Fateful Triangle

Rejectionism and Accomodation119biblical rights is common in both political groupings. 34 Thus ShimonPeres, the socialist leader of the Labor Party, accepted Begin’s rationalefor retaining the West Bank, writing: “There is no argument in Israelabout our historic rights in the land of Israel. The past is immutable andthe Bible is the decisive document in determining the fate of our land.”This doctrine apparently causes few raised eyebrows in the SocialistInternational, in which Peres and his Labor Party are honoredmembers. 35 Nevertheless, Peres advocates “territorial compromise” inaccordance with the Allon Plan, to free Israel of an unwanted Arabpopulation which “would eventually endanger the Jewish character ofIsrael… 362.3.1 Attitudes under OccupationThe attitudes of the indigenous population are generally ignored inthe U.S., on the assumption—racist in essence—that they simply do notcount. In the early years of the occupation, the Labor governmentrefused to permit any independent political expression on the part of thepopulation, even rejecting the request of pro-Jordanian “notables” toform an anti-PLO grouping, a fact revealed in 1974 by the formermilitary commander of the West Bank, General (now President) ChaimHerzog (breaking government censorship), and arousing no concernamong American liberals and democratic socialists, firm supporters ofthe Labor Alignment. 37In 1976, relatively free elections were permitted for municipalities inthe West Bank. The elected candidates soon made it clear that theyregarded the PLO as their sole legitimate representative. In recent years,the Begin government and others have attributed this outcome to PLOZionist Organization of America, representing the Likud position.Classics in Politics: The Fateful TriangleNoam Chomsky