Opinion
Is there hope for a realistic Middle East?
David Ha'ivri
Published: 15.10.12, 18:04
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30 Talkbacks for this article
1. The idea of arabs being realistic
A ,   Belgium   (10.15.12)
regarding Israel is already unrealistic. Until they drop the impossible fantasy of a "palestinian" state, until peace treaties are honored by the arab states, as b aneing peace treaties and not just useless scraps of paper, until Egypt and Jordan lead the rest of the arab world and show them that it is only to their advantage to have formal peace treaties with Israel with full recognition of Israel's right to exist as the Jewish homeland, until fatah, hamas, hezballah, islamic jihad and all the rest of the terrorist organizations are disbanded and banished...until all of those "realisms" are recognized and accepted by the arabs, you can forget about them being anything other than hostile towards Israel.
2. Arabs beign realistic??????????????
Jorge   (10.15.12)
They still celebrate 67 and 73 wars as victories, lawyers honor suicide bombers as heroes, their maladies are not their own fault due to their lack of education and culture, not one Arab leader openly and clearly condemned the atrocity against Malala, the Pakistani girl that wants the right to education and to be a "human beign" not an object. 1.5 million Muslims center all their troubles, on 7 million Israelis 0n 20.000 square Kms country, yeah right realistic, look at the carnage and butchery in Syria, that is the ARAB reality. stop dreaming
3. A . Belgium . Peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan ?
Charles ,   Petach Tikva   (10.15.12)
It are more "no war" treaties . Peace is there when you can travel , without any problem , from one country to another . Peace is there when no organism will boycott organisations of the other side . You enjoy peace , you can travel without restrictions from your country to any of the surrounding ones . That is PEACE , not on a piece of paper , but on the ground .
4. Realistic and Positive Article (recommended)
Jean-Pierre ,   Austria   (10.15.12)
Would be nice to see a day when the Arabs turn up wise and accept Israel as their neighbours, and all will be well, stop with all the propaganda and all its hatred. live like Kings of the days of King Solomon. Shalom, and Salem, und Frieden für euch!
5. This is a real possibility,but...
Ian ,   Newcastle upon Tyne   (10.15.12)
...it'll need the Arab Spring democracy protesters to seize back their revolutions from the new tyrants who hijacked them. THREE CHEERS FOR ISRAEL!!!
6. Arab League concerned about Syria?
Donovan ,   Johannesburg S.A   (10.15.12)
Was the Arab League ever formed for its ppl? Doubt that. They have only one concern, the destruction of Israel. Long live Israel! Long live the IDF.
7. When the anti-Jew incitement in Arab education is ended
BH ,   Iowa   (10.15.12)
It will still take another three generations for the hatred to be cleansed from their system. Until then, the only peace will be through strength and security.
8. It's the Palestinians who can't accept Jewish Israel
Sam ,   Canada   (10.15.12)
It's the Palestinians who want to feel free to roam over all the West Bank and Israel and to do it under Muslim rule. Nothing changes until they come to terms with a Jewish Israel.
9. Realistic Middle East?
Kim ,   USA   (10.15.12)
That would be like hoping to see snow in South Florida :)
10. Before israel there was peace in the ME
(10.15.12)
11. When?
DavidR ,   USA   (10.16.12)
Only when Moshiach comes!
12. #1....
YE ,   Canada   (10.16.12)
Politicians in Israel should grab your comment and make it into a poster and then have it hanged on each official Israeli building and school.... A mandatory read...It should be made into a commandment....Good job...Kudos...Take it further..!
13. #10 LOL !
solomon ,   bklyn   (10.16.12)
Give examples. Better yet, read some history instead of trusting in your wishful thinking.
14. "Israel not about to go away" ,...
split ,   US   (10.16.12)
So do the Arabs - By the way Arabs ain't the first and the only people that can't get along with Jews. It's time to do some soul-searching instead of pointing fingers ,...
15. What if...
Tim ,   Brighton   (10.16.12)
We could have arrived at a comprehensive Peace in the Middle East how would that have impacted on the Arab Street? Its the first time that I know of where Arab intellectuals are trying to quantify the material benefits of stability and peace in the region And its not too late....The gains EVEN now would be absolutely amazing And with a vibrant Middle East Economic Community...from Turkey to Iran to Saudi Arabia Israel and Egypt...this could well transform the region out of all recognition And thats not to say that issues such as Palestinian Self Determination etc etc would be ignored...in fact a more stable environment would promote trust and a better environment for leaders to take bolder decisions for peace As one of the economists said..Sometimes we have to look back and ask these What If Questions to understand where we all went wrong and where we have let down our children and to see how we can change
16. Utopianism and realism
Bertram ,   London, UK   (10.16.12)
Let me put this into the debate: both Israel and the Muslim/Arab world are trapped by utopian views. Both have worldviews which see an idealistic future as an extension of a mythologised past. It is foolish to think that either of these worldviews will change without one side destroying the other. So, as the writer seems to suggest, it is time to think and act 'outside the box'. Ordinary people, professionals, traders, etc. already engage with one another across the national, cultural and religious divides of the Middle East, often without much fanfare, despite the ongoing rhetoric of conflict and hatred. These actions must continue - and increase. Peace is a continual, sometimes piecemeal, process not an endgame.
17. #14 great point!
Ephraim   (10.16.12)
Arabs are not the only nation that hates Jews, all goyim do. Esav sonei et yaakov. When Jews are true to the guidance of our Father above, the gentiles respect and revere us, when we turn away and try to be like the goyim, they strike back with disgust, hatred, and persecution.
18. #14 split
solomon ,   bklyn   (10.16.12)
“It's time to do some soul-searching instead of pointing fingers ,... “ Look in a mirror.
19. #17 Mmm Ephraim
Tim ,   Brighton   (10.16.12)
Touch of persecution complex methinks Judge and be judged by what you and others do Not by their religion, culture or class..
20. 13 - Keep laughing but you can't deny ,...
split ,   US   (10.16.12)
that Lebanon was called the Switzerland of the ME ,...
21. #20 split Lebanon,Switzerland of ME until....
Ian ,   Newcastle upon Tyne   (10.16.12)
....it was wrecked by internal factionalism,Arafat's PLO terrorism and the Arab League's,especially Syria's,meddling. I have a feeling that split is playing the same deception that was used in 1982/3 when the Israel haters tried to blame all the considerable damage done during years of the Lebanon Civil War on Israel's fast military campaign. I've never heard Switzerland described as the Lebanon of Europe and I hope the day never arrives;for the sake of the Swiss. THREE CHEERS FOR ISRAEL!!!
22. # 10
Miriam ,   Miami   (10.16.12)
OK, when was there peace in the Middle East before Israel because a state? The British fought the Turks and Germans and Austria Hungry in the Middle East - war The Turks ruled the Middle east since 1299, WAR before that the Crusaders ruled and there were wars. When was it that there was peace? Read History
23. Peace ONLY via BALANCE, balance ONLY via SECURE BIG ISRAEL.
Jerry ,   The Netherlands   (10.16.12)
24. # 23
Stan ,   Israel   (10.17.12)
Define the borders of SECURE BIG ISRAEL
25. #20 split - I defer to #21 ian...and will keep laughing
solomon ,   bklyn   (10.17.12)
26. Ha'ivri has ignored the fact
Stan ,   Israel   (10.17.12)
that 10 years ago Saudi Arabia put forward proposals, accepted by the Arab League, that if Israel withdrew from the occupied territories, and allowed the refugees to return, the Arab States would make Peace with Israel. Three years ago Obama demanded that refugees be finally settled in the Palestinian State or in the countries where they are resident. This condition was accepted by the Arab League.
27. In the last paragraph
Stan ,   Israel   (10.17.12)
the author says that the Arabs are hurt because we now control land which was governed by Muslims for 1300 years until 1917. Ha'vri thinks that because our forefathers controlled some of this land for a few centuries until 2600 years ago that means we too, like the Arabs want the land. The Balfour Declaration in 1917, followed by the UN decision 30.11.1947 meant that the world recognises the right of the Jewish people to a State the borders of which, are to be finalised in negotiations with the Palestinians. Before some of you begin cursing me and making unpleasant remarks, I wish to point out, that NO COUNTRY, not even the USA supports the messianic view held by the Jewish extremists that all the occupied territory will remain part of Israel. Massada and Bar Kochba are but two examples of extremism leading to tragedy.
28. Who is Saudi Arabia
BN ,   Philippines   (10.17.12)
To dictate what Israel should do for peace when in saudi arabia, women can drive a car or travel without permission from a male guardian? Where sunni-shiite conflict is not resolved? Saudi arabia has no business talking about peace. The relative calm in the kingdom is not coz of peace, its out of fear from their authoritarian regime. A government who controls everything in the life oftheir citizen such as education, work, lifestyle, including selection of spouse, especially foreign spouse, which is to be approved by a prince or someone.
29. #26 stan - you have ignored the fact
solomon ,   bklyn   (10.17.12)
that Saudi Arabia later admitted its plan was just a suggestion, and each arab country would decide for itself what to do AFTER Israel withdrew. And of course the Arab League accepted that the arabs should be settled in the ‘Palestinian State’ because thats what they’ve wanted all along. And then they would decide what to do (see above).
30. #16 bertram
solomon ,   bklyn   (10.18.12)
You equate both sides, one which only wants to kill the other, the other side that has tried and tried to have some peace. This other side (Israel) does not espouse murder, terrorism, etc. Israel has treated “Pals” in its hospitals. Israel is composed not only of Jews, but arabs (both Muslim and Christian). For the Muslim/arab world, Jews are verboten. Your post won’t wash. Nice try.
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