The danger of Annapolis was never about simply discussing peace. The danger stems from positions that could potentially lead the region back to violence.
One example: according to Reuters, a senior Vatican cardinal says that all Palestinian refugees have a “right to return.”
“Palestinian refugees, like all other refugees, have a right to right to return to their homeland,” said Cardinal Renato Martino, head of the Vatican department that formulates refugee policy.
Israel can never agree to this. The so-called “right of return” is suicide for Israel. The influx of millions of Palestinians claiming refugee status would cripple Israel demographically. The country would cease to be a Jewish state.
The Vatican’s comments were utterly irresponsible. The “right of return” was one issue that led to the collapse of Oslo. When the Palestininians did not get what they wanted, they turned to violence. Concerns abound that this could happen again.
