Israel's Offer to the Palestinian

In fact Israel's offer of autonomy to the Palestinian Arabs of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, upon which its agreement with Egypt is based, is indeed generous, Israel's claim to these two small areas is stronger, in international law as well as in political history, than any other. Yet it is prepared to give autonomy on this very territory which the PLO, aided by other Arab States, seeks to capture and use as a military base to destrou all of Israel.

Paradoxically, as autonomous population, democratically electing its own executive organs-and protected by Israeli military power stationed in unpopualted locations - the Palestinian Arabs of the West Bank and Gaza Strip will have immeasurably more freedom and security, not to mention economic and educational advancement, than any alternative to autonomy. In any case, nothing but a successful war against Israel will give them any such alternative for the Israelis will not retreat from the West Bank to nine miles from the Mediterranean Sea.