Is Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas losing his mind, or has he just been drinking too much Kool-Aid?  In a recent ad in an Israeli newspaper, he tried to convince Israelis that peace could be achieved with Arab states if Israel withdraws from Gaza, parts of Jerusalem, and the West Bank.  Haven't we heard these recycled land for peace initiatives over and over again for several decades?  Attempting to blackmail Israel is a desperate and foolish move.

First, Abbas lacks credibility with his own people, so how does he expect to have any influence with Israelis?  Abbas has been unable, or unwilling to rein in the militant wings of Fatah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad, so any peace deal negotiated with him would have no teeth.  Moreover, during his tenure, Abbas hasn't helped to facilitate democracy, peace, and prosperity in the Palestinian areas, even with foreign aid. 

Next, Israeli settlers and troops pulled out of Gaza over three years ago, yet rocket attacks and terrorist attacks against Israel continue.  Israelis also withdrew from parts of the West Bank, and that didn't stop the homicide bombers.  The Palestinian extremists don't want concessions, land, or peace.  They just want to destroy Israel, with the help of their Iranian and Syrian sponsors.  Realistically, land for peace is a non-starter, because the Palestinians never fulfill their part of the bargain, despite good faith negotiations from the Israeli side. 

Third, Abbas forgets that a democratic and vibrant Israel grants far more rights to the million or so Arab Israelis than any Arab state offers to these Palestinians.  Consequently, Israel should be the nation that demands more land in order to expand democracy and freedom in the region.  The Arab states have a hard time forging democracy due to infighting and the stratified nature of their societies.  They ought to emulate Israel for once in order to chart a course of progress.

Fourth, since 1948, Palestinian leaders have had numerous opportunities to have peace and a state, but they rejected each chance.  Abba Eban once noted that Yasser Arafat "never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity."  Of course, Arafat is gone from the scene, but Abbas seems to be following in his footsteps and repeating the same mistakes. 

Fifth, the only way that there can be prosperity and stability in the region is if the Palestinians and other Arab states fully recognize Israel's right to exist, and fully disavow terror as a tactic against Israel.  This must occur not only on paper, but also be carried out on the ground for a long period of time.  Then, and only then, there might be a chance to sit down and negotiate a plan for peace and a Palestinian state.

Sixth, Jerusalem has been a holy place for Christians and Jews, and these faiths developed long before Islam emerged.  Muslims have their holy sites in Mecca, Medina, etc.  You don't see folks from other faiths trying to seize parts of those cities.  Indeed, Mohammed never set foot in Jerusalem during his life time, so the Arab states ought to drop the idea of carving up Jerusalem.

Finally, the mindset of Abbas is similar to the mentality of many folks on the left.  They think they are entitled to anything and everything, even if they don't work for it.  The Jewish people labored tirelessly to build and maintain Israel, and this hard work began in the late 1800's.  Abbas and other Arab leaders could learn a profound lesson from the example of Israel.