PEACE PLAN

Submitted by R. DAVID SAXANOFF (United States), Apr 30, 2010 at 06:36

Dr. Pipes proffers an interesting idea indeed and it is probably true. However, the simple plan is attempting to deal with a problem that is more complicated than it appears. Admittedly I do not know or understand all of the variables involved, but I see enough of them to realize that this simple idea, which I would like to see enacted, most likely cannot be.

The Palestinian goal for statehood and the removal of Israel, while it is their goal, it is a goal that is not really desired by the other players not mentioned, and the Israeli victory envisioned here is also not desired by these very same players. Who are these players, oil producing countries and their customers, the very same people who contribute resources to both sides of the conflict and after sixty plus years, have maintained the conflict by rewarding it. Thus the truth, or the real intentions, are always known by the behavior of the players. To assure neither side gives up its struggle.

The secondary gains for this struggle is more important tot he world players than the struggle itself. It continuously serves the political ambitions of the world leaders as the gallic wars served caesar. I do not believe the United States, EU, Russia, Iran , any of the Arab kings and religious leaders want the conflict to end. As a political international issue ripe for diplomacy and exploitation it has no equal, except perhaps nuclear proliferation. I won't even get into the notion that hte Middle East war has become a massively popular spectator sport like mixed martial arts contests, where victory is always fleeting and the will to win is seldom broken.

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".