An impossible dream

A Ynet opinion article by Moshe Dann entitled "What prevent peace?" is worthwhile reading.
For Arabs, Israel's "occupation" of Judea, Samaria (the West Bank) and Gaza in 1967 and subsequent settlement is only part of the problem.
The real issue is Zionism and the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 as a Jewish state. No "peace plan" - even the most extreme which requires Israel to withdraw from all territory conquered in 1967 - will solve the Arab-Muslim problem of allowing a nominally Jewish state to exist in any form.
From the Arab perspective, therefore, there are two overlapping "occupations:" one in 1948 and the other in 1967. Resolving one while legitimizing the other is (for them) unacceptable. Jewish sovereignty and self-determination – Zionism - are anathema.
That's why President Obama's "peace plan" won't work; it assumes that Arabs are interested in accommodation. No matter what concessions Israel makes, however, they will not be enough as long as Israel itself remains in any form.
To read the article in its entirety, click on the link below.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3773419,00.html

To President Obama, I say, if the issue of one captive soldier couldn't be resolved in over three years, it would seem that your dream to reach a comprehensive peace plan involving refugees, status of Jerusalem, recognition of Israel as a Jewish state, final borders, airspace etc. is an impossible dream.