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Is a Change of Heart Possible?

Reader comment on item: Hope for the Middle East [as Palestinians Face Defeat]

Submitted by David Kross (United States), May 22, 2002 at 11:13

It appears to me that what is being suggested is a sequence of expectations. First is the idea that the recent military incursion by Israel, along with the follow-up pin-point operations, will sufficiently dissuade the Palestinians from the use of suicide bombings, etc. Second is the concept that the recognition of the futility of their latest insurrection to provide gains will become apparent ("When you prick me, do I not bleed?"). And finally, that a new mindset, perhaps coupled with new leadership, will emerge to make a real peace.
Although I subscribe to the theory of fighting back and attempting to destroy terrorist infrastruture, I wonder how great an application of force will be necessary to convince the Palestinians to cease their violence. It seems that Israel has a prettty free hand at the moment to do what it wants militarily. But how much can it do and for how long?
There are two conflicting notions at work here: one that additional Israeli military pressure will only harden Palestinian hearts; and, two, that such pressure will somehow change those hearts in a more productive direction. The key to the future, it seems to me, depends upon who is right.

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Reader comments (34) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
2Palestinians' Shoes... [114 words]Katherine WilliamsOct 21, 2002 22:293168
Western Ideology is Harmful in the Middle East [362 words]Mike NargizianMay 27, 2002 02:23485
Response to comment: Two States is Suicide for Both! [17 words]William J. SturmMay 26, 2002 23:30483
As Long As Iran and Iraq Are Players Arafat Won't Be Defeated [283 words]Joe LeviMay 25, 2002 06:41478
1"The more destruction I see, the stronger I get" [221 words]Avi E SmithMay 23, 2002 11:57469
Two States is Suicide for Both! [303 words]Mike NargizianMay 23, 2002 00:42462
Hussein Ibish--Is He For Real? [51 words]Grace M. VogtMay 22, 2002 21:15460
A Different Ratio? [52 words]Boris GalinskyMay 22, 2002 17:33458
Shut Down Resources for Wreaking Terror [47 words]Ella SmithMay 22, 2002 15:20454
Moderate Muslims Must Be Strengthened [41 words]David W. LincolnMay 22, 2002 13:38451
Another Rationale for Palestinian Violence [162 words]Yochanan ben DanielMay 22, 2002 11:32450
Is a Change of Heart Possible? [199 words]David KrossMay 22, 2002 11:13449
I am confused [118 words]Dark PlanetMay 22, 2002 11:02448
Achieving a Palestinian Democracy Should be the US Goal [339 words]Leon SegalMay 22, 2002 10:44446
Sharon Does Not Get the Credit He Deserves [195 words]Ron PollandMay 22, 2002 09:21443
The State Department is Part of the Problem [70 words]Pete GuerrieriMay 22, 2002 04:08438
Hope is eternal! [247 words]William J. SturmMay 22, 2002 02:14436
Who is Condemning the Violence? [182 words]David GerstmanMay 21, 2002 22:07434
Palestinian Terror Will Continue Indefinitely [73 words]Stanley YarkinMay 21, 2002 22:07433
The Head of the Snake [341 words]Stan BeerMay 21, 2002 21:27432
Two Comments [255 words]I BrodskyMay 21, 2002 21:08431
Positive Views [15 words]Tom FoltzMay 21, 2002 21:08430
Economy Holding Up? [148 words]Harriet TarlowMay 21, 2002 20:01427
End of Conflict? [24 words]Jan KarlstroemMay 21, 2002 19:11426
The Real Problem in the Middle East [102 words]Michael RifkinMay 21, 2002 18:08425
3What's the real problem of the Middle East ( the holy lands)? [548 words]Oğuzhan KonezJan 21, 2006 09:08425
Guilty of believing their own rhetoric [138 words]Mark FeldsteinMay 21, 2002 17:25424
I Hope You're Right [96 words]Bruce StevensMay 21, 2002 16:41423
The world's support gives them the sense of moving forward [153 words]Lucy TsirelsonMay 21, 2002 16:06422
Hope? [340 words]Glenn KlotzMay 21, 2002 16:02421
Accelerating Hope [64 words]Steven HessMay 21, 2002 15:33419
Is there really hope? [301 words]Ethan CoreyMay 21, 2002 15:33418
A Useful Analogy to Remember [124 words]Tomer KramerMay 21, 2002 14:46416
But what of the Islamic extremists? Saudi Arabia is not our friend [459 words]Byron SmithMay 21, 2002 13:38415

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