We believe in miracles

[Violet_Crumble]

Yes it looks bleak at the moment, but the vast majority of Israelis and Palestinians still want peace. Here are our ideas. By Seth Freedman & Asim Siddiqui.

George W Bush has given December 12 2008 as the deadline by which a two-state solution needs to be reached. Given the current round of conflict, it would need a miracle to see this realised. While the Holy Land has witnessed no shortage of miracles in its time, things are looking particularly bleak.

However, it doesn't have to be this way. The majority of Israelis and Palestinians want peace. Most of the world does too.

While we claim to represent no one but ourselves, we reserve the right to believe in miracles and feel the following needs to be acknowledged and acted upon for peace to return to the Holy Land:

1) We condemn all innocent loss of life because of this ongoing conflict, which has affected thousands of families on both sides of the divide, all of whom are forever scarred by the tragic sacrifice they were forced to make. We support the work of joint Israeli-Palestinian projects that calls for recognition of "the right of both people to independence, sovereignty, freedom, justice, dignity and respect".

2) We believe there are only two lasting solutions to the conflict: A two state solution of a sovereign Israel and a sovereign Palestine; or a one state solution encompassing all of Israel/Palestine. Given the latter option appears unworkable in the present climate, thanks to the apparently insurmountable opposition to it from several major players in the peace process, we have opted for the former solution as being the best interim option.

3) As part of the two-state solution, Israel needs to cease its occupation of all lands occupied since 1967 and remove all illegal settlements. Palestinians need to accept that resistance is over and forgo, in return for reparations, their right to return to pre-1967 Israel. This requires agreement between all sides, including Hamas.

4) Palestinians must accept that terrorism, such as suicide bombings or rockets being fired into Jewish villages, is wrong and has brought them nothing but misery in response. No future Palestinian state will be born out of terror. Only a non-violent resistance in partnership with Israeli civil society would compel the Israeli government to concede peace.

http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/seth_freedman_asim_siddiqui/2008/03/we_still_believe_in_miracles.html

This is one of those articles where I wish I could have posted the entire thing, as it's well worth reading for anyone who does want to see a peaceful and fair resolution to the conflict...

[Looking4Light]

1. The end of days?

When the Guardian endorses an effort of George Bush's...

[Violet_Crumble]

2. What are yr views on the points raised in the article?

Do you agree with them?

[Looking4Light]

3. Overall it looks good

I have two reservations.

1. There will be far less human suffering if some small amount of territories could be swapped. Israel would keep *some* of the East Jerusalem suburbs that have large Israeli populations, in exchange for other territories that were Israel's before '67.

2. Also, there are a few large, entirely Arab cities that are currently part of Israel, yet deeply hostile to the Jewish character of Israel. *Everybody* would be better off if they were - in some way - part of a Palestinian state.

Again, overall it looks good.

What do you think?

[Violet_Crumble]

4. I agreed with all of it...

About yr second point - I'm not sure there are any large cities that have entirely Arab populations within Israel. I thought most of the cities with substantial Arab populations tended to be mixed Jewish/Arab cities, though I could be wrong on that. I know there's towns that have entirely Arab populations and some of them are very close to the Green Line, but I think it's very important that the decision is up to them if they wanted to remain Israeli citizens or not...

[Looking4Light]

5. There are a few

Umm al-Fahm, for example. Jews are *not* welcome in these cities.

There are also a few ultra-orthodox Jewish cities and neighborhoods where only ultra-orthodox Jews are welcome.

By "not welcome" I am referring to the residents not allowing others to live; there are no legal restrictions.

--------------------

It's wonderful that we can agree on the contents of this article.

Now, let's get back to bashing each other's positions...
:)

[pelsar]

8. a Note about Um el Fahm..

Umm al Fahm....has a bit of personality disorder:

they're welcoming jewish israeli tourists....they are consistently, "militantly anti israel" in their protests.....except that when polled about a land transfer and ulm al fahm being part of the PA..something like 95% said no way, they want to stay in israel.

[Looking4Light]

9. What do you think would happen if a Jew

were to buy a home there?

[pelsar]

10. i doubt it would "go over" very well

i once look at the possibility of buying a home a very pro israeli village Pharadese....i was told very nicely that the culture clash would raise havoc with my kids.....

[pelsar]

6. i like the title...

and the last paragraph best of all

While the stalemate appears intractable at present,....

___

the inbetween stuff simply reads as taking into account each sides most sensitive points and offers probably the most reasonable solutions written in plain english.....i like it.

(my one disagreement is that removing all of the settlements wont work....too many people involved and it consequent disruption...the land swap solution is probably the more practical)

[LeftishBrit]

7. Good article!

Pity we can't recommend articles in the I/P forum, or I would.