Should the world community award the 2020 Olympics to Jerusalem as an incentive for Israelis and Palestinians to make peace? Udi Sommer thinks so.
The reason why this plan can succeed where others have failed is threefold: It puts economic payoffs front and center, requires cooperation on a large scale, and involves sublimation of otherwise deadly instincts.
Judge for yourself whether Sommer overdosed on Salam Fayyad and Start Up Nation.
In the meantime, here's my Top 10 List of Media Subplots If Jerusalem Hosts the 2020 Olympics.
10. British, Turkish and Greek windsurfing teams all feature veterans of previous Free Gaza flotillas.
9. Sick of wall-to-wall coverage of dumb events like speed walking, table tennis and skateboarding, the IDF restricts media access to certain venues. Relieved journos and the Nielsen ratings officials praise the news blackout.
8. The burning question: Will Anat Kamm leak Olympic drug test results to Haaretz?
7. Feuding Gaza vs. Palestine soccer teams give new meaning to "sudden death overtime."
6. Iran boycotts Olympiad, organizes alternative Islamic Nuclear Pride Games. President Hillary Clinton doesn't rule out US participation.
5. After Israeli hoopsters upset the USA Dream Team, players attribute victory to Olympic schedule which banned events and training on the Sabbath. But American sportswriters grumble about an Israel lobby undermining US interests.
4. Michael Phelps marries a Palestinian athlete and seeks UNRWA refugee status.
3. Security cameras catch Dubai's mysterious tennis team loaning passports to unsuspecting competitors.
2. Bloggers on warpath when Olympic judge Richard Goldstone repeatedly gives unusually low scores to Israeli gymnasts.
1. Will sparks fly at closing ceremony when Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat passes torch to Mayor Rahm Emanuel of 2024 host city Chicago?
