Historic and Courageous, Indeed

Yesterday, President Bush backed Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to pull out of Gaza and parts of the West Bank. However, the New York Times is reporting that what Sharon has offered is "already angering many Arabs." The headline reads, "In Major Shift, Bush Endorses Sharon Plan and Backs Keeping Some Israeli Settlements."

What's this big shift, the Times speaks of? It reads:

"Mr. Bush said that Israel should not have to return to its pre-1967 borders, and that Palestinians and their descendants who lost their land in Israel in 1948 should eventually be settled in a Palestinian state, not back in Israel. The president's pronouncement effectively ruled out any "right of return" by Palestinians."

Under common law in the United States and Britain, it takes a lot less time for a previous landowner to lose their "right of return." The doctrine of adverse possession allows an open and notorious possessor of property who resides on it for 12 years to take title. Israel has had possession in many places since 1948 and in other places since 1967. Both a lot longer than 12 years.

There is damage from war. Oftentimes considerable loss of property. But this glass is half full mentality that the Palestinians are using to oppose Sharon's plan to pull out of the occupied territory will never bring peace. Look -- the United States after the Mexican-American War never gave up California, New Mexico, Arizona, et. al. But that is precisely what Israel is doing.

Bush is right to call it "historic" and "courageous," because it is.