Bajan Tuh De Bone

I will continue to say that unless Israel leaves the occupied territories in the West Bank and Gaza strip, the Palestinian people have every right to be angry. Israel and her western supporters will continue to paint Hamas as rebels and terrorists, but I think Hamas has just cause to take the stance they are taking. It is imperative that both Hamas and Israel accept a peace initiative that requires Israel to withdraw completely to its 1949 borders, but I'm very doubtful that Israel is likely to accept it. If Israel does not accept this initiative, I would hope that Obama and the rest of the international community would have the balls to insist and put serious pressure on Israel to comply...even if it means severing diplomatic and economics ties with Israel.

Obama is really going to have ti hit the ground running with all that's going on these days. I have been waiting with great anticipation to find out exactly how he will handle the Israeli-Palestinian issue, and it seems that this present crisis will be right at the forefront as he takes office on the 20th.

...we, the US, needs to drop our unilateral support of Israel. They have every right to defend their borders, but they should do it from now on without our support. We get very little from our "partnership" with Israel, most of what the politicians say about them is just lip servivce due to the strong Jewish lobby in Washington. Israel's only true allegiance is to Israel, it's time we understood that and dealt with them accordingly.

Well that non-sense I hear from many people saying that Israel is only defending herself...and that Israel is the victim of terrorist acts, does not fly with me. Israel has victimized the Palestinians for decades as they have continued to occupy and settle on more and more of the people's land. Martin Luther King once said that "without justice there can be no peace", and justice has not been served in the Middle-East.

Gearbox wrote:Well that non-sense I hear from many people saying that Israel is only defending herself...and that Israel is the victim of terrorist acts, does not fly with me. Israel has victimized the Palestinians for decades as they have continued to occupy and settle on more and more of the people's land. Martin Luther King once said that "without justice there can be no peace", and justice has not been served in the Middle-East.

...no, there can be no peace without justice. But it is also true that any number of terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah have vowed to wipe Israel off the face of the map. That is their choice and if they can back it up, fine. They haven't even come close yet. I personally don't give much of a damn either way on this. I can see the points to both sides. I also see no end to it. I just want us out of it.

trudogg wrote:...no, there can be no peace without justice. But it is also true that any number of terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah have vowed to wipe Israel off the face of the map. That is their choice and if they can back it up, fine. They haven't even come close yet. I personally don't give much of a damn either way on this. I can see the points to both sides. I also see no end to it. I just want us out of it.

Many of the Arab nations are taking a more moderate view towards the existence of Israel, and a two-state solution where both Palestinians and Israelis can co-exist in peace. This being the case, it may be easier for those moderate Arab nations to persuade Hamas and other hardline groups to seriously consider the peace initiative proposed by Saudi Arabia, and supported by Obama. I think that this initiative is the last and best hope...but I agree that the outlook is still grim. Even if Hamas accepts it, I just don't see Israel being willing to relinquish the occupied territories and return to its 1949 borders. So it may come down to one side or the other being wiped off the face of the map to bring an end to the conflict. In the meantime, Obama will have to make some key policy decisions to make that will determine how America is viewed by the rest of the world.

...they are probably looking at their best chance at creating a peace treaty in almost a decade. If "no drama" Obama will put it to them on a straight, take it or leave it basis...I think Israel will fall into line. I don't think they want to lose their pipleine to "Uncle Sugar"...

trudogg wrote:...they are probably looking at their best chance at creating a peace treaty in almost a decade. If "no drama" Obama will put it to them on a straight, take it or leave it basis...I think Israel will fall into line. I don't think they want to lose their pipleine to "Uncle Sugar"...

I do not believe that Israel will comply unless Obama proves that he is really serious about it...and to prove that may require threatening to sever, or actually severing (if the threats don't work), diplomatic and \or economic ties with Israel until she fully complies with the initiative. It is left to be seen how things will actually play out...but I counting on Obama to show what type of metal he is made of and take a hard line with Israel if necessary.

I suppose that one should be able to understand why Iran thinks that Israel needs to be wiped off the face of the map.

Yea rite. The only way he's going accept a two-state is if his arm is really twisted hard by Obama. Israel's intention is and has been to occupy and control all the Palestinian territory.

Benjamin Netanyahu never did and still doesn't want a Palestinian state next door to Israel. His pre-conditions to a Palestinian state are atrocious...no army, no weapons, no control of its ownair space, the entire city of Jerusalem must remain under Jewish control, and the Palestinians must recognize and accept Israel as the rightful state of the Jews.

This speech is nothing but a deal breaker. This is like saying I will let you live if you bow down and worship me.

Jimmy Carter's account of the Gaza situation...