APCOM

Separate Israel from the 'so called' occupied territories, in order to preserve the Jewish identity of the state. According to historian Benny Morris, famous for his studies on the foundation of the Jewish state, could be the way towards the resolution of the conflict with the Palestinians. Morris, who was in Milano for a meeting on the 60 years of the state of Israel organized by the Corriere della Sera Foundation, said he was not optimist on the peace process in action. "I can't see the future" he said "but the situation doesn't seem to be the best. In the last 60 years we've had wars and terrorism, and, the threats from the Arab countries and Iran, do not allow Israel to feel secure."

In disagreement with the writer Amos Oz and the ex Israeli foreign minister, Shlomo Ben-Ami, Benny Morris does not believe that the two countries are ready for a peace treaty. "I think that most Israelis" he told us "believe in the solution of the two States. But the Arabs do not accept the existence of the state of Israel and they do not want the two States, they showed it when in 2006 they voted for Hamas. If the Palestinians do not accept the existence of Israel, it is impossible to reach peace."

Morris also spoke on the difficult problem of the Palestinian refugees. "99% of Jewish Israelis, leaders included" the historian said "refuses a massive return of the refugees. The Palestinian refugees today are about 5 million people, if when re-entering Israel they unite with the 1,4 million already present, they would become 6,4 million in front of the 5,4 million Jews. There would be an Arab majority, which would entirely change the structure of the country. It's the same situation which we had in 1948, when the return of refugees would have destabilized Israel. The Israelis cannot accept this reasoning. Refugees have to settle elsewhere, if not they will destroy the State of Israel."

The demographical element is central in Morris' reasoning, because "while the immigration of Jews from Europe is practically complete, and there is no growth, the Palestinians live a demographical explosion. The Arab families have 4 to 5 children on the average, while the Israeli's on the average 2,5. Besides the Israeli welfare politics favor numerous families." How to resolve the problem? According to Morris a natural solution could be reducing the birth rate of the Palestinians, but the "best thing, for the historian, would be to separate Israel from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, this way in the State of Israel, a strong Jewish majority would resist."

In his last book, "Due popoli una terra" published these days by Rizzoli, Morris, hypothesizes as a possible solution the return of Israel in the 1967 borders, but instead of the creation of an autonomous Palestinian state, he proposes an idea of federation between the Palestinian territories and Jordan. In this way he sees a solution for both the refugees and the survival of Israel. This seems to be Morris' biggest concern. The latter was initially very critical towards Jerusalem's politics, and then he passed to positions of greater sustain of the government, the same choice, even if in a different way, made by the writer Abraham Yehoshua.

"I am still critic" Morris wanted to add "towards the leadership and their politics, what happened in the year 2000 onwards, is that the Arab intransigence, increased and is projected towards a total destruction of Israel. For many leftist Israeli's, me included, this has been a dramatic moment. The year 2000, represents the watershed: it seemed as if the compromise could be accepted and instead it was then refused. I am critic towards certain Israeli politics, but my opposition towards the Arab intransigence has increased."

The historian also defended the 'wall' wanted by Sharon. "More than a wall" he told us "it's a barrier to which I'm in favor of, like many other Israelis. The barrier keeps the thieves, immigrants, clandestine immigrants and suicide bombers further away: all people which Israel does not need. If there will be peace the barrier will be put down."