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Take It Off The Table

Reader comment on item: 100 Bin Ladens on the Way?

Submitted by Ron Thompson (United States), Apr 10, 2003 at 09:46

Suggested topic for debate and discussion, related to the overall topic of international Islamic terrorism, to a belief that the Arab refusal to make peace with Israel is the predominant if not sole key to the meaning of the last 55 years of Mid-east history, and therefore to my belief in the need for the following change in US foreign policy.

TAKE IT OFF THE TABLE
Why the Idea of a Palestinian State in the West Bank and Gaza is Morally
Wrong, and a Permanent Practical Impediment to Peace in The Middle East
Ron Thompson, Fairfax, Va - ronthompson@erols.com - April 9, 2003

Isn't the record clear? For almost 55 years and counting, the
Arab States (with the partial and reluctant exceptions of Egypt and Jordan)
have refused to talk peace with Israel, which so many have forgotten is the
reason the Israelis are in the West Bank and Gaza.
After this refusal had gone on for over 25 years, and following
three wars - all lost and after each of which the Arab States refused to
meet with Israel - a sort of nationalism finally emerged among the
Palestinians and crystallized around the PLO, an avowedly terrorist
organization which was irresponsibly anointed their representative in 1974
in Morocco by the Arab States.
The Arab World has therefore been in clear violation of the
United Nations' 1948 recognition of the existence and legitimacy of the
Israeli State for over half a century. IT IS OUTRAGEOUS THAT THIS VIOLATION
OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S WILL BY THE ARAB WORLD HAS BEEN
WITHOUT PENALTY OR EVEN VERBAL CENSURE ALL THESE YEARS BY THAT
COMMUNITY. It is additionally outrageous that, as a result of this non-condemnation, the view of moral equivalency between the behavior of Israel and the Palestinians
expressed in such unfairly neutral language as "the cycle of violence", has
become ordinary and respectable.
Why does anyone reasonably expect that a Palestinian State, up
against the heart of Israel, would lead to peace? Why, in the face of
decades of refusal to accept the existence of Israel, do so many fall into
the view that "everybody knows" what a final settlement will look like, when
the record offers no grounds whatsoever to expect that peaceful result?
What does it take to recognize the Arab world's NO to accepting
the Jewish State?

Therefore, whatever legitimate grievances the Palestinian people
and leadership once had, if any, these grievances have for many years and
even decades been morally and practically overborne by the wars and
propaganda campaigns of political hatred and religious bigotry, culminating
in the lunatic violence of the suicide bombers, initiated by factions and
States who can't defeat Israel in normal warfare, and so have indoctrinated
their own children to sacrifice themselves while trying to kill and maim as
many Israeli children and other civilians as they can.
A great deal of the responsibility for this dreary and terrible
course of events rests on the United Nations' and Europe's moral
complicity in the 55 year refusal of the Arab world to accept the existence
and legitimacy of Israel, and to prove that acceptance by establishing
normal relations with the Israeli State despite unresolved disputes.
Is it not finally clear that as long as the demand for a Palestinian State
in the West Bank and Gaza (as opposed to being located in Jordan, which is
already 70% Palestinian, or elsewhere) is given legitimacy, it will be an
endless incitement to Palestinian terror and Arab State irresponsibility?
The idea that Israel must have secure boundaries between the
Mediterranean Sea and Jordan River has nothing to do with a "biblical" claim
to the West Bank and Gaza. It rests instead, as a result of the events of
the last 55 years and counting, on moral and geopolitical grounds that now
include the fundamental national interest not only of Israel, but of the
United States, and even of a Europe which has been shamefully hostile
to Israel.
In a curious way, the ultimate self interest of the Arab World
is involved too, because that world has made it overwhelmingly clear it is
unable or unwilling to voluntarily accept the existence of Israel as a matter of
international law, and to recognize its own interest in ceasing to be
the world center of religious intolerance and opposition to all that is
peaceful and progressive in modernity.
Take the idea of a Palestinian State in The West Bank and Gaza
OFF THE TABLE.
Submitting....

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Reader comments (81) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
1Sick and tired [194 words]danSep 16, 2006 01:0956117
Antisemitic conspiracy theories [18 words]HillelFeb 1, 2006 13:3433410
islamic wake up! [462 words]Rabih GhannoumMay 2, 2004 10:0715006
America has to end all ties with the Middle East [80 words]markApr 18, 2006 01:3315006
wake up muslims; wake up world [859 words]HugoJun 17, 2007 03:5615006
improper understanding ! [41 words]omairMay 23, 2008 14:3815006
why! [70 words]DarwishApr 11, 2004 09:5114610
Naked Ambition and One bin Laden [339 words]Marc LevittApr 15, 2003 13:568376
Bin Laden Alarmists [250 words]John Borgman, Jr.Apr 12, 2003 16:418290
Optimistic [185 words]GaryApr 12, 2003 16:278289
Fairy Tale [199 words]BorisApr 12, 2003 12:458286
What will Arafat do now? [344 words]Nathan Ray ThomasApr 11, 2003 16:298273
No! you mean there are not 100 Bil Ladens in waiting? [489 words]Jonathan PfefferApr 11, 2003 15:048271
Don't stay too long [95 words]elsApr 11, 2003 14:098269
Religion of Peace? [439 words]YonasonApr 11, 2003 11:498267
Your Nomination to USIP [150 words]Thomas M. Groome, IIIApr 11, 2003 10:208264
Wake up call for naysayers [126 words]Stan BeerApr 11, 2003 08:078263
One is enough [59 words]Boris GalinskyApr 10, 2003 21:358254
Afghanistan and Iraq [143 words]David BettinoApr 10, 2003 21:168252
The murder of 1300+ Iraqi civilians by US government [48 words]G. DuttonApr 10, 2003 20:298251
Congratulations [37 words]Hari IyerApr 10, 2003 14:198246
How many years ? [44 words]Arun GuptaApr 10, 2003 13:568245
Take It Off The Table [708 words]Ron ThompsonApr 10, 2003 09:468240
War Criminals [98 words]Donn RutkoffApr 10, 2003 03:228235
CAIR, Kick it up a notch! [424 words]j morrisApr 10, 2003 00:268232
More persuasive examples? [82 words]A. CallaghanApr 9, 2003 22:578228
no! [69 words]Cloe RushJun 29, 2006 06:568228
Where are the Weapons of Mass Destruction? [88 words]ChrisApr 9, 2003 20:548227
Exactamente Senor Pipes! [43 words]Jeremy FreedmanApr 9, 2003 19:598225
Great work! [27 words]Nosson SachsApr 9, 2003 15:178223
Jubiliant Iraqis [64 words]A.AhmedApr 9, 2003 14:278222
Pictures are the proof [155 words]Richard L. VogelApr 9, 2003 13:118217
Public Relations & Terrorism [427 words]Margaret DooceyApr 9, 2003 12:478215
It's not over yet... [41 words]Rafael Robert DelfinApr 9, 2003 12:378213
Iraqis dancing in streets [83 words]Joe CunninghamApr 9, 2003 12:078212
terrorism [66 words]elsApr 9, 2003 11:348210
They May See A Different War [134 words]Gabi EhrlichApr 9, 2003 10:088207
1(00) Bin Ladens [18 words]Kermit J. Halperin, D.D.S.Apr 9, 2003 09:118206
Mubarak is "pulling an Arafat" [190 words]Richard ZumaApr 9, 2003 08:408205
Prayers [30 words]Dixon PorterApr 9, 2003 08:178204
100 bin ladens? [165 words]TERRY MILLERApr 9, 2003 06:218203
Freedom of Religion [72 words]Paul M. NevilleApr 9, 2003 06:058202
India's take on Iraq [116 words]S.C.PandaApr 9, 2003 05:098201
Arab Anger after the War in Iraq [733 words]Shimon Z. KleinApr 9, 2003 01:498195
The Mutant Bin Laden [78 words]J. PedenApr 9, 2003 01:188193
Simplistic Analysis in DC and in the media [274 words]AvrahamApr 8, 2003 23:258191
Solution for Palestine [170 words]Darryl DavisApr 8, 2003 23:118190
Thank you. [38 words]Ladd TomlinApr 8, 2003 22:018189
Muslims don't get it? [68 words]Ivan BarnaApr 8, 2003 21:498188
I Hope You Are Right [100 words]Phil MetcalfApr 8, 2003 20:548187
President Mubarak has forgotten some things... [235 words]Joshua TruaxApr 8, 2003 20:068186
1The current cause of war [302 words]Robert BalzolaApr 8, 2003 19:058181
The new war to rebuild underway... [225 words]FenixApr 8, 2003 17:558179
Excessive optimism? [133 words]Mick JacksonApr 8, 2003 17:218177
Never underestimate... [204 words]MWhittonApr 8, 2003 17:108175
The War on Iraq is part of the war on terror, not to introduce democracy [418 words]Shep FargotsteinApr 8, 2003 16:568173
Another viewpoint [27 words]Mel KreinerApr 8, 2003 16:218171
Respecting Iraqi Ways [131 words]Sheldon SeltzerApr 8, 2003 16:048170
THIS WAR WILL BE THE STARTING POINT OF "CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS" [990 words]Louis Wetzler von Plankenstern zu Kirchheim PhDApr 8, 2003 15:448169
U.S. Victory in Iraq [200 words]N. KhanApr 8, 2003 15:198168
Temple of doom destroyed [94 words]Geraldine ShapiroApr 8, 2003 15:188167
1Finish the Job [66 words]Sir Daniel M.J. TobinApr 8, 2003 14:338165
Might does not make right [59 words]Susan BradfordApr 8, 2003 14:318164
Caves for rent [53 words]Greg GardnerApr 8, 2003 14:248163
Caves for rent [29 words]Heaba Maria TomJun 18, 2010 00:028163
We're in the driver's set from here, no doubt. [47 words]Philip GeraldApr 8, 2003 14:148160
Which one is accurate? [33 words]WarinnerApr 8, 2003 13:098158
An Islamic Reformation? [225 words]Ken BesigApr 8, 2003 12:448155
One Bush&one Blair make 50million arabs delirious about the Peace Process [262 words]jack ajzenbergApr 8, 2003 11:538153
Tolerance and respecting Islam [70 words]John BergApr 8, 2003 11:418152
More problematic [112 words]Glenn KlotzApr 8, 2003 11:238149
Consequeces of Iraq War [60 words]Grace M. VogtApr 8, 2003 11:018148
100 OBLs [68 words]Alon KapenApr 8, 2003 10:588147
No one can predict the future. [120 words]Chris AdamsApr 8, 2003 10:528146
Terrorism response will decline [171 words]Mark SmithApr 8, 2003 10:528145
Thank you [11 words]Maureen ThompsonApr 8, 2003 10:478144
Is President Bush and Friends Prepping for Gulf War III? [271 words]William BryanApr 8, 2003 10:028143
Request for clarification [323 words]Dave ClarkApr 8, 2003 09:458142
Couldn't agree more [79 words]izodApr 8, 2003 09:098141
100 Bin Ladens? So what! [162 words]Hank ArtzeApr 8, 2003 09:078140
Afghanistan [102 words]Robert J. HizaApr 8, 2003 08:598139

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