(Why do you always screem the title of your articles?)

It is likely that the Hamas leadership will have to moderate its views in conformity with power.

Why should they have to moderate? They were elected by the oppressed Palestinian people to stand up militantly to the Zionist invaders. Moderation is capitualation, and the Palestinian people have spoken. They are sick of surrender and dehumanization.

palistinians attack and kill jews= freedom fighter against the zionist invaders.

Jews target a "freedom fight" {read terrorist}= horrible use of power to keep the poor palistinians down!

gahhh

palistinians attack and kill jews= freedom fighter against the zionist invaders. Jews target a "freedom fighter" {read terrorist}= horrible use of power to keep the poor palistinians down!

Got it.

It's easy enough once you get the hang of it.

Also note:

anti-Semitism"
noun
Hostility or prejudice against Jews in the past and theoretically in the present unless targeted at Israel. In fact, classic anti-semitism and its major crimes ended on May 15 1948.

"expansionism"
noun
Israel's policy of defeating Arab countries that try to destroy the Jewish state.

"freedom fighter"
noun
A peace activist targeting Jews (see "peace activist").

"Palestinian"
noun
A non-Jewish inhabitant of Palestine (see "German" in Hitler's dictionary) and any descendant living anywhere else. Some Palestinians are Egyptians. Most Palestinians are Muslims. There are Christian Palestinians, but they are often Palestinians for a shorter time.

http://citizenleauki.joeuser.com/index.asp?aid=81628

So the sins of one group cover the sins of another? Oddly, I don't see that. If Hamas ejected everyone that had helped and promoted the killing of innocents, maybe it would make sense. Instead, you seem to be saying that if your government has done bad things, the best thing to do is legitimize other people's crimes.

Not everyone agrees that the acts of Hamas are understandable given the situation in Palestine. People don't excuse senseless violence just because the violent were wronged. I'm glad that isn't the case, since only a perfect nation, totally free of historical sins, could reject the legitimacy of any authority, know matter how evil.

Not everyone agrees that the acts of Hamas are understandable given the situation in Palestine. People don't excuse senseless violence just because the violent were wronged. I'm glad that isn't the case, since only a pe

It may not be a sensible thing to say but I think it is best to leave the Middle East to settle its own disputes. As for the Palestenians, in 1948 they were betrayed by their own Arab Governments and with the on set of the Cold War the problem became worse. I think it is just atrocious that Palestenians are denied basic human rights that the rest of the world takes for granted. This includes the Palestenians in Israel.

Let me start with the last post. Power ans governance and its everyday problems will bring about moderation in the views of the Hamas leadership, if not the rank and file. Therefore Israel and the Quartet must negotiate in good faith.

Until this actually happens...there will be no talking! Israel must negotiate in good faith? Just how do you propose to negotiate with someone who has stated categorically that one of their objectives is to destroy your country totally! Like it's been said before....until Hamas changes it's tune, there will be no talks.

The prestige of Yasser Arafat was deeply dented when the Israeli government in wanton disregard to the canons of international law bombed the headquarters of Arafat and forced him to live the rest of his life in a hole ten feet under the ground. He was forbidden to travel and with the threat of Israeli state sponsored assassination hanging over his head, Yasser Arafat was essentially rendered irrelevant to the political sphere.

Arafat was under the threat of state sponsored assassination because he was a terrorist. He and his government both aided and abetted terrorists and terroristic acts. Specifically acts against Jews in general.

There will be no recognition of Israel and there will be no security for the occupation and colonization forces," Mashaal told a rally in Khartoum. "Resistance will remain our strategic option."

The logic of the situatiion will eventually lead to the two state solution and public statements made for the consumption of the rank and file will not deter Israel from opening a dialogue with, yes, even Hamas. Tell me there is no alternative. And Hamas is certainly more moderate than certain other groups. Hamas will certainly give up its militancy once it comes to power and gets on with the task of governance. The Bush supported attempt to starve the Palestenian Auhthority of funds will be countercproductive.

As for the Palestenians, in 1948 they were betrayed by their own Arab Governments and with the on set of the Cold War the problem became worse.

That is true. But did you ever see any primary source from before 1968 that spoke of "Palestinians" as (solely) the Arabs living in Palestine?

I think it is just atrocious that Palestenians are denied basic human rights that the rest of the world takes for granted. This includes the Palestenians in Israel.

Which basic human rights are they denied?

How do they compare to the inhabitants of other countries in the region and in the world, specifically with other occupied territories?

For example, how does Palestine compare to Western Sahara, human-rights-wise?

Do you differentiate between rights the Arab Palestinians cannot make use of because they are in a war against Israel (which they wanted) and between rights Israel took from them for fun? Did they have any rights when they were under Egyptian and Jordanian occupation that they don't have any more?

Should Israel recognize the supposed rights of a population that does not recognize Israel or the human rights of Jews?

Why?

And which rest of the world takes human rights for granted? The middle east? Arab countries? Jews are not even allowed in Saudi Arabia, and homosexuals are executed. Are these the human rights Arabs take for granted? Is that what Israel denies them?

If Israel treated Muslims like Saudi Arabia treats Jews, would that satisfy the demands that Israel respect the humen rights everybody else takes for granted?

In what ways does Israel have to change?

And what would be the benefit to Israel?

That is true. But did you ever see any primary source from before 1968 that spoke of "Palestinians" as (solely) the Arabs living in Palestine?

Palestine and a nationality Palestinean is recognised by the Balfour Declaration of 1919. True Arabs were a part of the Ottoman Empire but after the end of the Ottoman Empire distinct territories were carved out keeping the interests of the Oil companies. Kuwait over which the First Gulf War was faught had no independent existenxce as a state before the emirate was created.

The logic of the situation will eventually lead to the two state solution

There will be a two-state solution as soon as the Arabs accept a two-state solution.

They had all the time in the world to accept it. It was offered in 1948, between 1949 and 1968, and in 2000. They rejected it, rejected it, and rejected it.

There is no "peace process" requires to arrive at a two-state solution. Israel is fine with it. Israel has always been fine with it. The Arabs simply have to accept it.

Do you know the story about the woman and the 12 books of wisdom? She came to a city and offered to sell them the 12 books which she said contained all the wisdom in the world. The city refused.

She then burned 6 of the books and left with the rest.

The next year she came back and offered the city the remaining 6 books for more gold than she asked for for the 12 books. The city refused.

She burned 3 of the books and left with the rest.

Again she came back and offered to sell the remaining 3 books of wisdom, a quarter of all the wisdom in the world. The city refused and she burned 2 of the books, leaving with one.

And when she came back again the city paid her much more gold than she even demanded for the 3 books for thr remaining 1 book.

This is what the Arab Palestinians are doing. And they still think they can get all the books for free.

They could have had Gaza, the West Bank, East-Jerusalem, the old city, and much of the Negev plus much of the north, but they refused.

They could have had Gaza, the West Bank, and East-Jerusalem including the old city, but they refused.

They could have had Gaza and the West Bank, they refused.

Now they will get whatever Israel wants to give.

My guess is Gaza and the West Bank sans Jerusalem and without the area needed for the fence and several of the larger settlements.

But the Palestinian Arabs will never learn that they won't throw the Jews into the sea. And the Arab nationalist dream of a Jew-free middle east will not come to pass.



Israel is there to stay. But don't blame Israel for the Arabs' inability to accept that fact.