Future of Palestina

Submitted by Demsci (Netherlands), Mar 14, 2009 at 04:54

According to my biblical upbringing it was really the area of Gaza where the Filistines lived and Palestina was the name given to Israel by the Romans after they suppressed the Jewish uprising of around 135 AD. This was the Roman derivation of Philistina. (I also heard Arafat pronounce an F instead of a P when he talked about Palestinians).

In that period the Romans killed, enslaved or chased out the Jewish majority and Palestine became a Roman, Christian country, which in approx. 640 AD was conquered by force by the Muslims. Now we have some sort of a new state, Gaza, that does have a clear Palestinian population, albeit very overcrowded and miserable.

But, in theory, this state could exist independently, like Singapore. If we are to have ideals, then one of those may be an independent Gaza that is democratic and prosperous. When the Gazans would see that they are on the road to that, maybe, just maybe, they would not want to jeopardize that by provoking Israel. Basically both Gaza and Israel could leave each other alone.

And it does stand to reason that a democratic, prosperous Gaza would refrain from violence against Israel; according to Thomas Friedman Israel won the Lebanon war in 2006, because Hezbollah did not interfere in 2009, because Israel struck back so ferociously then! Their "suicidal stupidity" was pointed out to Hezbollah by the other Lebanese; What the hell were you thinking, they asked! What you did was like pulling the tail of a sleeping Lion! No wonder it strikes! When Gaza is truly on the path upwards, warring with Israel would destroy this progress. I think Israel already follows a policy of letting Gaza become an independent democratic prosperous state.

But this may also be possible with allowance of weapons smuggling, to the full hearts content of HAMAS! (They then still would not stand a chance against the IDF!) Because in the end the Gazans would oppose attacks on Israel themselves! But essential for this is that the world lets Israel retaliate ferociously every time those fundamentalists attack it. While at the same time, Israel could guarantee full coöperation when Gaza is enough "harmless".

This gives the Gazans, and the world, clear choices. The Palestinians could continue resistance in the West Bank, but Gaza should become neutral. After all, they might reason, is a prosperous Gaza not an even worthier opponent of the Israeli enemy? Moreover, with "Gaza out of the way" is peace for Israel + the West Bank not so much closer? I believe in the ultimate common sense of the Gazans, that they will choose for the outside help, want to grow out of the profound misery they are now in, on condition to leave Israel alone! After all, this is the logical behavior of almost all states, most of the time.

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