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Former diplomats: Recognize Palestine
Ronen Medzini
Published: 11.06.11, 18:45
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1. the Leftist Establishment forget that the PEOPLE is against
(06.11.11)
2. Failed, tired discredited fools from the OLD guard.
CC   (06.11.11)
3. Sincere message to Israelis
Muayyad ,   Palestine   (06.11.11)
We, a large percentage of the Palestinian population both in the territories and diaspora, are willing to forget the past, look to the future, and contemplate a coexistence with state run by Jews (A democratic state with Jewish Majority, NOT to be confused by a Jewish State). We offer you cooperation, a window to the Arab world, and a very long period of guaranteed stability and peace, for generations to come. Palestine would cover most of the West Bank and all of the Gaza Strip. Jerusalem could be shared (if you insist on it being an open, undivided city, which I believe it should, and that was the idea of the original Partition Plan). Join us in building our state, building a better future for both our children, and above all join us in forgetting the past and the blame game. Any partners out there?
4. Balderdash - September is replay of '88
Eric ,   Tel Aviv & NY   (06.11.11)
Israel needs to get the talks back on track where Bush left them - Jerusalem stays Israel, Refugees get compensation or home in country of their nationality (Palestine or Israel), Jewish areas stay in Israel, land is swapped to match. Obama has done much to undermine the agreements Bush put in writing and UNGA bid can legally have no more affect on Israel than the '88 announcement did. Where will Turkey, Russia, Spain, etc. be if they let this kind of declaration succeed?
5. We will assure fictional Palestine bid blows sky high.
Chaim   (06.11.11)
The recent poll showing 77% of Israel opposed Israeli retreat from Judea and Samaria says it all. These failed old guard diplomats aren't worth a moment of thought. Judea and Samaria legally belong to Israel. They have been part of Israel for more than 3,500 years. If "Palestinians" wish to make another fictional statehood proclamation, so be it. We will assure that it is an even bigger fiasco than their 1988 proclamation. After it blows sky high, nobody will ever take Palestine seriously again.
6. Leftist Morons yabber on, no one listens
A Nice Fellow ,   Montreal   (06.11.11)
Shut up already, suicidal idiots.
7. Leftist professor who does not speak for the people
Windy ,   Israel   (06.11.11)
Hot air, just like after a full bowl of cholent. Ahhh..........
8. #5
Michael ,   Haifa   (06.11.11)
the same "77%" are probably dumb enough to vote in favour of a flat world
9. #3 Muayyad - nice SOUNDING words
CK Tan ,   Singapore, Singapore   (06.11.11)
What about the ELEPHANT in the room? Hamas - whose long-standing MAIN objective is to ERADICATE Israel - was FREELY elected by the palis to represent THEIR ASPIRATIONS. Abbas and the "MODERATES" have also now EMBRACED hamas into their bosoms. Since the UNITY govt was formed, hamas has REPEATEDLY declared that it will NOT recognise Israel - a position it has NEVER waver from since it was formed. So can you GUARANTEE that hamas will ACCEPT the terms DEMANDED by the Quartet? Can you GUARANTEE that hamas will REFORM and become a REAL peace partner? If yes, then on what CONCRETE basis do you have for the guarantees? Oh, one more thing - do show verifiable PROOF that fatah has OFFICIALLY recognise Israel and its right to exist.
10. When the "Palestinians" accept Israel's right to be, to ...
Jehudah Ben-Israel ,   Qatzrin, Israel   (06.11.11)
...exist as the nation-state of the Jewish people, Israel will be in a position of recognizing a "Palestinian" state. But, since the Arabs of Eretz Israel (Land of Israel) have not done the minimum required: to accept the right of your opponent to exist as an independent Jewish political entity on ANY parcel of land between the River and the Sea, what should be the basis for us recognizing a "Palestinian state"? P.S. The PLO's PA move, please note, contradicts the very agreements the PLO has signed, including accepting UN Security Council Resolution, 242, as the basis for all talks, and the Oslo Accords committing the PLO's PA not to make any one sided moves.
11. #3 When you agree to only a Arab majority in Palestine
Eric ,   Tel Aviv & NY   (06.11.11)
Muayyad your words sound sincere but you seem to not understand the inherent hypocrisy in them. If you can not accept Israel as the National homeland of the Jewish People with an Arab minority, how can we accept a Palestinian Homeland with no minorities allowed? Stop the Apartheid policy and accept that if Israel needs to keep an Arab minority then Palestine may need to keep a Jewish minority. In both cases the minority population needs to have their rights protected as in any modern democratic country. Otherwise admit that 2 states for 2 people can not work, and that the Jordanian Kings were right and "Jordan is Palestine."
12. Re: Muayyad
fg   (06.11.11)
Muayyad, the problem is not with you or the likes, but definitely with your leadership. That's the single biggest problem, which you don't mention. They are the prime obstacles to peace because of their stubbornness and intransigence. They for example strictly reject the Jordan Valley as Israel's and much of the settlement blocks. Still, if they accept that Israel were to give ALL the Arab towns and villages near the border from her present territory (The whole Arab triangle, Umm el-Fahm, Baka, Jat, Wadi Ara smaller villages), then perhaps Israel might be on board. Otherwise forget it. This is the deal.
13. Remember your Biblical Mandate to the Land.
Doug ,   Wales   (06.11.11)
The majority of Palestinians have shown in recent polls that they want a state from the River to the Sea. All of present day Israel. Their charters say as much. The PLO phased plan says as much. The international support for their case is due to the petrodollar blackmail that has been exerted since 1973. My own country has succumbed. Do not listen to them Israel. One day they will garner enough support to destroy you if you let them. It won't do to then say, well if such an agenda has international support, let's run with it . Let's learn from history. The Arabs do not want peace. They will never accept any Jewish state in what they consider to be Islamic land. The scheming and conniving of the PA and it's Hamas cohorts needs to be seen for what it is. The Jewish people have a Biblical mandate to all this land. The same Bible already tells of the nations gathering against Judea and Jerusalem, as well as the nations trying to 'divide up' the land. The Lord God of Israel has made His own voice very clear. Listen to Him and not the 'non-people' who are trying to steal your land.
14. Ridiculous nonsense...
marlene ,   Philadelphia, USA   (06.11.11)
"Diplomats"?? How about calling them Doormats! I don't recognize these enemies any more than I would recognize "palestine."
15. Think before you speak
Gedalyah ,   Washington DC, USA   (06.11.11)
The piece of advice of what to do post UN vote is not a terrible one. It actually deserves some weight in cabinet discussions. However, saying this publicly is just about the dumbest thing one could do. You don't show your hand early in a poker match. You don't tell the UN that this action could have 'positive' affects based on their goals.
16. Muayyad's Proposal
SRObserver ,   Dallas USA/Israel   (06.11.11)
Were this offered by the PA in good spirit, with no "right of return" , I am sure you would have your state. Alas, this is never the offer put on the table. And Israel is a Jewish State with Jewish values. Democracy by itself, with no underlying values and controls, is only mob rule. But good luck convincing your Arab brothers and sisters to make the offer.
17. Idiots
John cone ,   USA   (06.11.11)
These leftist fools are the ones that got us in this trouble we are in now and now again they claim to have the answers what bloody fools what bloody arogance.
18. Bunch of leftist losers
Rachel ,   US   (06.11.11)
Go the Israeli people, make your case and run for the Knesset.
19. from gaza to WB
ryddi ,   j-m   (06.11.11)
the rout goes via raffah to sinai-nueba, by the sea to aqaba-jordan and allenby bridge. no need for israel to provide safe pass across its territory.
20. IT IS YOUR FAULT....
FO ,   Belgium   (06.11.11)
Who brought the State of Israel to such a catastrophic situation if not leftist "diplomats" like you? By all means you tried, and you succeeded to hide the truth from the world, but also, and this is unforgivable, from your own people ! You tried and succeeded to hide the rights of the Jewish people, in the area between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, an irrevocable right given by the League of Nations in 1922, a right unaltered in International Law, and valid till this day, due to Article 8O of the Charter of the United Nations. Dear readers, if you want to know more about this subject, than read "The Future of Palestine" written by Prof. Eugene Rostow, the auther of UN Resolution 242. A must !!
21. Israeli PR tactics will fail, only full withdrawal works
christianpalestinian ,   hong kong   (06.11.11)
The world has grown sick and tired of continued israeli delays and obstacles to a full withdrawal from all occupied palestinian land.
22. so it was never about peace
Golan ,   modiin   (06.11.11)
and these leftists want a PLO/Hamas state to terrorize us as they do from Gaza because it never was about peace. These "peace activists" want to hurt us and act against our well being... like De Haan. Either these people have amnesia, the memory of a goldlfish, or are traitors.
23. left wing academics think its all so black & white
zionist forever   (06.11.11)
Why is it always so black and white to the lesftists think they are so clever and have all the answers nobody else in the world has never considered and if we do things their way the problems will all be solver overnight. Palestinians go to the UN because the majority of the General Assembly will recognize them then so will we and then we will discuss a west bank passage. SETTLEMENTS - if Israel recognizes they have that state in the borders defined by the General Assembly then we must agree to close the settlements because we are effectively saying they are illegally built in somebody elses country. JERUSALEM - The General Assembly has recognized east Jerusalem as the capital of this state so we have now accepted that the east of the city belongs to the arabs & we must give it up. Abbas won't agree to discuss with us a passage to connect his state he will go to the UN, he will lobby, make all kinds of threats and expect Israel to give unconditionally. Academics and their theories think its so easy, just write your solution on paper present it to the politicians and hey presto we have a workable solution. Problem is when theory meets reality the theory falls apart and we are screwed. We cannot say we recognize a state in temporary borders, the arabs won't accept that idea and neither will the UN. This genius doesn't address the settlements - we agree to give them a state in the borders declared by the General Assembly then we will have to close settlements. Once we recognize Judea & Samaria is somebody elses country we can't justifiably keep them. Once we accept east Jerusalem is the capital of the arab state we can't keep it. What happens when we start accepting the UN will be responsible for solving this conflict then what next? Do we grant a right of return because the General Assembly told us to in 1949?
24. #3 Muayyad - nice SOUNDING words
CK Tan ,   Singapore, Singapore   (06.11.11)
What about the ELEPHANT in the room? Hamas - whose long-standing MAIN objective is to ERADICATE Israel - was FREELY elected by the palis to represent THEIR ASPIRATIONS. Abbas and the "MODERATES" have also now EMBRACED hamas into their bosoms. Since the UNITY govt was formed, hamas has REPEATEDLY declared that it will NOT recognise Israel - a position it has NEVER waver from since it was formed So can you GUARANTEE that hamas will ACCEPT the terms DEMANDED by the Quartet? Can you GUARANTEE that hamas will REFORM and become a REAL peace partner? If yes, then on what CONCRETE basis do you have for the guarantee? Oh, one more thing - do show verifiable PROOF that fatah has OFFICIALLY recognise Israel and its right to exist.
25. #21 None of Palestine is Occupied
Eric ,   Tel Aviv & NY   (06.11.11)
As per UN GA resolution 242 the land was to be resolved between the parties of the war. Egypt resolved their differences and refused to take back Gaza. Jordan resolved their differences and left the West Bank under dispute. But at no time in history has any of this been Palestine.
26. One-State Solution for All
Joseph ,   West Bank   (06.11.11)
The only solution is a one-state solution for all. All Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza shall become equal citizens in the bi-national, democratic State of Israel. Arabs from the West Bank may freely live and work anywhere in Israel, and Jews may live anywhere in Judea and Samaria. Also, all the Palestinian refugees from surrounding countries will be given the right of return to this newly-enlarged State of Israel. Half of the Knesset will be Arab lawmakers and the other half will be Jewish ones and they will share power equally. The official language of Israel will be Hebrew and Arabic, and the national anthem will be sung in both languages. This is the only solution left since Israelis will never accept a viable and independent state for the Palestinians of the West Bank and Gaza.
27. Unemployed Diplomats
William Sachel ,   USA   (06.11.11)
Just a wild opinion and idle speculation wonder if any of these former leftist diplomats are being paid to make these statements.
28. former diplomats.........
sas ,   israel   (06.11.11)
they are 100% correct. we must sit down and talk. otherwise we will get no place and there will only be more bloodshed and hatred.
29. #3 Destroying settlements is problem
David ,   Shiloh Israel   (06.11.11)
Muayyad, I believe you are sincere, and hope that Ynet will extend this articles' front page life, long enough for us to enter a dialogue. You could be surpised as to how many settlers would also be prepared to enjoy a paeceful co-existence with you. Isn't it true that we have many on 'both' sides calling for the complete removal of the other, from the land they are living on? Terrrorists must not be allowed to prosper, nor should acts of holigans like what happened when a close Jewish friend of mine in Shiloh got beat up by Jews while trying to defend Arab labourers here. The majority of our community were actually angry against those holigans. Every external international effort has failed and will continue to do so. How about seriously exploring the one thing not done yet...quiet talks between those who actually love living here? For starters, we could begin by looking at how both sides can live under their own chosen government, with better security arrangements in place. That in turn should result in better human right conditions and greater autonomy. I hope to get a reply that doesn't sound like a replay from a prepared political position. It must be clear by now that blaming the whole problem on settlers wasn't the problem before 1948, 1967 and certainly not now. The core issue is about living in peace and mutual respect.
30. Every day Israel survives and prospers
BH ,   Iowa   (06.11.11)
should serve as an inspiration to other conquered and displaced peoples that they can return to their homelands, reclaim their history & traditions and defeat the arab usurpers. It may be just Israel now, but as time goes on, others will follow the Jewish People's example and reclaim their land from arab occupation/desecration and reclaim their usurped identities. This century will see the arab empire shrink rather than expand... then the oil will run out.
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