First time, shame on Palestinians, second time shame on Israel

The sophistic attempt by the Palestinian Authority to violate the Oslo Accords by achieving non-state status at the U.N. has set the stage for the elimination of the generally accepted pretense by the diplomatic community that a legitimate peace process was ever possible with the Palestinians.  Who was Israel supposed to negotiate this mythical Peace Process - with the Palestinians in the West Bank, or the Palestinians of Gaza?  The Palestinians of Lebanon or the Palestinians in Jordan or Egypt? Until the Palestinians can work out their internal differences, organize pre-state national institutions, accept Israel’s existence and commit to a peaceful solution – they will continue to rely on meaningless ceremonies like their most recent celebration of “statehood”. Firing 1,500 missiles at Israel from Gaza isn't inspiration for the peace process, especially when it comes from territory that the Israel’s gave up in a “land for peace” swap. 

Two simultaneous acts of diplomacy happened on 11/29/12: A meaningless “cyber” Palestinian state was born, and the death of the 1993 Oslo Accords, which was a diplomatic framework for resolving the Israel/Palestinian conflict. It can be debated why the Oslo Accords had not achieved it’s desired goal: Israel’s supporters  contend that it was from a lack of a legitimate partner that wanted peace, or that the Palestinians are  too fragmented to enforce - much less agree on a durable settlement of the issues. The Israelis say that the “pond of peace had been poisoned” by the institutionalization of victimization and anti-Israel (anti-Jew) incitement within the Palestinian educational system and culture. Now, after the 11/29/12 U.N. declaration, Israelis can say that agreements with the Palestinians are meaningless. If they will violate the Oslo Accords, blow up civilian buses in Jerusalem, fire 1500 missiles at Israel – and they are rewarded at the U.N. with an elevated non-state status, I doubt Israel will be in the mood to take ANY RISKS for peace going forward.

The silver lining is that Israel no longer has to operate under the failed diplomatic pretense that there is a peace process to advance. I’m sure that many diplomats assigned the impossible task of keeping the Oslo Accords alive will try to minimize the Palestinian achievement at gaining non-state status, just like they minimized the 1500 Hamas rockets shot at Israel, the 6 Israeli deaths , the thousands terrorized,  or the Jerusalem bus bombing. The Oslo Accords have failed and the reason doesn't matter now. What replaces it will be more realistic, which actually gives hope to those who viewed the entire Oslo Process as an exercise in failed diplomacy from day one.

First time, shame on them, second time shame on you. If anyone is going to have to take a risk for peace going forward, it’s going to have to be the Palestinians, because Israel has learned that there is no atrocity or violation of agreements that the Palestinians will commit - that isn't celebrated in the U.N.