Judenfrei (German: Jew free) is a Nazi term referring to freeing an area of its Jews [1]. Though Hitler died 65 years ago, Judenfrei’s relevant today. Because the only place on Earth where Jews aren’t able to settle, build and live is the West Bank. Why? Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas (pictured) declared that a future Palestinian State should be free of Jews [2]. As a corollary, the PA deems new Jewish settlements and expansion of existing ones a provocation and a threat to peace [3]. Of course it’s fine by the PA that Arabs can be, are and will continue being citizens of Israel. But the obverse is anathema. To me, all Jews who reside within the borders of a future Palestinian State would be entitled to be its citizens – with the same rights and responsibilities as all its other citizens be they Muslim, Christian or whatever. And wouldn’t a Jewish minority be a great test of a nascent Palestinian State’s tolerance of minorities. Speaking of tolerance, the world tolerates the PA’s non-acceptance of the concept, and reality, of Israel being a Jewish State [4, 5]. Why, then, is the PA treated as if it’s a serious party in the current peace negotiations? I yearn for true Peace within a two-state solution. But I can’t see it occurring in my lifetime, or my grandchildren’s – because the PA’s Judenfrei policy’s a fair dinkum deal breaker, stinking as it does of racial discrimination, ethnic cleansing and apartheid.
