Tom Friedman to Israel: Be More Fayyadistic Than Fayyad

November 30, 2011 11:14 by

New York Times columnist Tom Friedman frets over Israel and the Arab Spring, and what it all means for the peace process.

His solution?

Israel’s best defense is to strengthen Fayyadism — including giving Palestinian security services more areas of responsibility to increase their legitimacy and make clear that they are not the permanent custodians of Israel’s occupation. This would not only help stabilize Israel’s own backyard . . . but would lay the foundation for a two-state solution and for better relations with the Arab peoples. Remember, those Arab peoples are going to have a lot more say in how they are ruled and with whom they have peace. In that context, Israel will be so much better off if it is seen as strengthening responsible and democratic Palestinian leaders.

I hear that. I really do.

But the Palestinians themselves will inevitably sacrifice Fayyad on the altar of national unity. Fayyad signaled he’ll step aside.

So what’s Israel to do? Be more Fayyadistic than Fayyad?

(Images of Netanyahu via Flickr/IsraelinUSA, Fayyad via Wikimedia Commons/Pmfayyad)

Category: Backspin Tags:, , ,
2 Comments

2 Comments → “Tom Friedman to Israel: Be More Fayyadistic Than Fayyad”

  1. Steven Kalka

    8:47 pm

    Nov 30, 2011

    What world is Tom Friedman living in? The Arabs in the Middle East don’t think like Westerners. He looks at them with a western lens. He is so overrated.

    Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 2

    Reply
  2. [...] HonestReporting Media BackSpin, 30. November 2011 [...]

    Agree or Disagree: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1

    Reply
Show poorly rated comments

Leave a Reply

 Characters Available
More in Backspin (466 of 6076 articles)


Try to imagine the scene: An eight-month pregnant woman is made to go through X-ray machine three times, to the ...