The archeological discussions, while interesting, should have nothing to do with US foreign policy.
Bilow, I disagree. The entire reason that I'm posing the question here about the origins of Palestinian "nationality" is because the US and other global governments are irrevocably embarking on the course of "nation creation" by promising a Palestinian state.
This will have DRASTIC foreign policy implications, especially with regard to setting a precedent for other nationalities currently residing and governed by leaders not of the same nation of people.
It can create even greater jingoism throughout the world as various ethnicities and cultural grouping all start to ask themselves, "If the Palestinians deserve a homeland, don't we".. The potential for even more global decentralization of governing power along ethnic and cultural lines suggests even greater global instability, and predilection toward an increasing tribalism and discord amongst different people, rather than integration into democratic governments.
The US is a very distinct nation-state, founded on ideals and values, and not necessarily because we're all derived genetically from a similar source through blood ties.
The creation of Israel could not occur in today's political environment (or it would certainly be much more difficult).. So I think we should think long and hard about the jingoistic pandora's box we're opening by permitting ourselves to be blackmailed into creating another discriminatory state, where one nationality seeks to exclude all others.
The Jews, to their credit, at least permitted 20% of the Arab population to integrate and become Israeli citizens. Thus far, we're not seeing ANY willingness amongst Palestinians to offer the same rights to Jews.
So yes... being able to possess a valid basis for creating a Palestinian seems to be very much a "foreign policy question"....
And to date, no one has truly been able to provide to us those unique qualities that the Palestinians claim justifies their status as an independent nation-state.
The basis for creating a nation-state should certainly involve far more than mere geographical location.
Hawk |
