Posted on 08/14/2005 9:39:27 AM PDT by SmithL
AFTER a half-century of wars, treaties and Mideast peace initiatives, the rough outlines of a solution are as plain as ever. There should be a separate state of Palestine alongside Israel, ironclad pledges of security and gradual steps to get that job done.
But nailing down this goal is elusive. The latest example is Israel's praiseworthy decision to unilaterally withdraw from the Gaza Strip, beginning Monday.
The move contains all the risks, rewards and complications of the Mideast peace path. Done right, it can be just the demonstration of good faith the two sides badly need to keep going. But if it falters -- and there are plenty of problems that can spoil the pullout -- then the peace process will shatter. The suicide bombings and air strikes will begin again.
The move-out is both big and small. Fewer than 10,000 Israelis will have to go, ceding ownership to 1.3 million Palestinians who now live around them. The region is an economic asterisk for Israel, and the land is prized chiefly by extremely devout Jews, who oppose any giveback.
For Palestinians, especially President Mahmoud Abbas, the land's return is a chance to show results of his moderate policies. More generally, it's an opportunity for his country-in-waiting to demonstrate its nation-building skills after fighting and dying for the chance for generations.
For the United States, which has long played an overly large role as peacemaker, the handover should be a success on a bigger chessboard. Arab states can see the demonized state of Israel pulling back from conquered land at the behest of Washington. And that's no small thing, as the White House hunts for allies and credibility in the war on terrorism.
But nothing in the Mideast is so simple or easily done.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
** MIDEAST PEACE **
Now there is another one for my oxymoron collection...!
One cause for optimism is tapping the popular and well connected Clinton-era World Bank president to be US envoy and the G8 pledges of 9 billion to make Gaza an economy with port and housing.
Why? Other than spite, that is.
You are completely wrong. That is all I'll bother saying. Once you have learned for yourself how wrong you are, you can come back to this thread and apologize for being a retard.
Why would I come back to a thread where a$$holes like you hang out? Go occupy something and go away.
Yep, that is what they will see, alright. And the message will be, "to get the west bank, just nuke Baltimore".
It used to be every schoolchild knew the story behind the adage, "once you pay the Danegeld, you will never be rid of the Dane."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.