This thread has diminished my support for Israel, that is true. I had no idea how arrogant and ungrateful some of the Israelis are. That has been eye-opening.It should not. We have people in America who are idiots too. Look how many saw Michael Moore's schlockumentary.
As I said earlier, the Bush Administration is firmly committed to the support of Israel. No one denies that. The purpose of the Road Map is to eventually secure peace in the region. It takes the middle ground between the Pali rejectionists who would push Israel into the sea, and the Kahanists who would march three million people across the Jordan River at gunpoint and blow up some of the holiest sites in Islam.
One point worth noting is that most of the representatives of that latter group in this forum do not live in Israel. They live in the United States. The extremist groups Kach and Kahane Chai are banned as terrorist groups there (though the bans are sporadically enforced).
In Israel, you will find that a majority of the people favor the road map or some equivalent. Recently in Cleveland, there was a story in the paper about a traveling group of Israeli students who visited with a local group. The locals were shocked that most of the Israeli students were outspokenly anti-settlement.
Most of them are sick of fighting, yet quite sensibly expect the Palestinians to be reasonable as well. That's the approach the Bush Administration has taken.
-Eric
So now you seem to be admitting they are extremists :-) - Most of the folks posting on this thread are taking an extreme view ie saying that the Palestinians elections aren't valid - bashing President Bush and Dr. Rice - opposing the establishment of a Palestinian state (when a large majority of Americans want it) etc. My view is they would probably be happier elsewhere and besides that they do not present a positive view of what Free Republic is all about.
Most of them are sick of fighting, yet quite sensibly expect the Palestinians to be reasonable as well. That's the approach the Bush Administration has taken.
I'm sure that is true. Otherwise Sharon would not still be in power. As Charles Krauthammer noted yesterday - the Palestinians are no longer asking for land - they are asking Israel to stop killing the terrorist leaders and targeting their infrastructure - in other words peace for peace . That is a fair deal, imo.
We will see what Abbas is able to accomplish. Hamas has stated that they do not have to abide by the cease fire. That will need to change - but a new wind is blowing the ME and hope and optimism are called for - not this dark, hostile extremism.