Comments on: Israeli Depty FM in Asharq Alawsat

By: Dr Wael

Dr Wael — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 01:54:22 +0000

Peace can be achieved in 24 hours if just now israel anounce it`s withdrowel of 1967 territories and just recognises the sufferring of Palestineans because of occupation and ethnic clensing occured in 1948,without the right of returning back and some compensating money I assure you that Arabs will accept it.
And the entire region will got what the Europeans have, a common market and prospirity.
Let 2010 be the year of PEACE.Inshaallah

By: Annoynomous 2

Annoynomous 2 — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 05:26:05 +0000

Federalism is a possible solution to the Israel and Palestine conflict. Joint control for Jerusalem would be a better that dividing the city in half. If these suggestions were placed on the table in peace talks, there may be a better chance for results.
The Israelis, Palestinians, and Christians should all have access to their religious sites, control over their own neighborhoods, and be able to build homes.

By: Solomon2

Solomon2 — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 23:40:02 +0000

And upon whom, exactly.

By: John Burgess

John Burgess — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:22:16 +0000

I suspect you and I differ on just how much pressure and what kinds might be appropriate…

By: Solomon2

Solomon2 — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:42:17 +0000

“obtaining peace in the region is like “holding water or sand in your hand. You see the amount of water, you think you can hold something, but it falls away. Sand is the same thing.”

It is very frustrating, but these problems seem to have a common root: the belief that Israel is fundamentally sustained by U.S. aid and if that support disappears, Israel will, too.

That belief inverts cause and effect. In the 1967 war Israel conquered huge amounts of territory with inferior weapons and no U.S. support; in 1973, after a massive U.S. airlift, Israel was persuaded not to conquer Damascus or starve the surrounded Egyptian 2nd Army into surrender by the promise that the U.S. aid would sustain Israel as the strongest military power in the region.

In short, U.S. aid is a kind of bribe to keep Israel from defeating its enemies, not the reverse. (If you disagree with me, just consider what Israel might resort to if the U.S. spigot was turned off tomorrow.) So when a U.S. president pursues peace and Arab leaders respond by sitting back thinking they need do nothing as the U.S. pressures Israel, it shouldn’t be surprising that nothing comes of this approach.

By: ratherdashing

ratherdashing — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:13:35 +0000

Prince al Faisal rains on the parade:

Saud al Faisal told the International Herald Tribune that obtaining peace in the region is like “holding water or sand in your hand. You see the amount of water, you think you can hold something, but it falls away. Sand is the same thing.” He added, “Unless there is something to hold in your hand and to point to as a success and as an achievement, you have done nothing.”

http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=1&id=19194

By: John Burgess

John Burgess — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:46:42 +0000

The letter is certainly real. The Israeli Foreign Ministry made a big deal over it and it was reported widely in the Israeli media.

As for the politics, you’ll need to ask both Israeli and Palestinian leadership. I’m not sure even they really know.

By: Dr Wael

Dr Wael — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:10:23 +0000

If this letter is real ? why Israel ignored the Arab extended hand on Beirut summit, when all the Arab states accepted Israel as neighbor and offered recognition and relationship ?

By: Sparky

Sparky — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:54:22 +0000

What came to my surprise is how HOT it really is gonna get here. If Saudi gets any hotter I am gonna need proctective gear to prevent myself from catching on fire!

By: Solomon2

Solomon2 — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:28:21 +0000

Much to my surprise, some of the published letters from Arab readers in response to the column are sympathetic to the Israeli viewpoint.