Middle East

[slimjim]

It seems to my simple mind that a two-state system is the only solution that stands a decent chance of ending the bloodbaths. So why is this still no closer? What are the real obstacles? Does the US support it or not?

[andy hughes]

The problem is Middle eastern psyche. you are talking about two individual races of people who'se hatred of each other is nurtured at mothers' knees, and reaches biblical proportions by adulthood. The notions of compromise and fair play are simply not in their vocabulary, and they will, and indeed do, die to protect a land they believe is rightfully theirs - sadly they both think the same about the same land.

[Sylday]

Yes, almost everybody agrees with the "two states" solution - the main problems are (a) where do draw the boundaries; (b) what about the Israeli settlements within what would be the Palestinian state; would Palestinian refugees (and their descendents) who used to live in Israel have the right of return; and what about Jerusalem? Solve those, and you might have your two states; until then, you have one state of mutual atagonism.

[Sylday]

Sorry, I did the above in a hurry - there shoujld be a "you" before "draw" in the 2nd line; "(c)" before" "would" in the 4th line; and "d" before "what" in the 6th line.

[JohnPPotts]

Because it's easy when you're dividing somebody else's country! Yes, a two state solution is probably the only one that will result in lasting peace, but there is a strong faction in Israel to cling onto all of historic Israel (ie. a country that, prior to the 1940s, hadn't existed for a couple of Millenia) - and many resist the limited pull oout from Gaza (not part of the ancient Kingdom of Israel). As for the US, support for Israel is popular with the powerful Jewish lobby and to a lesser extent with the (far larger) Fundamentalist Christian lobby, while the Arabic vote is relatively small, so US policy is liable to be pro-Israeli, particualrly in an election year.