IMO, that's a misread.
Well, I obviously don't consider it a misread but rather a different read.
I would chalk up one win to the Palestinians in this intifada, only one -- they have convinced the great majority of Israelis that the great majority of the Palestinians will not put up with occupation forever, that the Israelis will have to withdraw.
I hope you are right but much that you and others post suggests the other current, the one that wishes to hold onto the West Bank and Gaza is increasingly strong as well. Don't know about numbers but they do seem to be gaining strength. And the dynamics of the situation suggest they will gain more strength.
Again, as I said to Bill, I certainly hope I'm wrong.
However, the Israelis are equally determined that they will not withdraw until they have a peaceful neighbor to hand the territories over to, and neither Arafat or Hamas qualify.
That's certainly clearly the position of the Sharon govt. But, again, the next "partner" could well be even less acceptable. Again, also, I hope you are right that a non-Islamist govt of sorts can emerge among the Palestinians. I just don't see the basis for its emergence in the stuff we read. |
