Would like to believe it, but experience says otherwise.

Submitted by Menahem Dunsky` (United States), Jan 23, 2003 at 09:09

I'm afraid that the late Abba Eban's oft repeated observation "The Palestinians never lose an opportunity to lose an opportunity" remains pertinent. Of course, one must always allow for change; but experience, history and the psychological disposition of
the Arabs dictate otherwise.

I have no doubt that the statistics which you cite in your article "To End the Palestinian Violence" are accurate, and are certainly the result of Sharon' tough policies. But this is merely tactical, I fear. We have seen it before: Oslo, the peace treaties between Israel and Egypt, and with Jordan. The bottom line remains the same: to drive out the Jews by every means.

Egypt has had its peace treaty with Israel for more than 20 years, yet it is the foremost disseminator of anti-Semitic and anti-Israel filth. Most recently it has produced a state sponsored mammoth TV series dramatizing the notorious "Protocols of the
Elders of Zion". How can one deal, let alone trust, people who not only lie consistently, but also believe their lies to be true?

A bleak outlook? Of course it is - but a realistic one! The Israelis know this all too well; it remains for the U.S. to realize and act on it too.

---

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".