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: Nadine Carroll who wrote (35099)	7/27/2002 8:12:45 PM
From: Ish	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

<<Bush is making rhetorical points based on a rather black and white world-view. >> What should Bush do. Just asking what idea you have.

To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (35099)	7/28/2002 5:07:43 PM
From: jcky	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

<< BTW, two states were not enough to create the Palestinian refugee dilemma, and they won't be enough to solve it. >> Nadine, If you are searching for the political holy grail in the Mideast to solve all the issues of the Palestinian refugee problem, you may be looking for a very long time. Here are the political realities: neither Israel nor any of the surrounding Arab states are going to accept any more Palestinian refugees. To believe so would be cloud-cuckooish. <chuckle> And let's just stop pointing fingers, again, at the surrounding Arab states as the origin of the Palestinian refugee dilemma. It is really not so clear to me who is at fault here (Benny Morris and some of the new guard Israeli historians can give another perspective but we've already had this discussion before), and the entire issue is rather complex. And quite frankly, assigning blame now in this entire conflict is rather self-serving considering it does absolutely nothing to remedy a solution. It only serves to sway public opinion in an effort to direct domestic and/or foreign policy. What a two state solution does provide is the most practical approach to a political horizon whether you wish to admit it, or not. The remaining possibilities are rather bleak or unpalatable. The first option is to accept the status quo (Sharon and Bush's policy) while Israeli settlements continue to grow in the occupied territories while the Palestinians live under rules of apartheid. The cycle of violence will continue and suicide bombers within the Green Line will persist. Both Israelis and Palestinians will grow ever more cynical and pessimistic for any prospects of co-existence. The other option is to conquer all of the West Bank and annex the territory. But this still does not resolve the issue of the Palestinian refugees. What will Israel do? Will the refugees become Israeli residents with the possibility of becoming Israeli Arab citizens with the right to vote? This seem highly unlikely. Will Israel adopt a policy of transfer (a.k.a. ethnic cleansing and collective punishment) against the will of the refugees? This will extract both high political and economic costs. I do not even believe the US will support such outlandish actions by the Israelis. So what are your choices?