why don't you go to Israel and try to live on the border for few months. And it would not be hard because by our standards the whole country is border.
Albert, I understand fairly well the problems in Israel. I used to spend hours arguing and discussing the issues with my Israeli friends back in the early 90's.
When I say the things I do, it doesn't come from ignorance of what's going on but from the realization that there is no easy, simple solution to the problem. However, its clearer to me that Israel's show of force, while effective at keeping the Arabs at bay for now, can not be the long term solution.
In the early years..in the 60's and 70's, Israel was a poor, developing nation trying to keep it together. When attacked, it had no choice but to fight back and fight back hard. But times have changed, conditions have changed and Israel has to change with them. Israel is much stronger, much wealthier than it was in the 60's. For those reasons, I think it needs to take another approach to solving the problems with the Arabs. Fighting back and holding the threat of US intervention over the Arab's collective heads is at a best a stalemate situation. There may come a time when the Arabs are more unified and the US is not in a position to intervene, and then Israel may be skewered.
With that in mind, Israel's best hope is to find another approach to solving the problems with its neighbors and the Palestinians. Andreas has suggested economic interdevelopment, and I agree with that approach. Its time for Israel to share its knowledge and wealth with its neighbors. No handouts but technical assistance.....placing plants/factories on the border and employing Palestinians like NAFTA...helping the Arabs to reclaim the desert as they have. I know that when the economic disparity between the Arabs and the Israelis is lessened, the violence will lessen as well.
ted |
