New York Times Editorial, "Inching Forward in the Mideast": High in Their Ivory Tower, the Editorial Board Is Detached from Reality on the Ground

In an editorial entitled "Inching Forward in the Mideast" (http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/26/opinion/inching-forward-in-the-mideast.html?_r=0&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1374804078-V5F4WwPbrYo+DT0rgX/onQ), The New York Times begins by observing:

"The Palestinians said talks could not begin without an agreement that would be based on the borders that existed before the 1967 war."

Unbeknownst to the editorial board of The New York Times, in 1967 there were no borders between Israel and Jordan, which prior to 1967 occupied the West Bank. Rather, there were armistice lines resulting from Israel's 1948 War of Independence.

The editorial continues:

"[Israel] has also slowed the expansion of settlements that have shrunk the land available for a Palestinian state."

Apparently, the editorial board is also unaware that, as acknowledged by Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, "an aerial photograph provided by European sources shows that settlements have been built on approximately 1.1% of the West Bank" (http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/erekat-olmert-offered-palestinians-territorial-equivalent-of-west-bank-1.393484). Yup, those settlements have sure as heck eaten up the land available for a Palestinian state.

Next, the editorial states:

"The European Union has weighed in: on the one hand pressuring Israel with the threat of reduced aid if it does not negotiate."

To what EU aid to Israel is the Times referring? Do they mean that "Israeli 'entities' operating in the occupied territories will not be eligible for EU grants, prizes or loans starting next year" (http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/news/international/EU_pushes_plan_to_bar_aid_to_Israelis_in_West_Bank.html?cid=36502042)? No more EU "prizes" to Israeli "entities"? Oh my goodness!

The editorial concludes:

"No good can come if Israel . . . if disenfranchised Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza remain stateless in an increasingly restive region; and if the long sought dream of a Palestinian state is left to die."

No mention by the Times that Israel unilaterally evacuated Gaza in 2005, after which civilian communities in the south of Israel came under incessant rocket fire. You see, the Hamas charter calls for the murder of all Jews (not just Israelis) and rejects any negotiated settlement with Israel.

Also no mention by the Times that Israeli prime ministers Barak and Olmert offered Arafat and Abbas an independent state along the 1967 lines with agreed upon land swaps, and that Olmert even offered Palestinian control of east Jerusalem. Arafat and Abbas refused. Now in 2013, Abbas is suddenly going to accede to an agreement along these terms? Why am I dubious?

But never mind. As the chaos and killing continue in Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq and Syria (yes, these countries are also part of the Middle East), Kerry should continue to focus his attention on Israel and the Palestinians. Who cares if more than 100,000 Syrians have died as a consequence of the rebellion against Syrian tyrant Bashar al-Assad? You will of course recall John Kerry, a remarkable judge of human character, calling Assad "my dear friend" . . .

Good luck to "my dear friend" John.