Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Ilaine who wrote (28142)	5/3/2002 4:50:14 PM
From: Nadine Carroll	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

What can both sides live with? There is a consensus on this, and it looks not too different from the Taba deal. But it requires two sides willing to do the deal, and that doesn't exist, certainly not while Arafat lives. Sharon may not be willing either, but if Palestinian willingness appeared, Sharon would be replaced. Barak already slew two Israeli national myths at Taba, indivisible Jersualem and the settlements. Arafat wouldn't kill the Palestinian national myth, the right of return, indeed, since then the Palestinians have elevated right of return to their top goal, above even statehood. In my opinion, Arafat also cherishes the primary Palestinian myth, getting rid of Israel altogether; but the Palestinians have learned not to go on about that one, at least not in English. The second question, which I think is the harder question, is whether any solution would stick without an outside peace-keeping force? According to Dennis Ross, no outside force can make a deal stick if the two parties don't want it. Peace-keepers are particularly counterproductive in the realm of asymetrical warfare, since terrorists are not observable but armies are. Thus only one side is ever monitored, questions of bias and self-preservation aside. Arafat has zero credibility in terms of maintaining law and order. I don't believe even the Europeans believe he has made any worthwhile effort towards this, they simply make excuses. I think you just answered your own question. The Palestinians have asked for an outside peace-keeping force but the Israelis oppose it. Why? Because the Palestinians are focused on continuing the armed struggle against Israel. They see themselves as victims, they present themselves as victims, they know monitors will work for them and against the Israelis. They don't really see themselves as building a state. They have no organizations of a state, apart from an education ministry, a propaganda ministry, and innumerable security services. Have you ever heard any Palestinian spokesman talk about the form of government, the responsibilities, the content of Palestine? I haven't. That's why.

To: Ilaine who wrote (28142)	5/3/2002 6:03:56 PM
From: Paul Kern	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

The Palestinians have asked for an outside peace-keeping force but the Israelis oppose it. CB, When we travelled in Lebanon, we saw the Hezbollah bases up against the fences of the UNIFIL bases and how they used the UNIFIL troops as human shields. Would you invite in a peace keeping force that would, in effect, be protecting your enemy? Other Hezbollah bases were on the roofs of hospitals and in the centers of populated villages.