The Arab League delegation arrived in Israel today, and, well, I simply can’t get up the energy to think anything good will come of it. Because the Arab League’s push to use the Saudi initiative as a peace treaty between Israel and the Arab states is simply unworkable.

The foreign ministers of Egypt and Jordan began a historic visit to Israel on Wednesday to formally present an Arab peace plan, saying they were extending “a hand of peace” on behalf of the region.

The ministers arrived as representatives of the Arab League, the first time the 22-member group has sent a delegation to the Jewish state. The Arab League peace plan envisions full recognition of Israel in return for evacuation of lands captured in the 1967 Middle East war.

“We are extending a hand of peace on behalf of the whole region to you, and we hope that we will be able to create the momentum needed to resume fruitful and productive negotiations” between Israel and the Palestinians and the rest of the Arab world, Jordan’s foreign minister, Abdul-Ilah Khatib, said at a news conference with Israeli President Shimon Peres.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said the two delegates had been asked by the league “to come and offer Israel the Arab peace initiative.” He urged Israel to consider the plan seriously.

The Saudi plan includes a return of all Palestinian refugees, which would effectively destroy Israel as a Jewish state, and let’s face it—how could Israel absorb 5 million new citizens, nearly doubling her population? It’s a logical impossibility on every level. It’s simply not going to happen. The plan was a non-starter from the get-go. Since the Arab states forced out an equal number of Jewish citizens from 1948 to the 1960s, call it even and move on.

Israel has welcomed the plan as a basis for negotiations, but raised concerns about certain aspects. Israel rejects a full withdrawal from the West Bank and east Jerusalem. It also objects to the plan’s apparent call for the return of Palestinians who became refugees in the 1948 Mideast war and their descendants. Israel says a large-scale return of refugees would destroy the country’s Jewish character.

That, and the influx of terrorists would pretty much guarantee an end to Jews at all in the land of their ancestors. It simply is not going to happen. The problem with the “negotiations,” such as they are, is that the Arab world has consistently said that Israel must revert completely to the 1949 Armistice Lines, and oh yeah, let the pre-1949 population back so that Israel is no longer Israel at all, in spite of the fact of winning some five wars for her existence. The Arabs continue to insist on a do-over, and work for the world’s help in forcing Israel out of existence.

This is not a basis for peace. It is the basis for the extinction of Israel. Which is why I think the Arab League can make all the visits it wants, and take all the photo ops of shaking hands with Peres it can get, and still, nothing is going to change. Not as long as the Arabs are intransigent.

It isn’t the Israelis who have refused to negotiate all these years.

And a closing thought: Take note that the only members of the Arab League to actually take part in this delegation are from Jordan and Egypt, who already have relations with Israel.

Arab diplomats played down the gesture. Egypt and Jordan already have full relations with Israel, and despite U.S. and Israeli appeals to expand the number of Arab participants in the talks, Saudi Arabia and other Arab League members with no formal ties to the Jewish state have refused to take part.

This is a sham visit, and I think nothing will come of it. However, count on the world media to blame Israel when nothing happens. Because the fault never lies in Arab intransigence. No, it’s always Israel’s fault for refusing to give concessions.

Saab Erekat, the highest-up of the Palestinian spokesliars, told Tony Blair that he’s not interested in negotiations. He wants a state.

Chief Palestinian negotiator Dr Saeb Erekat said the meeting dealt with the need to establish a Palestinian state.

“We made it clear that we are no longer interested in talks, declarations or even initiatives. We are interested in the creation of mechanisms in order to implement all the ideas for the establishment of a Palestinian state.”

“The economic issue and the building of institutions are part of the overall diplomatic issue, and therefore one must not distinguish between the economic situation and the affects of issues such as the building of the fence and the settlements on the economic situation.

“What is needed, therefore, is a mechanism for the implementation of all the ideas as one in order to reach the goal, which is ending the occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state in the 1967 borders.”

Economic issues? Like the one in Gaza, where Palestinians destroyed most of the greenhouses left when the Israelis were forced out two years ago? Where Palestinian terrorism keeps the crossings closed so that Palestinian goods can’t go out and Israeli goods can’t go in? Or the lack of work caused by Palestinian workers shooting their bosses during the intifada called by Arafat in 2000 resulting in Israel importing new laborers? You mean the economic issues caused by the corruption and graft of the Palestinian Authority, of which Erekat is a member, resulting in Yasser Arafat becoming a billionaire? Those economic issues are all going to be solved when there is a Palestinian state next to Israel?

Somehow, I think not.

It isn’t just the Jewish “jokes” at Gawker and Wonkette. It is things like this that make me think that anti-Semitism is about the only “ism” that’s allowed today.

A Taunton School Committee member with a history of berating colleagues and the district superintendent at meetings has sparked an outcry by calling a Jewish board member Hitler and allegedly giving him the Nazi salute.

Alfred Baptista , who has been on the board for 22 years, stood up and said “Yes, heil Hitler. Sieg heil” to committee member Barry Cooperstein , who had admonished him for interrupting and yelling at district superintendent Arthur W. Stellar.

How, in any way, shape, or form, is that acceptable in polite conversation? And of course, the non-apology apology.

The Taunton Daily Gazette, which first reported the encounter last week, has called for Baptista’s resignation and Mayor Charles Crowley has demanded a public apology. The City Council plans to vote on a resolution condemning the remarks and apologizing to Cooperstein and Jewish residents at a meeting tomorrow.

In a phone interview yesterday, Baptista said he deeply regretted the remarks and had not meant any harm.

“It was a very unfortunate choice of words, and I feel terrible about it,” he said. “I’m not a racist, I’m not an anti-Semite.”

An “unfortunate choice of words.” He didn’t mean any harm. No, he just figured a Nazi salute and a “Heil, Hitler” was an appropriate thing to use when arguing with a Jew.

And oh, yeah. He didn’t do it. Really. His gesture was misinterpreted.

He said he did not make a Nazi salute, but was gesticulating. Baptista said he was angry at the way Cooperstein was running the meeting.

“I probably should have said, ‘Stop being a dictator,’ ” he said.

Baptista said he believes some people have misconstrued his remarks and that he does not intend to resign. He said he has received a number of calls of support from people who said they understood he misspoke.

Sure. “Misspoke.” Because “Heil Hitler” is such a common phrase to use when you’re angy, especially now, 62 years after the end of WWII. What, doesn’t everybody use it?

The thing I hate almost as much as the anti-Semitic remarks are the pathetic excuses used when the haters are called out for their hate. Not an anti-Semite? Then how is it, pray tell, you used that phrase when arguing with a Jew? And an observant Jew, no less.

Such a coincidence. Such a load of bull. And yet, this man will not be forced to resign. The town has already shown its support for the poor, misunderstood bully.

The mayor is also pleased with the apology.

“That’s what we were asking for, and I hope it was heartfelt and that Mr. Cooperstein considers acceptance of it,” Crowley said. “Hopefully that conduct will not continue in the future. Every public official — not just Mr. Baptista — should conduct themselves in a professional manner, whether they’re addressing another committee member or anyone from the public.”

City Councilor David Pottier, who last week said Baptista should resign, is no longer calling for the longtime committeeman to step down.

“Taking his word and many years of service into account, if it’s good enough for Mr. Cooperstein and the ADL, then it’s good enough for me,” Pottier said. “I really appreciate that Mr. Baptista apologized. Hopefully we can move on from this.”

Uh-huh. Move on. Until the next time.