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Tuesday, 16 October, 2001, 13:57 GMT 14:57 UK
Middle East: Can a solution be found?
Your comments
Click here to read more of your comments.
Israel must comply with the UN resolutions, plain and simple. The USA and UK should stop their double standards, and force the Israelis and Palestinians to make peace. There should be no 'buts' or 'ifs'. End it Now.
Sarah, UK
Do American people think that Palestinians' cause is wrong? If 'Yes' then I think we are not mature enough, as human kind, to know what is right and what is wrong. If 'No', then let's take another look on our foreign policies for the sake of peace and betterment of our life and, more than anything, our world.
No mediation can provide an amicable solution to the Middle East problem without the restoration of trust, peace, non-violence and brotherhood between the peoples of Israel and Palestine. As an ardent follower of Gandhian principles of universal brotherhood, I would like to stress that, while sustained peaceful protests are the basic right of every Palestinian, any indulgence in violence will only destroy the fragile peace process.
On the other hand, Israel should also try to moderate its attitude towards the Palestinians and consider them no lesser than any other world citizens. Instead of trying to find a reasonable solution to Israel-Palestine conflict, some countries in the Arab world are only damaging the peace process by instigating the Palestinian youths to resort to unreasonable violence. Any amount of hatred and rivalry will only result in more bloodshed.
Anas, Saudi Arabia
Peace is a long way off in the Middle East because neither side is willing to compromise. Both parties have inbred hatred for the other side. However, if a viable independent Palestinian state was created and the Arab world recognised Israel's right to exist then there could be peace. I think I have more chance of winning the lottery though than for this to happen in my lifetime.
I am not a spokesman for Israel, and do not support the extremist views of Mr Sharon, but I have yet to hear any of the Arab spokesmen or representatives of the Palestinians actually say that they accept the right of the Israelis to remain within secure boundaries. A glance at a map shows how the bunker mentality of the Israelis is formed, despite their obvious strengths. The history of the state of Israel is one of constant vigilance against any military action by Arab forces. If they are to survive, they must win every battle, for the Arabs only one victory is needed. If you understand that viewpoint, we should not be too eager to condemn. The rest is easy.
Mu'min, USA
The Temple Mount is the issue. People say it is impossible for Muslims to recognize what Jerusalem is for the Jews. The Jews do not want to remove the Mosques on the Temple Mount as we could have done in 1967, even though the rubble beneath the Mosques may contain the second set of the Ten Commandments. Now Jews don't want to go and excavate. If the Muslims accepted that Jews have a critical connection to the Temple Mount, I believe that a workable, daily schedule could be worked out to please both parties. But don't demand sovereignty on both the Mosques and the land on which it stands. Jews have no problem with Palestinians having sovereignty over the Mosques; in an ironic way it is the Arab world that would not like this.
When the Palestinians refused the peace agreement proposed by the Barak government, the main sticking point was the control of Jerusalem, which Arafat wanted to claim for Palestine. The Israelis would not agree to this and neither did the Clinton administration. Is it not time for the world community to claim this holy capital as an international city, since it holds importance for Muslims, Jews and Christians alike?
Eric Mitton, USA Palestinians should stop pelting stones, should not send suicide attackers, should not support radicals. They should protest peacefully - justice will prevail because their cause is noble. But the sore point is that their way of achieving it is not noble. Remember Gandhi obtained independence for India from the Victorian empire without much bloodshed, either Indian or British, and here are two prospering countries cooperating and co-existing till now (ie India and UK).
I think it is time to address the real issues here. Israel must begin to make real concessions to the Palestinians and help to nurture the new state as opposed to destabilising it. All Jewish settlements must be dismantled within the Occupied Territories. Muslims and other people of the developing world are growing tired of the arbitrary use (in effect, misuse) of 'international law'. Israel must withdraw to the 1967 borders in order for peace to have a real chance.
Peter Barraclough, UK
I am amazed at how naive readers of this forum are. Israel has offered the PLO a state in the past year and was rejected. There can be no real peace when dealing with terrorists bent on your destruction. Until the Philistines get a reasonable man as their leader any so-called "peace" will be short lived.
I want to congratulate Mr Arafat for his new mature stance as regards to 'tit- for- tat' strikes between Israel and Palestine, which have plagued that area of the Middle East for so long. Not only did he send his own troops to put an end to Arab attacks on Israel but he has shown a genuine effort to end the strife in that part of the world. If Israel shows the same quality of leadership and effort towards peace in the Middle East and withdrew their troops from the Gaza strip, I see no reason why, at long last, peaceful co-existence cannot be achieved. Good luck Mr Arafat!
As Tony Blair confirmed today in his press conference with Arafat, the UK and US attitude to the Middle East crisis is one of double standards. As journalists from al-Jazeera and the Egyptian press grilled him with questions relating to Security Council resolutions and previous agreements, he evaded answers in order to avoid publicly condemning Israeli actions. Western governments and media have succeeded in demonising the Palestinian cause, whilst at the same time, conveniently touring a blind eye to Israel's flagrant violation of resolutions and general war-mongering stance in the region.
William McDonald, USA
Keep this in mind. Both Hitler and Stalin had chemical and biological weapons but even these two great evils refused to use them. Iraq has used them in the past and now it seems that Bin Laden and his al-Qaeda organisation will and in fact are using them, we fear. Just what level of evil are we dealing with? Whatever you might say, but you cannot reason with a madman. This is the sad truth. Israel and Palestine are right in the middle of this situation and their leaders need to be more proactive in dealing with and cutting out this evil.
Where are the USA and the west? They need to take care of their responsibilities and bring peace to the world. There will be no peace in the world without a solution to the Middle East conflict. I would urge the west not to bring religion into this conflict. The UN should do its job as well and bring about a peaceful solution before accepting any Nobel peace prize.
Paul Thorgan, England
There can never be peace with oppression. Until pressure is put on the Zionists to stop their oppression, the whole world will remain on a knife-edge.
It is really encouraging that Tony Blair is willing to sit down with Yasser Arafat and try to diffuse recent world problems through diplomatic means. But what we have witnessed since George Bush was elected is that he is not willing to talk with Arafat, while Ariel Sharon has been invited to the White House many times. The US should stop arming and encouraging the Israelis to kill Palestine children. The world in general, and the US and Israel in particular, should be willing to accept a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. I really feel that peace is still a realistic prospect for the Middle East as long as the Israelis are willing to make peace with the Palestinians learn how to live in harmony with them.
More talks, more meetings, more ceasefire agreements - I for one have become cynical. Imagine what the Palestinians feel. While Kofi Annan is being awarded the Nobel peace prize, the UN remains as ineffectual as ever and is nothing more than a spectator. Either grant the UN the financial freedom and military resources to enforce the countless ignored resolutions, as well as the legal structure to bring Mr Sharon in front of a war crimes tribunal, or scrap the whole organisation and start afresh.
Dieter Onken, Germany
Arafat needs the intifada because the Palestinians were getting fed up with his corrupt regime so Arafat needed to get their support back.
When truth prevails, when the world accepts that Jordan was supposed to be Palestine, when the world realizes that Israel was always the Jewish homeland, when people snap out of this disastrous amnesia and remember that the Palestinian identity only emerged after 1967, then we can begin to move forward. Until then, forget any real peace.
Andy from UK is suffering from verbal diarrhoea. I have never heard such cobblers in my entire life. He obviously skipped the history lessons at school. It is abhorrent that Palestinians are driven out of their homes to be replaced with Jewish settlements. Put yourself in their shoes. How would you feel if someone stole your car, wallet and home? No doubt you would want to reclaim what is rightfully yours.
For all those stating the obvious, that Israel must return the occupied territories, I completely agree, but there is one major problem in this argument. Ehud Barak offered to return 96 percent of the territories, including part of Jerusalem to the Palestinians and to the shock of most Israelis Arafat refused. What is Israel expected to do, return the territories without any peace agreement, knowing that the minute the Palestinians get the land back they will just keep on with their terrorism, until they get every last inch of Israel as well? Israel is dealing with a group of extremists that will stop at nothing short of total destruction. I would suggest to rich Arab states such as Saudi Arabia to stop being hypocritical and start really helping the Palestinians, for example by donating money to them. The Saudis could start with the $10m refused by Giuliani. The Arab world uses the Palestinians as a pawn to further their causes in order to unite the Arab world against a common enemy and keep the heat away from its own corrupt regimes.
One last comment, people are often upset at the supposed support of Israel by the US (which actually has a balanced policy), saying that it is unjust. Is it just that Israel has to deal with over 30 Arab states and over 50 Muslim states that are automatically anti-Isreal on every matter? These countries have far more influence on Europe due to their oil supply that is coveted by all. Fifty against one - very "just". Nevertheless, I pray for peace.
Eileen Cox, England
To both Israelis and Palestinians I say, "half a loaf is better than no bread". So, accept that neither of you will have things all your own way. Agree that both of you must be allowed to live at peace with one another, behind secure borders recognised by international law. Agree to a cessation of violence, and to the defining of these borders by mutual consent. Then define them. If Israel expects to maintain some settlements, they must concede elsewhere. Purchasing Egyptian land to allow the expansion of Gaza might not be such a bad idea. If goodwill can surmount hatred, anything is possible.
How can a war criminal or perceived war criminal and an (ex)terrorist sit down and make peace? Why did Arafat turn down an offer of Gaza, the West Bank and east Jerusalem? If there is to be peace Palestinians must accept the right of Israel to exist and Israel has to stop over-reacting.
Simon Rockman, UK
What many people don't realize is that terrorists will never be happy with what they have they will always want more. Even if Israel gave the Palestinians there own land, the terrorists organizations have already made it clear that they wont stop until Jews are driven from the entire region. The only way to stop the terrorism in that part of the region is to wall the two sides off from each other so no Palestinians can enter, or sneek into the Israeli controlled side. It is also in the best interests of the other Arab countries to control the terrorists organizations that operate in there country, or Israel may act against them on there own, like the U.S.A. is doing now for its problems. Remember Israel most likely has nuclear weapons available to them.
Reading many of these comments I can't help but feel that the world hasn't changed that much over the past two thousand years. Jews, as always, are still being blamed for all the world's ills.
John, Norway
We had a chance of peace in 1995 with Rabin, Arafat and Peres. That was thrown away with Israelis killed one of their one own rather than accept peace. We still have a chance with Arafat and Peres, but they both need support from the rest of the world. Arafat in particular. And this means trusting him. Not asking him the impossible like getting rid of all the terrorists in Palestine before Israel starts withdrawing, because the occupation of the state of Palestine by foreign troops only help creating would-be terrorist. It is only when Palestine is free from invaders that Arafat will be able to tackle these issues. We have no choice but to trust him.
The outside world would dearly love the people of the area to live in peace and harmony but clearly each side is determined not to do so. There can never be peace in this area and all the West can hope to do is keep the killing on each side to as low a level as possible. The West therefore has a history going back to before WWII of engaging both sides in some sort of dialogue in the hope of coming to some sort of viable resolution. For these efforts we stand condemned by Muslim extremists as supporters of "Zionists" for which we all must die.
It seems that these extremists expect us to leave the Jews to their fate and let the likes of Hamas kill as many as they like, then perhaps we in the West can live in peace. As unpleasant as Sharon and his "eye for an eye" policy is, it seems that we have no choice but to continue to support him - the alternative of turning our back would be far worse. I guess Arafat has understood the situation of the West for some years now. As for Sharon he is in the unfortunate position of being a leader in the only democratic country in the Middle East. Since his policy has only brought more killing to Israel one can assume that he won't last for long in his position.
Peace in the Middle East will never be realised as long as the Israeli and Palestinian leaders believe that it is possible to achieve peace by forcibly occupying land or by carving it up into different national territories. The only way to achieve progress in the Middle East would be to for both sides to form one national government that was founded on a non-ethnic basis. This would allow all people access to all areas of the land and to enjoy the same rights. However, this is never even on the agenda of Middle-East peace talks.
If the western leaders carry on with their foreign policies as they are doing at the moment, I really do fear for the world because the more atrocities that happen to the Muslims in the world, the more suicide bomber's they are going to create. I have sympathy for those families whose loved one's perished but I don't feel for America, because America has caused atrocities for decades. And until the world wakes up and open's its eyes to the truth there will friction between the Muslim world and the west.
If the two sides of this equation would sit down together and work this out using a moderator peace could be achieved. The problem is every time that situation is about to present itself more killing begins in their respective homelands. Having the USA moderate will never facilitate the peace process because of the animosity that the Arab world has for us. In my opinion we should hand this one over to the UN who should mandate peace negotiations or both Palestine and Israel will face dire consequences.
Secondly, you say there has never been a Palestinian state. But there was a Palestinian nation, with a culture and folklore that has roots in ancient times. Isn't that all the more reason to finally grant the Palestinians freedom and independence? You say that Jordan was meant to be a state for the Palestinians. Have you realised that Jordan is called "Jordan", not Palestine? That is like saying "let's create a Jewish state in England, and all the English can go live in Ireland since they both speak the same language!" I am sorry, Arnold, but it seems to me it is you who has believed "lies" about Palestine.
We accepted Israel's right to exist, not because we believe its creation was just (and you will never convince us it was just), but because it is there. We want peace, and we are willing to give Israel legitimacy over 80% of historical Palestine. In return, we got Netanyahu, who in 1996 stopped the peace process because it did not agree with his right wing views. And then Barak, with his arrogant "take this Palestinian state punctured by Israeli-controlled settlements and highways, or leave it!" When will peace happen? After Sharon has gone, and the next has gone, and Israelis realize that they cannot have their cake (peace) and eat it, too (control all of Palestine), and probably, the Palestinians get a more intelligent leadership.
Why do people persist in repeating lies about Palestine? Have a look at any census of Jerusalem for the 19th century. The majority of the population were Jewish, certainly since 1840.
As for "giving the country back" to the Palestinians, there has never been an independent Palestinian state as it has been under the control of one empire or another since the Romans came along.
In fact, a Palestinian state was created in 1948 - it's now called Jordan and consisted of 80% of the British mandate.
So, even though the majority of the population was Jewish and 80% of the land was given to the Palestinians, there is still no peace. It is quite clear that nothing less than 100% would do.
Finally, has the PLO modified it's charter to remove the clauses about the destruction of Israel? No, it has not.
Alex, Australia The "West" should show political consistency also in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict by supporting international law, UN resolutions and human rights, the same way we dealt with Kosovo and Iraq. Jewish people are neither "inferior" nor "superior chosen people" but human beings, so the same laws should apply to them as to everybody else.
If we reduce the Palestinian refugees, and their right of return, to a demographic problem for the Jewish state, than we violate our belief in the equal value of human life. The small-minded "us vs. them" /"good against evil" approach will not succeed, because it fails to recognise that the other side wants as much a fair deal as you do. I doubt that Israelis would accept loosing their right to buy land and build a house only being allowed to sell it, or have there home knocked down to build flats for Palestinians. Turning Israel into a multiethnic, multi-religious state of all its citizens would solve most problems and also drain all support for terrorism.
Helen Warner, UK Here is a new idea for a peace initiative - have Egypt contribute 10% of the Sinai Peninsula to the Palestinians. This miniscule contribution would effectively double Palestinian territory (including all West Bank and Gaza) and would solve the time bomb of overpopulation in Gaza. For Arafat this can be a great carrot. Israel would appreciate it as well as it would shift balance from West Bank to Gaza/Sinai and away from Israel's main population. For that Israel should be willing to do a lot including return the occupied territories. And Mobarak - he might get a Noble price for it, as well as Arab leadership. What do you think?
There seriously needs to be a history lesson to all those who like to criticize Israel. As with Bin Laden, everybody wants the evidence and proof, so maybe the same applies with Israel and instead of blaming Israel for the whole situation, look at the whole picture and all the facts. Israel is a democratic country, although a lot of people would like to believe different, and do believe in Justice.
Here is one fact for your consideration, while the attacks on the Taleban and Bin Laden are taking place, Arafat's men shot dead 3 Palestinians, as they said they were getting wild and throwing stones! So firstly Arafat (who was also not so long ago one of the worlds terrorists) can control his people when it suits him, and secondly, he is not judged for these incidents, but if it were Palestinians threatening Israeli soldiers, they would be blamed for shooting. Only when the world learns all the facts, and stops believing all the propaganda, then maybe there can be a chance for peace in the region.
The most significant step in this direction is to turn away from viewing our global neighbours as somehow outside the embrace of our interest and concern, and as valid targets for enmity. There is no such thing as a 'holy' war, it is always un-holy, unless it be the war with oneself, which I understand is the original meaning of 'jihad'. In the same way, there is no such thing as national self interest - for a country to act in its own interests in a way detrimental to the overall global situation is a little like saying "it's your side of the boat that's sinking."
There can never be peace in ANY occupied country anywhere. Never has been never will be. Who would not protest if they were forced to live under occupation. Remember the Second World War. Was there any person in any of those occupied counties contented to live under occupation? Why should the Palestinians be any different?
Max, UK Jewish people should rethink what Judaism means and throw out Zionism as a perversion of religion. Then Israel should declare itself a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-cultural society. Afterwards, dispossessed Palestinians should return home to reclaim their stolen lands and live in harmony with Jewish people as the Children of Abraham.
Sharon says this is like 1938? An expansionist state, which 'reclaims' its neighbours' land on the basis of supposed ancient rights, runs internment without trial, assassinations, admits torturing suspects? Yes, I suppose there are some similarities to 1938 in the present situation¿
Peace will never be established as long as the US keeps its head buried in the sand.
America should sever all ties with Israel. That murderer Sharon proved himself yesterday by his edict to the US.
Sharon showed that he has clearly lost touch with reality with his remarks. He seems to forget that his country only exists due to US support. As long as Israel believes it can ignore UN resolutions, angry Palestinians will continue blowing themselves up in Israeli restaurants.
Gianmario Scotti, Finland
Yes, if only USA becomes involved neutrally and without double-standards. I believe that many in the Middle East have accepted Israel's right to exist, now it is the time that Israel itself accepts the Palestinians' right to a state. Israel must be ashamed of the brutal use of its military power against unprotected Palestinians uprising for their independence and their land. Israel's policy to 'natural growth' has all the features of the genocide against Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.
Ariel Sharon reminds me of the arsonist who started the present conflagration and is now advising us how to extinguish it. He prefers to accomplish this by throwing more kerosene on it.
Sharon is the only national leader who is operating with full mental capacity. The US has a mental midget trying to control the entire world for oil. I applaud Sharon for slapping the dummies in DC in the face. They deserve more than they got. If the 'Bush goon squad' would keep their damned noses out of Israel's business Sharon and Arafat would solve their own problems. The CIA is constantly fuelling the fires of war, and has kept this thing going for years. As long as we have a Republican party in the US financing the CIA, Israel will have problems caused by US.
Nothing is ever black and white. It is a sad situation with both sides adamant to see it from their perspective.
Palestinians are people too and do deserve a homeland. Israel has made many land-for-peace offers and every one is rejected. It seems to me that the Palestinians don't really want a homeland, they want Israel and wont accept anything less.
Victor, USA There will be a chance for peace only when the Western world understands who the enemy is. After almost 40 years of terrorism against Israel, even before the 1967 West Bank take over, Arafat should be sitting in jail not being invited to dinner parties in Paris. He is a murderer, and that's why he refused every peace-offer that came from the Israeli side. He can't live without blood, terror and war.
Incredible! Some people posting here actually believe that the Palestinians should have been happy with 95% of the West Bank. Have they ever looked at a map of the settlements? How could anyone expect the Palestinian people to have agreed to a state pockmarked with settlements and restricted-access highways? Until Israel truly realizes its mistake in trying to settle the occupied areas it is hard to see how there could be peace in the region.
Donna Wright, Rochester, NY
Bush must take this opportunity to force Sharon to stop the settlements. Only now, with a world-wide mandate to build a coalition to fight terrorism, can Bush overwhelm Jewish power in the US and impose a solution on Israel.
Israel is once again getting the blame for all the world's ills. It reminds me of something a (non-Jewish) expert on the Middle East said to me many years ago at Oxford, explaining the position. "If a Jew offers an Arab $100 000, everyone will say, 'Typical Jew, thinks he can buy everything!' And if the Jew does not offer the Arab the money, people will say, 'Typical Jew, mean.'" As Sharon has just made clear, Israel knows what he world thinks of Jews, and acts accordingly: in her own interests, as do the US and the UK.
Scott Joseph, Scotland
The leaders who perpetuate the cycle of violence are military men, they wouldn't know what to do with peace if it came and sat next to them.
There will be peace, but not while Ariel Sharon remains in Power. A man whose Curriculum Vitae spells 'Genocide', 'Apartheid', 'Ethnic Cleansing' and 'Right-Wing'. Can a man who compares Arab States to Hitler's Third Reich (The Independent, page 15, 5/10/01), refers to Yasser Arafat as 'our Osama Bin Laden' and encapsulates all Palestinians as terrorists really bring peace to the middle east? I think not.
Arnold, UK I am so bewildered to see Muslims striving for their independence all around the globe, as the independent Islamic states they do have are being badly mismanaged. If the Israelis promise to cater for the basic needs of Palestinians, they should be given the right to rule the occupied area. Despite being a Muslim I feel that most Islamic states are the most disgusting examples of social injustice.
Emily, USA Before we can move forward we must look back. We must look at how these problems started in the first place, and also recognise that Jews and Muslims share the Father, according to the religious text. We must not lose hope that there can be peace and ask that key global players such as the USA, the UK, and the UN help the Muslim states resolve the problems. If we can work together to defeat terrorism, then surely we can work together find peace.
I take it you all remember those Israelis savagely beaten and thrown out of a window to an angry mob? I don't recall ever seeing Israelis do that. And you want people like this to be have an autonomous nation?
Bring the UN into the picture. Let the US take a neutral role.
AG, Japan
As long as people from the entire world do nothing to stop those few heartless people who are addicted to moneymaking, there will be no peace any place in the world. Israel was created in the centre of Arab nations so that these lunatic money making machines and power-lovers can put their hands on the oil of these countries. Once the wells of oil are dried out, Israel will disappear, and this part of the world will be left in peace, at least until a new source of wealth is found there.
The extremist Zionist Jews who occupied Palestine through 'terrorism' and were rewarded with legitimacy by the West and even Statehood are now threatening those same allies. Sharon has warned the US not to appease Arab countries in any way that might affect his power, with a veiled threat to the effect that Israel will defend itself at any cost. This means he is ready to unleash his nuclear arsenal against his neighbours. USA and Europe without having a consistent long-term policy have created yet another problem in the region.
Geoff, Australia
Peace in the Middle East will not happen until the USA understands what it is doing wrong concerning Israel and the Palestinian people. Even now they have no idea why Arabs feel the way they do. Palestinians are entitled to a homeland the same as the Jews. They are entitled to self-rule and they should be given assistance with setting up an economically viable state without the fear of being invaded by Israel. On the other hand the Palestinians must be prepared to allow Israel to exist and to stop murdering Israelis the way they are now. None of this will ever happen as long as Israel continues to occupy Arab land as they have done for nearly forty years now. The two sides need to get together and start to compromise with each other. Palestinians need to give up their terrorist campaigns and Israel needs to return occupied lands to the Arabs. Americans need to take an independent view instead of an Israeli-biased view.
Asif Aleem, Islamabad, Pakistan To me it is quite clear there will be no peace, until 'Palestine' stops its state-sponsored terrorism and Arafat is indicted for war crimes. Maybe then we can go back to the negotiating table.
Perhaps US citizens could start doing something to help the peace process. Perhaps they could stop funding in any way the groups involved in the conflict (both sides). Perhaps, US citizens of Jewish origin could help both their countries in this way, and also by using whatever influence they have
on the US and Israeli governments to persuade them that the only viable option to have peace in the region is political negotiation, not force. Force has been tried for decades (centuries?) in the name of security and it doesn't work.
There can be no peace as long as Ariel Sharon is in charge of all the massacres and assassinations going on. Palestinians are no saints, but the butchery committed by Israelis on a day-to-day basis has to stop.
I am an American, but it is so unfortunate that we do not hear the two sides of the story. Our network news is so one-sided. But not many of us know who owns the media here.
Steve Ramsey, Canada
I think the whole world is not seeing the centre of this problem. The Israelis don't want the West Bank and Gaza, they just want peace. But the Palestinians want all of Israel! Otherwise the problem would have been solved 50 years ago.
The US & West has put sanctions on Iraq for not complying with the UN resolutions. Then why is Israel let off for disregarding the UN for all these decades? Double standards anyone?
I must start by saying the September 11 attack on US' landmarks is a horrible act and I Condemn it in its entirety. Having said that, I would like the US bring into the attention of the US that, they are causing this attack by giving Israel unconditional support and also supporting the corrupt undemocratic governments in Arabian peninsula. If the US materializes the creation of Palestine I am sure they will not experience the same thing again.
Peter Picz, USA
Is there an alternative to peace? No there is not. War is but a temporary state of affairs and just one of the means available to the quibbling parties to achieve a solution to their problem where peace will endure.
To me it is quite clear there will be no peace, until Israel stops its state-sponsored terrorism and Sharon is indicted for war crimes. Maybe then we can go back to the negotiating table.
When the Arab nations speak of liberation of the occupied territories, they don't mean the area captured by Israel in 1967, but of the whole of the State of Israel. Their game plan is the destruction of that country and its Jewish population
John, UK
So some people think that America should change its policy towards Israel. Why should it? No other country is going to stick up for it. It's not as if the UK supports the regime even if it once did. Now it just a question of appeasing the Arabs because they hold the most oil.
The root of all the strife is religion: no religion no conflict
Each side needs to recognize that the other is not going to go away. If need be, the international community should step in and enforce a peace. US policy towards the region needs to be revamped to one that is more equitable to both sides.
Finally, intelligent comments on the roots of the conflict: the mistaken creation of the state of Israel. However, this cannot be undone. The Israelis must become humble, meet the Palestinians with respect, and make a sincere attempt to solve this conflict for which they are largely responsible.
Ian Harvey, UK
If African-Americans decided they were being persecuted in the US and decided to form a nation, would the US or the UN confiscate some land from an African nation and 'offer' it to them? And their displacement only dates back a few hundred years.
The West talks about Palestinian fundamentalists and how they should be stopped. What about Zionist fundamentalists? 4000 Palestinian houses have been destroyed recently without permit, so that settlers, protected by the Israeli army, can build and live in their settlements on the West Bank or in the Gaza strip. Why are they not referred to as fundamentalists and terrorists?
The Israelis should give the Palestinian refugees the right of return. After all, they were allowed to 'return' after 2000 years, surely the Palestinians should be able to after 30-40 years?
Leila says "If African-Americans decided they were being persecuted in the US and decided to form a nation, would the US or the UN confiscate some land from an African nation and 'offer' it to them?"
Every heard of Liberia? That's exactly what happened.
Andrew Moffatt-Vallance, New Zealand
No hope. Not while lunatics on all sides continue to interpret the will of God to mean 'slaughter thine enemies'.
Two peoples laying total claim to the same land. Two peoples filled with total and implacable hatred of the other. Two peoples believing in the utter evil of the other side. Two peoples filled with anger and vengeance for injuries stretching back generations. Doesn't make for trusting and sincere negotiations really does it?
There can be absolutely no peace with Israelis until they are forced to leave the land that was stolen from the Palestinians. Doesn't it appear strange that at a time when the world is condemning terrorism we don't seem to be hearing a peep about the "State Terrorism" that Israel is committing at this very moment in time.
Nick A, UK
If the world opened their mind to history and truth, and stopped believing the outright lies about Israel being the cause of all of the injustices the Palestinian people have suffered, the perhaps there is a chance for peace. Unfortunately even in Western countries like the US and UK, more credence is given to lies and propaganda from Arab nations, than facts from Israel. These Arab states have been trying to bring about Israel's destruction since 1948, and are using the Palestinians to further their cause.
Noam, The Netherlands There will be no peace until Israel
adheres to international law,
and western countries stop
supporting their campaign of
terrorism against the Palestinians.
Israel may have the "might", but
they do not have the moral or legal
right to occupy Palestine and murder
civilians day after day.
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