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Foreign observers of Israel tend to focus so intently on the dangers the country faces from its Arab neighbors that they have largely missed an astonishing story that has been accelerating over the past few months: that of the Jewish state’s possible move toward internal collapse. If you consider this an exaggeration, just take note of what the past couple of weeks have brought about.

Mr. Wahrman is Ruth N. Halls Professor of History and Director of the Center for Eighteenth-Century Studies at the Indiana University History Department (adjunct in English, Jewish Studies, Cultural Studies) writes in more details to answer the question: Is Israel Falling Apart?

[Excerpt…] There certainly has never been such a deep crisis of leadership in the country that touts itself as the only democracy in the Middle East. The leader of the ruling parliamentary coalition, Avigdor Yitzhaki, said so publicly a few days ago. And the Minister of Education has suggested that all schools devote special classes to the “government crisis”, so that children can speak out about what might well seem to them like a total collapse of all systems that control their lives. Suddenly the Palestinians and the Hizbullah, and even Iranian nukes, have taken a back seat: Israel does indeed seem in danger of imploding from within, at least as a viable democracy.

To add insult to injury, look at the great news coming from Israel these days. In fact I can’t think of how stupid the mainstream media think we are to believe that Israel wants peace. I can’t believe what I’m hearing these days. The penny drops late for Israeli leaders 5 years after rejecting Saudi Initiative.

[Excerpt…] Five years after the Saudi initiative was rejected by Israel, it has become a costly die on the game board on which Israel’s future is determined, and the country’s leaders are working hard to hold on to it. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, in an interview with Channel 10 last week, said she thought Saudi King Abdullah’s original plan was a positive one; Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, in a speech at Ben-Gurion’s tomb three months ago, cited the plan as a possible basis for the beginning of regional talks; Minister Meir Sheetrit announced last month that he had proposed that Olmert invite all those involved in the Saudi initiative to begin negotiations on parts of it. These are new tunes.

For those who have forgotten: When the Saudi initiative was first revealed (in Thomas L. Friedman’s New York Times column of February 17, 2002 and later proposed by Arab League), prime minister Sharon declined to even respond to it. The “sophisticated” excuse was that it had not been officially presented, it was only a proposal brought up in a newspaper.

But don’t hold your breath. The Israelis are not really after solving anyone’s problem but theirs. In other words, they want the full recognition of Israel and permanent peace with the Arab states, which the Saudi initiative promises, but not that they return for a withdrawal to 1967 boundary lines, the establishment of an independent Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital, and “an agreed, just solution” to the refugee issue in accordance with United Nations resolution 194, adopted in 1948!

There you go, “it is positive and good basis for conflict resolution,” Israelis say, “but don’t talk about 1967 borders, Jerusalem and refugees.” Give everything but don’t ask for anything in return. Give me peace (Israel) and go to hell (Palestinians).