Opinion
Another missed opportunity?
Yechiel Shabi
Published: 06.05.10, 18:30
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26 Talkbacks for this article
1. How would this state be good for Israel?
Chaim ,   Israel   (05.06.10)
This ludicrous praise for Israel hating Fayyad and the terror state he wants to establish never even addresses the most crucial issue. How would this state be good for Israel? How would losing Jerusalem be good for Israel? How would losing our heartland be good for Israel? How would an 8 mile waist be good for Israel? How would constant rocket bombardment be good for Israel? What is wrong with Jews like the author?
2.  of course they reject....
OZ   (05.06.10)
every offer israel puts on the table... it is in their dna to vehemntly reject the notion that there's a "zionist entity" in thier midst. untill forcefully and decdeingly defeated ,the arabs will never accept israel here, and even so maybe temprarily... got that nobama hussein?
3. Abbas the moderate.
Ron B. ,   Lod   (05.06.10)
Abbas is not a moderate, as the Israeli and Western world believes, and his actions confirms this evidence. He approved the official “Fatah” poster, which shows all of Israel as “Palestine” and includes a rifle and an oversized picture of Yasser Arafat. Abbas is also a “Holocaust denier,” who has wrote his PhD thesis and a book on the topic. He glorifies suicide bombers and recently, praised Hamas. “It is astonishing that the Israeli and American media ignore all this … believing that if you give him a state, maybe things will be okay, maybe he’ll revert to being totally decent. The Israeli government tries the peaceful route because of pressure from Europe and America, but fails to appreciate that Congress would support them if they refused to negotiate with the Palestinians. As to the “Palestinian” demography : http://xrl.us/bewfbt
4. Fatah and Hamas
Ron B. ,   Lod   (05.06.10)
The main difference between Fatah and Hamas is that Fatah has a faction within that appears to be interested in negotiating peace with Israel, while Hamas is unanimous in its refusal to engage. Still, there are fewer differences than the mainstream media would have us believe. The charters of both Hamas and Fatah openly call for the destruction of Israel. Both groups have been consistently responsible for terrorist attacks against Israel. And both appear to be willing to let the Palestinian people suffer as the struggle continues for control of the Palestinian territories. More at : http://xrl.us/bju8k
5. #1 Chaim, Excellent, A question that should be asked over...
JMK ,   NYC   (05.06.10)
and over and over again. How is this good for Israel. I am sick and tired of listening to everyone spouting the stupidity of the two state solution and peace, only being ignorant and illogical can anyone spout such drivel. Jews first.
6. If There Was A Pal State
Ken ,   Canada   (05.06.10)
That would mean that the BILLION DOLLAR hand_outs will no longer be and that is why the USA, EU and ME is pushing for their own state. Call Abass an idiot but look at the free gains. In other words a free state would mean that the Pals would actually have to work for a living instead of sponging off others... Keep up the good work Abass
7. Do a poll on Pals' acceptance of Jewish-majority Israel
Sam ,   Canada   (05.06.10)
What are the Palestinians talking about when they support a 2 state solution? To most of the world a 2 state solution means a Jewish-majority state and a Palestinian-majority state. Palestinians should be polled SPECIFICALLY on their acceptance of Israel as a Jewish-majority state, as one of the 2 states. Otherwise, 2 states means 2 Palestinian states to them.
8. Half a loaf is better than none???
Smith ,   TA, Israeal   (05.06.10)
And tell me Yechiel Shabi would this argument have worked with the founding father's of our country??? Go to Uganda instead of Palestine, it's better than nothing.... Stop kidding yourself. This is just pure propaganda. There is something called dignity and until we recognize that the Arabs also have a concept of this too (like us) we're just going to keep fighting. So if you want to keep fighting Yechiel Shabi then just say so instead of writing this crappy trash.
9. Arafat already declared the state 20 years ago
Eric ,   Tel Aviv   (05.06.10)
In 1988 Arafat declared the establishment of the state of Palestine, where have they gotten to in the 20 years since then? Abbas has noting to gain and nothing to loose as he has no people - just the small group in the West Bank, and no authority to do anything.
10. Israel violates First Rule of War
Mark Bernadiner ,   Pearland, TX   (05.06.10)
if enemies do not surrender and refuse to negotiate, kill them. See Geneva Convention.
11. #8
i ,   jerusalem   (05.06.10)
Not to keep on fighting, but to fight to end it all once in for all. No ethnic arabs west of the Euphrates, nor north of Wadi El Arish. The whole Mandate and nothing less for them than they want for us.
12. The grass is always greener
Bill Staar ,   Chicago USA   (05.06.10)
Is it better to be a big fish in a small pound or a small fish in a big pound? For the sake of conversation put Gaza off to the side, the Palestinian leader ship of "Salam Fayyad", and "Mr.Abbas" have been working hard to establish the rule of law, economic responsibility, and political correctness, I think everyone would agree. It wouldn't surprise me if their real intent was to demonstrate that they, and the people of the west bank could be integrated into Israeli society as equals. Although Israel cannot arbitrarily annex the west bank it needs to be done as a Palestinian demand that Israel agrees to. Everyone needs to think about what is best and not about what they want. This school of thought does not contradict Zionism or the Promise of the land by our Creator, it compliments it. According to the prophet "Ezekiel" the Palestinians should be treated as natural born citizens with equal rights, look it it up for yourself chapter 47 verse 21 "You are to distribute this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. 22 You are to allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the aliens who have settled among you and who have children. You are to consider them as native-born Israelites; along with you they are to be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. 23 In whatever tribe the alien settles, there you are to give him his inheritance," declares the Sovereign LORD.
13. Palestinians... Don't Give Up
mohamad ,   USA   (05.07.10)
Why they should moove one Inch ? they Lived On this land for hundred years ..any body can argue about that, I am not saying for thousand of years- and The jews came in the last 100 years and Quick them out ....anybody can argue about that- so why they have to give their right up .. soon - in 20-40 years, they will be majority ...so plaestinians don't give up
14. #13. It is cruel to keep deluding "Palestinians".
Chaim ,   Israel   (05.07.10)
#13. "Palestinians" are a declining minority in Israel. Their birth rate is declining and tens of thousands emigrate permanently every year from Judea and Samaria. Soon we will have more than a million Jews in Judea and Samaria. They will NEVER be a majority in our land. It is cruel to keep deluding them. "Palestinians" had best leave.
15. we are not sick
rahaf   (05.07.10)
to swallow food without sault ... this article is not a food and it is lacking the sault . return it to your thraot may you end your hungry or may you will be suffocated with it
16. Missed opportunity
Lester ,   P. Tikva   (05.07.10)
Before we talk they should declare that they recognize The State of Israel - the state of the Jewish people as per the United Nations.
17. Never ending conflict
afghan jew   (05.07.10)
My question to all supporters of occupation is which side has the more pull? This side will have the decision over peace or ongoing occupation. The disaapointing arguments from the author as a middle-east specialist blaming only the victims of the occupation. This not very researcher style to be one- sided.
18. Yechiel, who do you think wins in the end?
m   (05.07.10)
The ones who give, give, give, or, the ones who demand, demand, demand? I would think that the ones who give, will be left with nothing.
19. Where do you find these 'experts'?
Mikesailor ,   Miami, FL   (05.07.10)
Who hold out as pundits yet show little or no understanding of the true nature of the conflict? Jews 'returned' to Israel and immediately began pushing out the indigenous Palestinians. And now they can't figure out how to get out of the mess they have created. Why should the Palestinians accept Israel as a 'Jewish' state? Why won't Israel ever declare borders? Why won't Israel pass a constitution setting out the rights and responsibilies of its citizens? And why does Israel continually play the victim? Even while it continues to steal more and more land and brutalizes the indigenous occupants? Israel as a 'Jewish' state is a golem It is the walking dead even though it pretends it is alive. Unless Israel attempts to become a state following the law with equal protection for all its citizens it is doomed. You can blame the Palestinians, you can blame the Arabs, you can blame the world; none of that matters. You have met the enemy and he is yourself.
20. mikesailor
newyorkone   (05.07.10)
How wrong can one person be! Apparently, Mike, you've never seen Israel. The country is beautiful-the cities, the buildings, the parks, the roads, the archeological sights... Why is it so beautiful, Mike? It's because it's indigenous inhabitants have returned. That's right-the Jews are the indigenous inhabitants,the Arabs are the settlers, having conquered the the land from the Byzantines, who also had no right to it. Written records from ancient times, plus the archeological record, prove our presence and sovereignty in the land. Just like other conquered peoples-the Poles, the Irish, the Balkan peoples, the Jews never gave up hope of regaining their land. And when they did, they took care of the land with a love that can only have come from someone who was gone for a long time and had returned. And as for a golem, one only has to see the life in Israel-the kindergartens, the schools, the universities, the theaters, the market places, the yeshivot, to know that a flourishing national life has been re-created. What other nation has successfully recreated its old language, and still leads the world in start up companies? What other country that attained independence after World War II has achieved such a high standard of living and maintained a complete democracy, free of coups and "emergencies", and all this in the face of an implacable enemy and an uncaring world? The Jews have come home, Mike. G-d willing, we'll never leave again.
21. to 14#
Mohamad ,   USA   (05.08.10)
Palestinians gave up 78% of their land and accepted (out of weakness) 22% of it -the 67 border-The world think it is a sincere compromise, you and other Zionists disagree, you want the palestinas to give up more and may be committ mass suicid and disappear...Surprise Surprise despite all - your cruelity &Haitred, american f16 and Smart bombs, Egyptian Collaboration ...- They never give up ..why ? too simply 3000 fighters in south lebanon ..you fought against them along with Geroge bush and all the world on your side and could not defeat them ...so the palestinians recognise that they can be and do more than 3000 hezbollah fighters ...in addition they have a just cause to fight for and they are stuborn and U know that they will outnumber you ..they never left their land in last Gaza war..but you will certainly leave when war break up in your cities .....Zionist are unlucky to choose palestine a home
22. newyorkone, how wrong one person can be...
Michael Hess ,   Charlotte, NC   (05.08.10)
...here's a way. A person who uses religion to set borders is as wrong as one can be. Israel's sovereignty as a modern state is a feature of UNGA 181, its declaration, its acceptance of the UN Charter and all that that entails and its subsequent recognition in 1948. Not before then. No one, and I mean no one, is asking anyone to leave Israel. You are being paranoid. The world does require that Israel leaves the land that does not belong to it, and that is exactly what Israel will wind up doing to survive. mikesailor is right, you might better prepare yourself.
23. #22's "religious borders"
sohnes ,   ludwigsburg, germany   (05.08.10)
You wrote: " A person who uses religion to set borders is as wrong as one can be." Fine, now tell that to muslim-arab leaders.
24. Shabi distortion
John R ,   NYC USA   (05.08.10)
Abbas has a history from the 1995 Beilin-Mazen letter of understanding that a moderate peace proposal is in the Palestinian's best interest. Israel on the other hand, has not complied w/scheduled property transfers negotiated under the Clinton administration. Instead Israel embarked on massive WB settlement construction in violation of the Roadmap and the 4th Geneva Convention(per a 2004 World Ct ruling and 4 UNSC resolutions). To gain trust, both sides have to live by the rules.
25. Yechiel adopts the language of his Arab enemies
Ran   (05.08.10)
He forgot that the word "Palestinian" does not refer to Arabs exclusively, and that there is no such thing as a "Palestinian" people. whoops.... Back to the basics for Yechiel! and by the way someone who thinks Olmert the Clown was a moderate has been having too many heavy metals in the drinking water...
26. missed opportunity
debbie ,   israel   (05.15.10)
Why in the world should any palestinian leader end the conflict? Are they stupid? That would put an end to all the billions of dollars they're getting in foreign aid, and then they wouldn't be able to play the poor, starving, humiliated victims anymore. Then they'd be just like the rest of us, who have to be good, contributing, peaceful, law-abiding, productive citizens.
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