>Is it now? At who's expense? Does the right to "self-determination" (or the autonomy that Arafat currently posseses in the PA) include the right to incite one's people to destroy Israel?? Because Arafat is still declaring that he seeks the total destruction of the Jewish state. He just doesn't say so in English.
Oh come on, asking for something so unrealistic is hopeless. I think Arafat has long given up on that and he doesn't even say it in any language...but the more he and his people are backed into a corner the more he is thinking about it...I think we are reaching a very dangerous point in this conflict any day now.
>And so has Syria. Syria STILL has not offered any form of peace treaty with Israel. They claim they want the Golan back before they will negotiate which would effectively destroy Israel's leverage in achieving a lasting peace.
Well, I am sure they have talked and it appears to me that the concessions Israel demands for giving back the Golan Syria is not willing to accept, therefore no breakthrough--->official media stance: Syria is unwilling blahblah.
>What incentive would you have to bargain with such indiscriminate terror against your innocent population??
Well, does Israel want true peace or not? That is the question. I do not think they do frankly.
>The US also provides Billions to the Egyptians... How else do you think we were able to convince the two nations to reach a peace treaty? We paid for it. And USAID gave $75 million to the PA in 2000.
Well, you made my point. The Israelis get billions, the Egyptians get billions, the Palestinians get $75 million. As far as the Palestinians controlling their own destiny and territory I do not agree, they are economically dependent, heck they are under siege all the while having religious extremist fanatics living between them who think that Palestinians should be terminated.
> Arafat controls the purse strings in the PA and folks are tired of his embezzlement of their assistance funds.
I agree that Arafat is corrupt. But, until he is gone, Israel must negotiate with him in good faith. I think that Israel may be making a big mistake to put him in a corner because the next leader may make Arafat look like an angel. Personally, I like Asrawi |
