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

To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (32954)	6/24/2002 2:32:01 AM
From: jcky	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Nadine, I wouldn't put too much emphasize into the result of these polls for the simple reason that this most recent cycle of violence has procured the worst out of human behavior from both the Palestinians and the Israelis. So for this reason, you are going to illicit very radical replies from both combatants right now. And if you are familiar with the pollings of the Israelis, you also know how volatile and unpredictable the results of the polls can be and how easily the opinions can change. Are you really so surprised by the confusion of the Palestinians and the goal of their intifada? I don't think you are. You are too intelligent to believe otherwise. And given the many faces of Arafat and his political machinations to remain relevant and in power (even if this means simultaneously playing the moderate Arabs, the Islamic fundamentalists or the Western hegemonies), is it really surprising the Palestinians are so disoriented? A relevant question is whether it is possible for the Palestinians to consolidate their political powers into one identifiable person or entity to negotiate with the Israelis? As you already know, I think this person, or entity, is likely to have an even more hostile disposition toward Israel than Arafat. I have wondered often just what would compel a society to teach its children to hate or to kill. The Palestinian suicide bombing against civilians make little teleological sense. In nature, bees defend their hives against intruders, and in the process, sting their opponents but are left dead. So what is the biological benefit for individual bees to sacrifice themselves? The answer lies in the perservation of the colony and its genetic makeup. So are Palestinian suicide bombings a similar analogy? Does the suicide bombing and killing of Israelis in the occupied territory constitute a defense of the Palestinian culture or nationality? What I find is a difficult issue to reconcile is the use of immoral or illegitimate methods (suicidal bombings against innocent civilians) to achieve legitimate goals (ending occupation).