Opinion
Mideast peace a pipedream?
Avi Yesawich
Published: 11.10.11, 10:49
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1. Boker Tov, Dr. Avi Yesawich!
Israeli 2   (10.11.11)
You are this time merely stating some known facts without providing a solution. The ONLY solution - A one state solution. Greater Israel - annexing the territories and clean up Israel from all those who hates it. Options: Gaza or Jordan - for the time being.
2. Conference under- reported on in Western Media
Shalom Freedman ,   Jerusalem Israel   (10.11.11)
This Conference so far as I know was not reported on in Western Media in any significant way. Why? Is it the desire to hide the truth of how strong the Peace deniers are within the world of Israel's opponents?
3. You mean Radical Jewish minority don't you?
Hostage   (10.11.11)
4. Ridiculous conference
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (10.11.11)
Right up there with Holocaust denial conferences, and scarcely worthy of attention in the west. The whole Islamic world is one giant joke -- just look at them. Totalitarian regimes, flogging, hanging from jib cranes, sturm und drang calls for death and destruction to the Jews ..... better than a movie.
5. That is a big movie, sarah
11.10.2011   (10.11.11)
Call it a pipe-dream, but it's still a movie.
6. The article failed to address the radical israeli minority
Abdalla   (10.11.11)
Who are equaly dangerous
7. To: No. 5
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (10.11.11)
So far, it's lasted several millennia. We're still here, though, and many of our persecutors have long disappeared into the mists of history. I am not particularly worried.
8. With those comments - there will never be peace
(10.11.11)
Not a chance. Its super clear that these muslim enemies intend to remain just that. Only complete removal of one or the other will sort this dispute out.
9. To: No. 6
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (10.11.11)
You are not being clear. Do you mean the radical Israeli Arab minority? I wouldn't worry too much about it. If they get stupid, they will get sent elsewhere. Or do you mean the radical Jewish minority in Israel? Why do you consider them dangerous? Do they stockpile missiles? Do they kidnap ersatz "Palestinians?" Do they threaten to wipe Ramallah off the map? Do they hurl boulders at cars? Do they murder a sleeping family of five? Arabs and fundamentalist Islam present the real threats in the Middle East today.
10. to #6 the trouble is Abu Mazen gave money for terrorists
ghostq   (10.11.11)
in pali area ot os no minority but the leaders themselves, the Munchen massacre was done to Israelis in Germany, nop not minority at all.
11. pipedream peace
moron ,   galut   (10.11.11)
arabs still hope to defeat and kill or expel the jews..peace will come when jews defeat them first..if arabs win they will just fight eachother
12. Yeah, right.
Michael Steiner ,   Bahrain   (10.11.11)
Because Israel is not an obstacle to peace at all. The Netanyahu administration has issued a veritable bevvy of goodwill gestures and enacted a plethora of confidence-building measures. It has not at all done just about everything to make Palestinian continued participation in the sham of a peace process unviable. Yes, Islamofascists are a major obstacle to any kind of settlement being reached, but so are the Judeofascists--led by a part of the settler movement--who are living their own little phantasm. The only difference is that they're not after 72 virgins but 72 trailers on a hilltop.
13. #1 - This article is exactly what ...
Maurice ,   Montreal   (10.11.11)
...world leaders must realize! You state that "You are this time merely stating some known facts without providing a solution.". I think you are wrong here. Too often the west has pressured Israel into a peace which would not only be untenable, but which would represent great danger for Israel. More articles likes this one are required to make it clear to the world that peace has no chance here as long as these hate forces are present. Specially the Quartet need to be aware of this fact and stop suggesting solutions that are not realistic when enemies such as those listed in the article and that would NEVER accept Israel still exist! In particular, it is totally absurd to think of peace when Hamas which represents part of the "Palestinians" is committed to the destruction of Israel.
14. This says it all
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (10.11.11)
"Powerful elements and leading figures in Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria and Iran, the four entities considered to be the most hostile towards the existence of the Jewish State, have often and repeatedly expressed the position that, regardless of a future compromise between Israelis and Palestinians, their hostile demeanor won’t dissipate. Each of these entities will continue to use 'resistance' until the 'Zionist entity is eradicated.'" We can always dissipate it for them. A mushroom cloud would work wonders for the hostile and incredibly primitive rabble arrayed against Israel. Just look at what is going on in Syria -- evidently the Syrian leadership is not too fussy about whom it eradicates. We all know about the brutal suppression that is going on in Iran -- I guess they are just as unfussy. Hezbollah has a stranglehold on Lebanon, and has no qualms about assassinating a head of state. Until all these violent and tyrannical elements are completely destroyed, there will be no peace. Shall we just take their "word" for it, and eradicate them before they destroy civilization?
15. "Radical" Islam
Joe ,   Fort Lauderdale, USA   (10.11.11)
What's with the term "radical" Islam?The western media invented this term to have the rest of the world think of Islam as a peaceful "religion" with only a few that have ill intent. Bull ! Islam is a policital doctrine that imposes itself by force, Period. "Peaceful" Muslims know that if they open their mouths in support of peace, the West, Israel, or anything beyond the scope of the Koran, they too are targeted for death. Anyone with half a brain knows the Arabs want one thing truly: The destruction of Israel and the death of every Jew. Period. A 2-state "solution" only gets them one step closer to that goal. Would do you think will happen to Arabs and their families if Mom or Dad recognized Israel as a Jewish State? 1st of all, they don't recognize Israel. Any "recognition" is false. It's a lie to get others to think they're working on the same goal. They're not. Second of all, they don't recognize the "state." So for any Arab outside Israel to recognize Israel as Jewish State is quite a stretch folks. Don't fool yourselves. From birth, they're taught to hate and kill Jews. You can't negotiate with that mindset. Furthermore, you can't change the mindset.
16. #6 abdulla
solomon ,   bklyn   (10.11.11)
Equating the radical Israeli minority (and I don't know whether you mean the right or the left) which has no armies of it's own, to Iran, Iraq, Hamas, Hez, Syria, etc., is like equating Israel defending itself to the innumerable attacks of Hamas, Hez, PLO, etc. A totally false comparison.
17. Legitimizing the de-legitimizers
Scott ,   Tallahassee, Fl   (10.11.11)
Is it possible for once the international media's 'failure' to mention this conference was beneficial in that it prevented this meeting from getting legitimate press coverage. Let us hope that the next time Israel's FM calls for the expulsion of Palestinians to Jordan the world press stays silent as well. If we are to silence calls for a one state solution, fair is fair.
18. Peace comes through resounding victory. Not treaties.
Chaim ,   Israel   (10.11.11)
There will never be peace as long as Israel plays the ludicrous "peace process" game. However, we could have had peace decades ago had we soundly defeated "Palestinian" poseurs, and annexed Judea and Samaria instead. Historically, peace treaties are often a prelude to war. Many peace treaties preceded WW II. It was the Allies' resounding military victory over the Nazis and Japanese (with no concessions), which brought permanent peace to Europe and Asia. Peace comes through resounding victory. Not treaties. Once Israel truly absorbs this lesson; peace will come quickly.
19. #15. Islam is not a religion of peace.
Chaim ,   Israel   (10.11.11)
#15. You make some good points. The term "Radical Islam" is misleading. The conquest of "infidels" by Moslems is not an extremist notion held by a small minority of Moslems. It stems directly from the words of the Koran. The Obama regime, in particular, and Western Nations, as a whole, are dishonestly trying to depict Islam as a religion of peace. It definitely is not.
20. A real Pipedream
Brod ,   USA   (10.11.11)
Pat Condell has a powerful treatise about it in Youtube which he calls 'The great PA Lie.'
21. The great Lie
Brod ,   USA   (10.11.11)
Pat Condell talks about this subject in Youtube which is pertinent.
22. Both sides have violent radical minorities
t cummings ,   uk   (10.11.11)
The Iranian government is in the clutches of one and the Israeli government in the clutch of another.The standard Israeli pantomime is to pretend that the Muslim ones are more dangerous than the Jewish ones, but it wasn't a Muslim who shot Rabin and it's not Muslims who beat up Palestinians, set fire to their crops and murder them from time to time. Anyway, as a military occupier sitting on and gorging on occupied land, do you really expect the occupied people and their co-religionists to greet you with hugs and kisses? Get off their land, accept the Saudi peace offer, get rid of the useless rightwing government of yours and you would find that both desperate extremist minorities were marginalised.
23. #17 scott
solomon ,   bklyn   (10.11.11)
Calling for the destruction of a state and the annihilation of its people is not the same as removing arabs from land that they conquered only in 600's AD. Fair is fair, all things being equal. But the alternatives you bring up are not equal.
24. #18, #19 Chaim is right
Brod ,   USA   (10.12.11)
Chaim is absolutely right.
25. #22 t
solomon ,   bklyn   (10.12.11)
Israel has radical minorities. Islam has radical majorities. Which side fires rockets and mortars indiscriminately at houses and school buses? Which side makes plain the desire to annihilate the other? Which side fronted the 'Saudi Peace Plan' which, per the Saudis, is only a suggestion and each arab country will decide for itself what to do? Who conquered the area in the 600's AD coming from ARABIA (get it?)? Who had been there for centuries before? Who withdrew from Gaza and most of the WB (remember?) and received rockets and suicide bombers in return. (Hint: the answers to only the last two questions is "the Jews". You know the answers to the other questions.)
26. #6 Abdulla -- Yeah, those radical Israels who blow up buses
Scott   (10.13.11)
The fact is, there isn't a single Palestinian leader who will agree to a permanent peace and mutual recognition with Israel. There always has to be caveats that give them an excuse to restart the war.
27. Pretty much of this is correct
stevieT ,   USA   (10.13.11)
but, it does not mean that Israel, in her own self interests, cannot cooperate with the moderate arabs and build a model Palestinian State that could eventually (possibly in the right circumstances) induce the current radicals to settle in and lower their violent rhetoric. With the improvement of weapon systems on all sides, territorial size (in the amounts relating to Israel and the territories) will not assure future security. So Israel has nothing to lose by building up a new 'Arab State', help bring them a prosperity that would be envied by their brethren, and hope for the best. All the while rebuilding the respect and admiration of the world community that has been so turned off by many holding actions of the current administration. Yes, there are some who will never accept peace with Israel, but by doing the right things now, Israel can find herself in a win-win-win situation.
28. YESHA
George ,   Washington, USA   (10.14.11)
It is virtually impossible to achieve peace between the Arabs and the Jews. So, it is imperative to remove all the Arabs from West Bank and Gaza.. Israelis and Jews from all over the world could move in and those areas would be named Yehuda, Shomeron and Aza. In short it would be YE(huda)SH(omeron)A(za). Probably. there would still be no peace. However, the Israelis are to live more savely and more securely in Eretz Yisrael.
29. #27 stevie
solomon ,   bklyn   (10.14.11)
A great idea...except it won't work. This new state will be infiltrated by the 'hard liners' (ie most others). And territory does count and always will. No matter what the technology, 'boots on the ground' are still needed. And Israeli boots and Israeli ground are still needed for defense.
30. Might not work #29, but it's all you've got.
stevieT ,   USA   (10.14.11)
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