[SJackson]

I think there was hope for a brief time when Israel was following the Helsinki Accords (I think that is the name of the agreement). My recollection is that it broke down sometime during the Clinton administration (when else?) when the Israelis continued the settlements in violation of the agreement that they signed. That's when things started to escalate back to ugliness again inside Israel. I think people outside Israel were waiting and watching, and when Israel did not meet the challenge, they resumed.

Again, I suspect your recollection is wrong. I wish you could overcome your sensitive feelings and respond to Heidi Doody’s factual post, or to my request for documentation of “Israeli agreements”. Your accusations of an apartheid state, Israeli genocide, and a Palestinian desire for peace are bogus, proved by your refusal to defend them. Glad you understand the cartoons now though!

I’ve not seen the Helsinki accords referred to much in reference to the Oslo War, they primarily were directed toward Eastern Europe, though they’re often referred to with respect to other causes, the mistreatment of Muslims in the US for example. If you meant Helsinki, I look forward to your analysis.

I suspect you were thinking of Oslo (those Scandinavians all look alike). If so, your contention that Israel agreed to either abandon settlements or cease construction is patently false (maybe you're thinking of the peace treaty with Egypt?). The settlements were a subject to be dealt with in the final negotiations, nothing more.

Other than security, of course. In the wake of Israel’s withdrawal, the PA was obligated to protect the settlers, an obligation they failed to even attempt to achieve. Perhaps you'd like to check out how the PA defends Joseph's Tomb

There have, of course, been a multitude of violations of Oslo, not by Israel, all by the Palestinians, starting with their basic refusal to recognize Israel’s right to exist, as even our State Department has recognized.

You’re either poorly informed on the topic, or a spewer of propaganda.

[SteveH]

those Scandinavians all look alike

I think you caught me there...

I thought there was a general concensus on halting further settlements. At some point the progress ceased, leading to (ok--- my impression) more settlements, and then cascading, anarchy within the ranks of the Palestinian police.

The common expectation as I recall was the ceasing of new settlements. But the more general principle was a common expectation as I recall of the restoration of rights for all citizens. Don't have that? Forget peace. Don't care where it is or who's involved. Could be Hatfields and McCoys. Need restoration of rights as a prelude, or else you don't have squat. If the Israeli government is in power, only the Israeli government is in place to provide that. If they don't want to, then fine-- CUT OFF FUNDING. Why are we funding them anyway? What is this, indefinite welfare for selected foreign apartheid governments or something? Let them pay their own freight.