A poll by Stanley Greenberg of "The Israel Project," had interesting insights on the chances of peace between Israel and the Palestinians. According to the over 850 residents of Judea, Samaria and Gaza polled, 61 percent of Palestinians are interested in continuing direct talks with Israel, 60% support a two-state solution, and 54% believe there's a chance for peace with Israel.

There were also encouraging results on terror: 56% in Judea and Samaria and 58% in Gaza said that they see an importance in not naming streets and town squares after suicide bombers. Over half (51%) in Judea and Samaria thought Israel should be included in maps and official documents, and only 12% agreed in Gaza.

However, there's no reason to get excited. Of the Palestinians polled, 58% identified with statement "now is the time for armed conflict with Israel," as opposed to 36% who said "now is the time to cooperate with Israel". Surprisingly, more Palestinians in Judea and Samaria (62%) support armed conflict than those in Gaza (51%).

Find that confusing? The following questions show how there can be support for peace talks and armed conflict at the same time. Almost two-thirds of the Palestinian population, 60%, said that a two-state solution is only the first stage towards a Palestinian state that will encompass all of Israel!

Only 30% of those polled said a two-state solution will bring an end to the conflict! In addition, only 23% accepted the statement that "Israel has the right to exist as the Jewish homeland," while two-thirds said "Palestinians should get all of Palestine's land back."

It seems like the poll speaks for itself. The two-state solution, which is widely supported in Israel and the world, is revealed as a Palestinian tactic to attain their true goal – a Palestinian state that encompasses the entire State of Israel. To them, the '67 borders are only the first stage on the way to '48 borders.

It's important that Israel remembers this poll, especially when there is high international pressure to renew the building freeze and direct negotiations. We cannot ignore Yasser Arafat's declarations that he hopes the Palestinians will return to Haifa, Jaffa and Ashdod. These messages are still popular amongst Palestinians, and it will not be easy to change them.

We should look suspiciously at any Palestinian leadership that says it is open to peace. Do they really want peace? Or are they planning to take the whole hand, when offered a slice of it?

A Beduin camp called Khan al Akhmar, which is east of Jerusalem, near Maale Adumim, received recent, unexpected support.

Last February, the high court said the school in the camp should be razed, because it was constructed without building permits. The date in the court order was the end of the current school year, and the camp's residents were unsure what the school's future will be. However, this has not prevented international aid organizations, including UNRWA, to run a camp in the school, which includes games, learning and shows for children, men and women. Safe game rooms were built, books were donated, as were toys, sporting equipment and learning materials that the students will use for the next school year.

In addition to this support, UNRWA announced that it will continue to aid the Beduin camp, and supply health and food services.

This seems like innocent humanitarian aid, helping the poor. However, there is something disturbing in this story. What does UNRWA have to do with Beduins?! UNRWA was founded in order to aid Palestinian refugees and help them be rehabilitated. Millions of dollars are sent to them from all over the world in order to fulfill this goal – and they're spending it on Beduins?

The answer is clear. The Beduins are not refugees, but they do live in Judea and Samaria, and have a conflict with Israel. Thus UNRWA reveals its true purpose. This is not an organization to rehabilitate refugees. It is an organization meant to harm Israel and promote the Palestinian "struggle" in any way possible. For UNRWA, rehabilitating refugees is just an excuse that UNRWA uses to set the world against Israel. The more people who need aid – Palestinians or Beduins – the more the trauma of '48 will echo in the world's conscience. The settlements will look like an injust conquest, and the peace process will not go anywhere.

Therefore, it is important to put an end to this exploitation. The aid in the Beduin camp needs to continue, but Israel should take part in it, not UNRWA! We cannot let them take advantage of the humanitarian needs of Judea and Samaria's residents in order to hurt Israel.

An article published in the weekend edition of "Makor Rishon" reveals quiet diplomatic activities that match the Israeli Initiative's vision. Writer Assaf Gibor interviewed Ahmed Abu-Mashour, a Sheik from the Beduin tribe of Jahelin, whose population is spread from Jerusalem to eastern Jordan. Mashour said he is disappointed with the Palestinian Authority, and explained what Jordan's peace plan is. Here are some exceprts from the article:

The Sheik Abu-Mashour is a traditional leader. He is from the school that led Arab-Palestinian civilians before Fatah hawks and took over, before the PLO was imported from Tunis…In his eyes, the past leadership is the future leadership. A Palestinian state? Only in the donor-countries' dreams, countries that encourage PA leaders. The alternative, old-new leadership, is already in place. The Sheikh of Jahelin says there are those who understand this, like King Abdullah of Jordan.

Although the official line of the Hashemite Kingdom is to praise the Palestinian State as the only way to peace, they are putting together an entirely different plan, which they think is better. The solution is more traditional, with a deep historical basis that suits the rules of the Middle East. In short: A cooperative, Israeli-Jordanian rule in Arab areas of Judea and Samaria; Palestinian autonomy, with Jordanian civilian sponsorship, and Israeli security supervision.

"There is cooperation to create an alternative to the PA, between the Jordanian monarchy and Palestinian Sheikhs," Mashour says. "The Jordanians want to renew their direct connection to those who really have an influence."

He says that the Hashemite Kingdom agrees that the PA's leadership is not serious. "The king lost his faith in the PA and the PLO. He is interested in renewing the connections his father initiated with local sheikhs. This is a direct connection, and the sheiks' word is a commitment. The king knows that the PA has no real base and no real hold. The security forces and the police receive a salary, as do the ministers who don't really care about the nation or have a connection to them." Influential Palestinians, like the former mayor of Nablus and the wealthy Al-Massry family support the initiative.

Sheikh Abu-Mashour adds that "the talks and meetings are confidential, under the surface, but the King of Jordan stands behind them. His aid Fuaz Bashar, who is responsible for Beduin tribes' connections to the kingdom, called me in order to renew this connection. After a few conversations, he sent a representative to me, a high-ranking military official. He arrived and said that it is clear that Jordan wants to sign direct agreements with me and other Sheiks that will arrange the sovereignty in the area and the connection with the kingdom."

The Sheikh talks of his frequent journeys to Jordan, during which he advises many Palestinians. "It takes one hour in a taxi to get from here to there. Seventy percent of Jordan is Palestinians. They have important positions in every area, most of the major businesses are owned by Palestinians, and this makes them influential. The king knows that if the Palestinians will take their money out of Jordanian banks, Jordan will crash immediately."

Here is a proof, from a primary source, that the Israeli Initiative is possible. While Israel is negotiating, Jordan is already working in the field, and working smartly. Jordan is speaking in two voices. Outwardly, it supports a Palestinian State, but below the surface, it is prepared to govern the area in cooperation with Israel.

All that is left is to hope that Israel will adopt the Jordanian vision. Instead of being a prisoner to the two-state solution, which has been stuck for many years, Israel should broaden its horizons. Israel needs to work on other solutions, with Jordan, to finalize the status of Arabs in Juda and Samaria. There is a partner. There is local Arab support. Now, who will take the first step?


As always, we're happy to receive comments and reactions.

Ido Pachter
The Israeli Initiative
www.Israelinitiative.com