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: FaultLine who wrote (28753)	5/7/2002 5:51:32 PM
From: carranza2	Respond to of 281500

FL, the problem I have with the concept is that the details are very difficult to nail down--if the parties do not agree to them, there is no basis for the "cram-down" approach. Based on what I heard from Friedmann last night, I think perhaps the best hope for a lasting peace is reform among Palestinian leadership. I think the Palestinian population must be sick of war and its own leadership. A fresh face is necessary, someone who can be trusted to negotiate in good faith. Arafat needs to hurry up and die. Sharon may push him along. Today's bombing may be the last straw. If you followed the Qalqilya story, you'll know that Arafat does have something big planned.

To: FaultLine who wrote (28753)	5/7/2002 5:55:18 PM
From: JohnM	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 281500

Oh no, a nibble was not nearly enough. Yep, I agree. Let's see where the conversation goes. The last line seems to me to be completely undeniable. On the other hand, and similarly so, I'd say that Israeli objections to a plan such as this suggest a deeper intent to annex the entire West Bank -- the mirror image situation. So there it is, two reflections to confront the sceptics. This is clearly the suspicion of Sharon's intent as well as of those segments of Israeli society that have always pushed for more settlements on the West Bank. My copy of the The New York Review of Books just arrived and has a long essay by Amos Elon which appears to be very much to this point. I plan to read it later tonight and will try to find a link to it if I find it helpful.

To: FaultLine who wrote (28753)	5/7/2002 6:00:48 PM
From: Nadine Carroll	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 281500

>>And short of calling into question Israel's Jewish identity, is there any other way of implementing the Palestinian right of return? The last line seems to me to be completely undeniable. Say what? Who is stopping short of questioning Israel's Jewish identity? The purpose of elevating 'right of return' to the number one demand, above even statehood, is precisely to negate Israel's continued Jewish identity. Check out all the 'we will reclaim our ancient cities of Lod, Jaffa, Haifa and Acre; we will march into Jerusalem' speeches. Check out the PLO national charter -- it still has the destruction of Israel on it. Ask any Hamas or Hizbullah spokesman -- they have been quite active lately, I believe. Agha and Malley are inhabiting a diplomat's fantasy land. I'd say that Israeli objections to a plan such as this suggest a deeper intent to annex the entire West Bank or a more realistic assessment of the way Palestinians read Israeli retreats. Cf. Lebanon, May 2000.