Exodus, Part Two - Problem Solved

 

 

 

 

The law of unintended consequences seems to come into play with every attempt by governments to solve almost any problem – witness the American decision to arm the Mujahedeen against the Russians in Afghanistan.  In spite of that, I’ve come up with a plan to solve a whole passel of problems in one fell swoop.

To be honest, this column started out as a joke, but the more I thought about it, the better I like it.  So, here’s the plan in a nutshell:

Give Israel back to the Palestinians, and move the Israelis to a New Israel along the US-Mexico border.  Make Jerusalem a truly international city with free access to all the holy places - administered by someone with no dog in the fight - someone like Samoa or Nepal.

Within its current borders, Israel is about 8,000 square miles, with part of that occupied by Palestinians.  That same 8,000 square miles could provide them with a two-mile strip of land from Matamoros to Tijuana.  Personally, I think we should expand that to 100 miles or so, and maybe throw in all of Baja California.

We could buy the land from Mexico.  Even if all the Arab States that want Israel gone weren’t willing to help foot the bill, the purchase would pay for itself in short order in the savings to the US in the costs of suppressing drug traffic and illegal immigration.

Would Mexico give it up?  Hell, yes!  There would be lots of rhetoric to the contrary, but send Hillary Clinton down with “an offer they couldn't refuse,”  and Calderon would fold in a heartbeat.  It would actually be doing Mexico a favor; they have proved themselves unable to control the area anyway.

Would brokering such a move make the Muslim extremists hate us any less?  Maybe -  Probably not -  But at least they would have to come up with another excuse.

There would be plenty of land for everyone; no need for the indigenous population to leave.  Of course nobody threw the Palestinians out after the Balfour Declaration. They left on their own, or at the urging of their Muslim neighbors. 

While prostitution is legal in Israel, they do have laws against brothels, so the border town whorehouses might have to go.  Given today’s social climate, boys from Texas high schools and San Diego naval bases ought to be able to get laid at home.

So what is the upside for Israel?  For once in their history, nobody would be lobbing rockets at their cities.  They would have lots more land with some valuable natural resources in a climate similar to where they are now.  The New Israel and the old would be located at  approximately the same latitudes – 29 something to 32 something – but the new state would stretch through several time zones. They already have a seaport on the Mediterranean now, but the move would give Israel  ports on the Atlantic (Gulf) and the Pacific.

As for the problem of the drug cartels, I have no doubt that the Israelis would have that situation squared away in no time at all.