In the beginning of 2002, the Jewish Peace Lobby came out with a new initiative - Externally Directed Separation.  The initiative was first published in the United States in "The Nation" and then in "The New York Times."  It was later published in Israel in both Hebrew & English in "Ha'aretz."  The plan described in the three pieces, drafted by Dr. Jerome M. Segal, seeks to end the territorial dimension of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the intervention of the UN Security Council under American leadership.

 

This plan has clear advantages over the various unilateral separation proposals under consideration, because:

 

- it involves withdrawal to a permanent stable line

 

- in exchange for land it gets an end to the territorial dimension of the conflict, as well as other concessions from the Palestinians.

 

This plan understands something very fundamental: no settlement can be reached through traditional bilateral negotiations.  Israelis and Palestinians cannot do it alone.

 

The big step here involves the imposition of a territorial settlement by outside powers (essentially along the lines of the Clinton Parameters) This is no longer politically impossible.  Israelis are seeking diplomatic alternatives.  See the poll recently conducted by JPL and the Steinmetz Center at Tel-Aviv University.