Posted on 12/04/2001 3:22:18 PM PST by Republican Party Reptile
I'm asking the question looking for replies and discourse that (hopefully) can raise above suggesting wiping one side or the other off the face of the earth, locking people up in a police state, or expelling either side from the land they occupy today (where would they go? and how would that really solve the problem other then pushing the problem somewhere else?).
What do you think is a viable long term solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and how would one go about making it happen?
As someone who is not of Judeo-Christian-Islamist cultural/religion background, I don't have an religious or idealogical dog in the fight. I have heard and read about the grievences and claims and counter-claims from both sides, while I sympathize, I'll admit that the grievences are not personal to me. I have spent a lot of time in both Israel and Arab nations due to work. I got along and liked the people I came in contact with in Israel and in the Arab states. I think the state of Israel has a right to a secured and peaceful existence, and I think the same for a Palestinian state. But I don't profess to have any idea how this can be realistically accomplished.
Those in GAZA probably are
What would you call a country where 80% of it citizens call themselves Japanese? Japan might fit.
What would you call a country where 80% of it citizens call themselves Palestinians? Jordan
Jordan consists of 2/3 of the land mass of the "Palestine" mandate.
It's ruled by a family which lost- with the help of the British- their home in Arabia.
If Jordan was a democracy it would be- at the first legitimate election- a "Palestinian" State.
A border could be drawn with the former Jordan encompassing some Arab population centers in the West Bank.
Arabs disavow the destruction of Israel.
Peace.
Let's put Israel aside and talk about Egypt's ability to weasel 2 billion out of US. What is Egypt doing for USA? Did you take a look at what their state controlled media is writing about US? Israel is the _only_ USA ally in the region. What's more, I suspect that if USA didn't stop Israel from defending itself, then Israel wouldn't need all that aid. As you know, being in a state of war 24/7 costs money. We stopped Israel when Israel was miles away from Damascus...
If Israel overpowers them in a fashion similar to what the Russians did to Chechnya, so be it; but I see no reason why they must do it with our money.
Thousands of Americans were recently killed by Middle Eastern terrorists, in part because of our unwavering support of Israel. Were the Israelis the least bit appreciative of that fact? How many Israelis are willing to send their taxes here to support our plaralistic society? How many of them risk their lives for the U.S? Instead, they practice overt racial discrimination, which foments discontent against the west, and then expect us to buy into their "chosen people" argument. Sorry, but we chastise white racists in America for espousing what Israel practices every day.
If I were Bush, I would let both sides know that the U.S. is withdrawing all support until there is a workable peace agreement that both enforces sanctions against terrorism and recognizes the human rights of Palestinians. Until then, let them wallow in their own sewage. We have no compelling national interest in that region.
Sorry, but those arabs left because of the invading arab armies who told them to leave. I remember someone posted a refugee's supposed account of why her family left in 1948... and she mentions tanks... Funny thing is that Israel didn't have tanks in 1948, she was describing the attacking arab armies. Keep in mind that there are over 1 million of Israeli arabs in Israel - those are the arabs who didn't flee.
Remember that they took out both the Eqyptian and Syrian air forces in just a few minutes and Sharon, the Israeli Patton, was just a few kilometers from Cairo when USA ordered himto a halt.
There is fire down within the black smoke.
You are one self-rightious jerk to assert that the Palestinians perspective should just be ignored because in your simple-minded Christian opinion it is invalid. Most of the civilized world does not share your opinion.
Probably are egyptians.
I will make a deal with you if you are honest.
Visit Israel. If when you come back you can honestly repeat that crap I'll pay for your trip.
I hope you're not Jewish, but if you are you have no right to complain about the Nazi's in light of your last genocidal statement. BTW, let's leave the U.S. out of it altogether.
I suspect that if we let Israel eliminate her enemies, they wouldn't need all that money. We stop them every time they retaliate. Syria and Iran are openly conducting war against them via Hezbollah. Lebanon refuses to deploy troops on its border (as they agreed to in the pull out deal) letting Hezbollah do whatever it wants, and we won't let them take care of business. If they destroy their enemies once and forever, there would be no need for the aid to make up for their hurting economy and to keep themselves in a war state 24/7
None.
Here's why: The anceint Romans first became aware of the Jews/Israel back in the 2nd century B.C. when a deligation from Israel came to Rome seeking aid ($$ and other kinds) in their fight against the Syrians.
In the 2nd century B.C.! And you know they had been going head to head against Syria, and who knows who else, l-o-n-g before they approached the Romans. We're talking about an "area of conflict" that has been going on for at least 2,200 years.
I don't know if its stupidity or vanity that makes us think we somehow have a solution to this endless/timeless/ancient feud.
Israel's perspective is being ignored. Jordanian slaughtered tens of thousands of palestinians when they rebelled and tried to grab a chunk of Jordan - NO ONE tried to tie Jordan's hands like they are doing to Israel. Time to stop this double standard.
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