>How can you engage in honest peace negotiations with a culture that is seeking the destruction of the other??
I think the Palestinians can make the same argument.
>Might not it be that Yasir Arafat IS ALSO quite afraid of suffering Sadat's fate for "making peace, not war"?
You certainly have a point. But, IMHO, Yasir is willing to make peace but not with what he was offered (even if it was more than he ever got). I think he believes he can get what he wants by continuing the intifada, I guess time will tell. I think Israel is making a mistake by not dealing with him because he is truly a moderate compared to some other extremists.
>Islamic extremism is certainly FAR MORE POWERFUL A FORCE NOW, than it was when Sadat was "punished".
I agree. I think economic desparation and every day hardships brought on by the occupation is certainly contributing to a great extent for this force. At the same time, the Orthodox Jews, with their high birth rate, are certainly getting stronger too. Personally, if we took the extremists from both sides out of the equation, peace will be closer.
>If they are willing to blow themselves up in Israel, then nothing would stop them from killing someone who they believe was making peace with the Jews.
If Arafat took what Barak gave him, he would not make it past 24 hrs. But, with the right deal, he may make it to his retirement. There will always be extremists in both sides who will never be satisfied until the other is exterminated.
>THAT'S THE REALITY George... The cold, hard, reality which controls peace in the middle east.
It sure is cold and hard. Let's hope for the best, in the meantime it is pouring here in Michigan and time to go pickup junior from daycare, see ya. |
