2015, and David Ignatius, in 2004, express similar views offered for consideration by an Israeli Knesset majority coalition government (and its USA-based supporters in, as well as citizen-lobbyists to influence those in, policy-making authority) led by, respectively, Benjamin Netanyahu and the coalition led by the late Ariel Sharon in 2004 also then a Likud Party member.  The late Ariel Sharon quit Likud and formed the Kadima Party with more dovish Knesset members in his Knesset majority coalition.  By the 2015 Knesset elections

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-31815481

the Kadima Party had changed its name to Hatnuah, with Tzipi Livni running (or standing for office) again, as she did in 2009 winning one more Knesset seat 28-27, for PM against Netanyahu who was able to make a coalition with hawkish parties to the right of Likud like Yisrael Beiteinu (Avigdor Lieberman-led) and by 2013 HaBayit HaYehudi (Naftali Bennett-led Jewish Home party) as well.

Security for one faith should not limit the freedom of movement of people of other faiths, sharing the same land, and their goods for engagement in commerce.  Effective control of movement of people and goods is the international legal standard for occupation that Israel clearly meets for Gaza, East Jerusalem, the West Bank and all other lands acquired in the 1967 war, by UN Security Council resolution 242 description, except for the Sinai Peninsula returned in the 1979 Camp David peace treaty with Egypt and the Golan Heights annexed in 1981 after being taken from Syria at the time of the 1967 cease fire.  Syria and Egypt cooperate with Israel in restricting freedom of movement of people and goods into and out of the Golan Heights and the Sinai Peninsula.

Find a way to watch the film "The Syrian Bride" for a reality-based fictional portrayal of how the control of movement of people and goods affects Druze living in the Golan Heights.  Find a way to watch the film "The Idol" for a biographical portrayal of how the control of movement between Gaza and the Sinai Peninsula affects Palestinian freedom of movement between Gaza and the Sinai Peninsula.  In spite of a claim of Israeli concessions for a, final status, negotiated peace made in 2007 by Eric Rozenman, then-Washington Director of CAMERA


He [Maher Najar the author of an op-ed with whom Rozenman disagreed] also asserted that "Israel controls Gaza's borders and the movement of all people and goods." Yet, after the 2005 Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, residents of the territory gained control of a crossing (the Rafah checkpoint with Egypt) for the first time in their history.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/30/AR2007113002185.html



  Palestinian control of a border crossing between Rafah and Gaza is made nearly meaningless by Egyptian and Israeli coordinated control of a second border crossing point less than two miles away.

Palestinians simply have one more checkpoint and line to wait in. despite Eric Rozenman, Washington director of CAMERA at the time, extolling the border controls given to Palestinians by Israel.





The following links describe the film "The Idol" and one link allows viewing the film trailer.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/05/22/the-next-arab-idol.html



http://www.adoptfilms.com/the-idol/




http://filmfestdc.org/filmView.cfm?passID=24

In case the third link has died here is a copy-paste of what was posted:


Two-time Oscar®-nominated Palestinian director Hany Abu-Assad's (Paradise Now, Omar) new film is based on the true story of Mohammad Assaf, winner of "Arab Idol," which captivated millions and became a worldwide sensation. Growing up in the Gaza Strip, Assaf formed bands with his tomboy sister and motley crew of friends, but the prospects of singing professionally seemed an impossible dream. Participating in the live "Arab Idol" competition in Egypt was a long shot—as was traveling without a passport and passing through closed borders. For those who know Assaf's incredible story, the film is a chance to relive the ascent of a major new star. For those who don't, The Idol is a treat that resembles We Are The Best! crossed with Wadjda. It features a host of stars, such as Nadine Labaki (Caramel, Where Do We Go Now?), and footage of Assaf's extraordinary performances.—London Film Festival
In Arabic with English subtitles

The trailer for "The Idol" can be watched here.

http://youtu.be/mP3IwALna08



I hope the views in Zakaria's 2015 column are
heeded more than the views in the 2004 Ignatius column.