Israel/Palestine isn't some junior college debate topic. It is, as you are well aware, a serious topic with serious consequences for the world at large.
I recently read an essay about the "Arab mind" -- there was a book by that title which apparently has been quite popular among people trying to understand Israel/Palestine. One conclusion, which we see repeated frequently by people who support the Sharon government, is that "Arabs only understand and respect force."
I have no respect for that type of generalization, and very little respect for people who make that type of generalization, because it's just too self-serving as a justification for atrocious behavior.
But I do agree that force should be met with force.
On the other hand, as someone on this thread (Kumar) likes to say, "an eye for an eye makes the world go blind."
Yet, again, I can't ask anyone to tolerate armed gunmen walking up to children and shooting them in the head. That must be stopped, with force if need be, and there appears to be no other solution.
It's a mess.
Americans are willing to help, but you have to have intelligent suggestions. Arming both sides isn't an option. |
