Hi Nadine Carroll; Re: "If it were just the Israelis vs the Palestinians, it would have been settled long ago. The Palestinians know that the other Arabs won't ride over the hill for them, but the Arabs keep promising and the Palestinians can never give up hope. Indeed, for all the fashionable discussion of Palestinian "hopelessness", they are fighting a war of choice because they are hopeful of victory. If they really were hopeless, then they would be looking to cut a deal."
In other words, the Israelis want to strike a deal that takes advantage of the fact that they are the ones that are on top, right now, while the Palestinians still believe that eventually they will be on top.
You might as well have written:
If it were just the Israelis vs the Arabs, it would have been settled long ago. The Israelis know that the Americans won't ride over the hill for them, but the Americans keep giving arms and money and so the Israelis, despite their being so outnumbered, don't have to give up hope. Indeed, for all the fashionable discussion of the Israeli's "having their backs to the sea", they are fighting a war of choice because they are hopeful of continuing victory. If they really had their backs to the sea, then they would be looking to cut a deal.
-- Carl |
