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Right of Return & Sami Aldeeb

Reader comment on item: Which Way Will Abbas Go?

Submitted by John Brock (United States), Jan 12, 2005 at 19:26

Dr. Pipes,

Many of your readers have highlighted the "right of return" as a key issue.

Dr. Sami Aldeeb, Chairman of the Association for one Democratic State in Palestine/Israel, underscores this when he writes,

"The only possible solution is the creation of one Democratic State in Palestine/Israel, with equal rights for all, regardless of their religion. In this State Jews and non-Jews will have the right to live wherever they like. This includes the right of the Palestinian refugees to return home and build their 400 villages that Israel destroyed, and the right of the Jewish Settlers to live where they like. Both should respect one condition: no discrimination because of religion."

Whatever Abbas, (aka Abu Mazin) believes, his life indicates a flexibility to play with a variety of audiences. Unlike Arafat who openly said that he was untrustworthy (Arafat was on record having said that he would lie, cheat and kill if he thought that Palestine would be better for it), Abu Mazin seems to be diplomatically inclined. Does that mean that he lies? Perhaps, but what leader doesn't these days? The test is if Mazin will keep his promises. Arafat couldn't do tha, and it eventually became clear that Arafat's word was worthless.

So, Dr. Pipes, your points seem well taken. Dr. Aldeeb's post also seem to set the case that many will make for a open Israel, where the grandchildren of the pre-1948 inhabitants of what is now Israel can become citizens of Israel. Under Abbas that prospect might move forward, but Abbas has to realize that there have been 30+ years of terror that has undermined trust in any diplomatic effort that shares the same goals as Hamas or Hezbollah or Arafat.
Submitting....

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Reader comments (53) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Courage Lives! [376 words]Arlinda DeAngelisMar 17, 2005 21:2921049
In response to commenter Jacob Carmiel [809 words]Ed Melik, Esq.Jan 29, 2005 08:0019968
Line Up the Vectors [187 words]Murray NadlerJan 26, 2005 14:2119889
1A tiger becoming a vegetarian? [28 words]S.C.PandaJan 25, 2005 04:5219843
Abbas and the western liberals [27 words]Octavio JohansonJan 23, 2005 07:4319814
Palestine's right to exist? [92 words]Aaron GoldsteinJan 19, 2005 20:2319783
What's the Point Of Any Palestinian Government..... [126 words]J CarmielJan 17, 2005 04:0719709
Mr.Abbas's bleak future [250 words]Marcos BerensteinJan 16, 2005 19:5519704
So far you are right ... [4 words]Boris FrenkelJan 16, 2005 14:5619696
Marcos Berenstein's comment [98 words]J. CarmielJan 16, 2005 13:5819693
Not an easy challenge/Which way will Abbas go ? [28 words]Hans GuggenheimJan 15, 2005 16:3019683
Take a step back... [217 words]Tough CallJan 15, 2005 16:1219682
Mr.Carmiel's remarks [150 words]Marcos BerensteinJan 15, 2005 06:2219678
Abbas is another loser [166 words]Ed ZeeJan 14, 2005 15:0019670
Palestine and Israel two state solution.... [115 words]Jacob CarmielJan 14, 2005 14:3119669
Abbas, the elected president [113 words]Alon ReiningerJan 14, 2005 14:2519668
Reesponse To Marcos Berenstein [76 words]Mr J CarmielJan 14, 2005 06:3019664
OK. Then what [64 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
John W. McGinleyJan 13, 2005 14:1119647
TO MR DANIEL PIPES [20 words]Fadel MJan 13, 2005 12:3619645
Palestinian Bind [44 words]Peter J. HerzJan 13, 2005 08:2019643
Islamic Teachings X Peace [134 words]Marcos BerensteinJan 13, 2005 07:1219642
If he choose the wrong direction! [139 words]S. LubiczJan 12, 2005 20:3419638
Right of Return & Sami Aldeeb [285 words]John BrockJan 12, 2005 19:2619635
True peace [67 words]DannyJan 12, 2005 15:3719634
Perceptions of your articles on Abbas & Palestine are true [93 words]Don MarshJan 12, 2005 13:3519632
23rd Islamic State [25 words]AmirJan 12, 2005 12:4119631
A "one-state" solution [195 words]Mike ReiderJan 12, 2005 10:4319630
Sheep's clothing [70 words]Menahem DunskyJan 12, 2005 08:4719628
Abbas' only concept of peace with Israel is "rest in peace" [207 words]Srinivasan VaradarajanJan 12, 2005 07:0919627
Directly on the mark! [33 words]Ruth BrochJan 11, 2005 23:2719622
No peace without justice [238 words]Sami AldeebJan 11, 2005 21:2619619
Duplicity - Stalin and Abbas [165 words]Herbert BernsteinJan 11, 2005 20:2719617
Keep it up [12 words]Herb StoneJan 11, 2005 19:5519616
Amen.... [14 words]Andrew BergJan 11, 2005 19:3919615
In answer to Terry [82 words]Neila HachichaJan 11, 2005 19:3019614
He should stop violence [50 words]Octavio JohansonJan 11, 2005 17:4819612
Right of Return [191 words]Marcos BerensteinJan 11, 2005 17:3519610
Abbas' Strategy [216 words]Robert SniderJan 11, 2005 17:2519609
Mahmoud Abbas and 1930 [172 words]Sir Daniel M.J. TobinJan 11, 2005 17:0619606
Will the real Abbas please stand up? [53 words]John MaloneyJan 11, 2005 17:0119605
Mr. Abbas [103 words]Bill WaldronJan 11, 2005 15:5419602
Invisible enemy in plain sight [32 words]SJan 11, 2005 15:4119601
Insightful [38 words]TerryJan 11, 2005 15:3119600
Are there ANY circumstances [259 words]ATJan 11, 2005 14:5519599
What about "one democratic state for all" ? [84 words]Neila HachichaJan 11, 2005 14:5019597
You hit the nail on the head again [157 words]Robert KleinJan 11, 2005 14:3419595
Bravo! [1 words]Lenore RobertsJan 11, 2005 14:0619593
Krauthammer on Abbas [95 words]Jonathan RickJan 11, 2005 13:4619592
Danger of Abbas [198 words]Reuven RashkovskyJan 11, 2005 13:4419591
Abbas Has No Mandate to Do Anything [70 words]Philip ZwickJan 11, 2005 13:3619590
Flip-flop [105 words]JaladhiJan 11, 2005 13:2919589
Which Way Depends on What Reference Point [102 words]Jacob SlabiakJan 11, 2005 13:2719586
The Right of Return [136 words]Larry ShapiroJan 11, 2005 13:1419585

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