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One Palestine - from the river to the sea

Reader comment on item: Two Palestines, Anyone?

Submitted by Pat (United States), Jun 19, 2007 at 10:42

  • Israel's withdrawal from Gaza in mid-2005 deprived Gaza of its one stabilizing element.

    Who in Palestine wants peaceful co-existence with Israel?

    When Israel occupied Gaza with settlements it was pointed to as the cause for Paletinian violence. When Israel left Gaza - lock, stock and barrel - its decades-long occupation of Gaza was pointed to as the cause for Palestinian violence. It was as if Israeli occupation had done egregious damage to the Palestinian psyche which could never be undone. Not even the establishment of a separate Palestinian state can heal the wound. Some Gazans are said to be secretly hoping Israel will return. Why? So that they can point to it once again as an excuse for their own failures.

    Now President Bush has decided to release economic aid that has been blocked since the Hamas-led government refused to recognize Israel. (Contrary to popular myth, this aid was not blocked because the people voted for Hamas. It was blocked when Hamas refused to accept its responsibility as the governing body of Palestine.) Whom is this going to help except Hamas?

  • Bolstering Abbas and Fatah is really a case of picking the least worst terrorist with whom to work. It's misguided and it's shortsighted. Fatah is no less committed to the end of Israel than Hamas. How is Israel supposed to negotiate with a government that seeks its destruction?

    Fouad Ajami points out that Fatah and Hamas are pretty much two sides of the same coin. One is secular, the other Islamist, and there the differences end. Neither renounces violence. Neither recognizes Israel. Neither is interested in a Palestinian state that does not stretch "from the river to the sea".

    Submitting....

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    Reader comments (100) on this item

    Title Commenter Date Thread
    Correction: 3 Palestines: [26 words]M EAug 18, 2007 19:16106493
    Palestinian Shell Game [245 words]DebbieJul 17, 2007 16:26103866
    Poor Mickey Mouse [78 words]BlackspeareJul 5, 2007 20:42103056
    Islamist Mental Disability [185 words]YnnatchkahJul 3, 2007 02:44102497
    Good [2 words]JoeAug 16, 2013 10:02102497
    Gaza, the new Sudetenland redux [74 words]Jorgen GoderstadJun 27, 2007 12:37101773
    Gaza Strip-tease [136 words]Thomas Justin KazeJun 26, 2007 02:11101313
    both hamas and fatah wish to see Israel destroyed [121 words]Phil GreendJun 25, 2007 21:26101164
    Shut down the "Mosques.! [40 words]Tony DinesJul 25, 2007 20:16101164
    Poll Shows Palestinians want Israel "occupying" Gaza Again. [447 words]YnnatchkahJun 25, 2007 02:44100990
    I really have to laugh [74 words]Seamus MacNemiJul 2, 2007 02:47100990
    You are right, Seamus MacNemi [37 words]YnnatchkahJul 2, 2007 21:36100990
    Atificial state [245 words]DallasJun 24, 2007 23:14100984
    Great summary [64 words]Salomon BenzimraJun 23, 2007 23:05100586
    Fantasy land [121 words]arthurJun 22, 2007 15:04100387
    Strange Bedfellows II [103 words]BlackspeareJun 22, 2007 10:01100360
    Strange Bedfellows? [82 words]BlackspeareJun 21, 2007 08:58100038
    Two Palestines, Anyone? [57 words]S.C.PandaJun 21, 2007 05:3399917
    Two Palestines, Anyone? [826 words]Ed Melik, Esq.Jun 23, 2007 01:1599917
    Pipes points were vindicated [255 words]Amitabh TripathiJun 21, 2007 03:5399909
    Two Palestines, Anyone? [3898 words]Ed Melik, Esq.Jun 21, 2007 03:1499906
    Palestinians are Sowing what they Reaped [273 words]Mel LarawayJun 23, 2007 15:2999906
    Dear Ed Melik, Esq., why did you leave out Egypt from this puzzle? [307 words]MosheJun 24, 2007 04:4399906
    Ed Melik's rewrites history [703 words]InfidelJun 24, 2007 15:0599906
    Palestinians are reaping what they sowed [153 words]MosheJun 24, 2007 15:1899906
    perpetual refugees.. [72 words]donvanJun 25, 2007 11:3499906
    No more blame game, enough with the violence [523 words]Bryan JacksonJun 26, 2007 21:5699906
    Two Palestines, anyone? [614 words]Ed Melik, Esq.Jul 1, 2007 14:5099906
    That's quite a schpiel Mr. Malik [180 words]Seamus MacNemiJul 2, 2007 03:5999906
    Hamas & Fatah; Confusing the European Elite [90 words]David P.Jun 20, 2007 23:5199864
    Actually, that would be three "Palestines" now [6 words]DanJun 20, 2007 14:1199675
    Actually, it is four Palestinian States [175 words]Yuval Brandstetter MDJun 20, 2007 16:0299675
    Yuval, please don't try to scare us. [261 words]MosheJun 25, 2007 15:2299675
    Baruch haShem, eh Moishe? [17 words]Seamus MacNemiJul 2, 2007 04:2799675
    Nobody wants a Palestinian State in the Middle East--except George Bush [702 words]Martin KesslerJun 20, 2007 11:5799667
    Here We Go Again [125 words]BlackspeareJun 20, 2007 11:3299665
    1poor Israeli Jews will be sandwiched between Islamic Jehad , Muslim Fatah and Jehadi Hamas ! [97 words]ConcernsJun 20, 2007 09:5099646
    Hamas, Fata, Islami Jihad, Hezbolla - All jumping and screaming because they are not afraid of Israel [147 words]James BurkeJun 20, 2007 20:3599646
    ok right... [70 words]Hamri Al-AssadJun 21, 2007 21:5899646
    Why are you jealous of Israel Money and Resources [44 words]HirooJun 23, 2007 06:3999646
    Send Jimmy [85 words]LDCJun 20, 2007 08:1099634
    Would Mr Pipes or readers help me clarify these questions? Thank you! [265 words]TammyJun 20, 2007 02:2999612
    'Palestinian Roulette' - Opinion for Tammy - Who's on First. [597 words]M. ToveyJun 20, 2007 16:3699612
    Tammy - a few thoughts [562 words]PatJun 20, 2007 16:5699612
    Tammy's Questions [264 words]LDCJun 20, 2007 17:1599612
    To LDC [237 words]TammyJun 22, 2007 04:0899612
    To Pat. [317 words]TammyJun 22, 2007 04:3399612
    To M. Tovey [262 words]TammyJun 22, 2007 04:4299612
    Sick of war but have no other choice than to fight and hopefufly to finish the job this time [163 words]Seamus MacNemiJul 2, 2007 21:5799612
    To Seamus MacNemi [135 words]TammyJul 22, 2007 12:2699612
    Fatah and Hamas: Flip Sides of Same Arab Imperialism and Genocidalism [585 words]G. MarcusJun 19, 2007 23:2799602
    Gardens in the desert - I think not [226 words]David W. LincolnJun 19, 2007 23:0699597
    ONLY SOLUTION: GAZA TO EGYPT; WEST BANK PARTITIONED WITH JORDAN [232 words]MGJun 19, 2007 21:4099581
    Idiots in The US Executive Branch [58 words]Ralph C Whaley MDJun 19, 2007 20:0399567
    Yes and No [290 words]john w mcginleyJun 19, 2007 18:1299553
    two palestines? [120 words]ralph shapiroJun 19, 2007 17:1899550
    Shades Of Noam Chomsky [112 words]Seamus MacNemiJul 2, 2007 22:3099550
    Abbas/Hamas=peace/schmeece [134 words]Michele Solomon FrynckoJun 19, 2007 16:1199539
    Tactics, anyone? [138 words]Jascha KesslerJun 19, 2007 16:1099538
    Cutting off water and electricity = bad idea [124 words]Chris G.Jun 21, 2007 14:1799538
    A LIBERAL RESPONDS!!!! The Danger of Generalizing Fatah and Hamas [1115 words]Chris G.Jun 19, 2007 15:5499535
    No U turns. [77 words]MWJun 21, 2007 10:5699535
    to Chris G, the researcher and social scientist, and oh! the liberal [117 words]ASJun 25, 2007 02:4099535
    A LIBERAL RESPONDS TO MR. AS- Emotional responses are not logical, nor productive in problem solving. [1598 words]Chris G.Jun 26, 2007 01:3899535
    to Chris G [650 words]ASJun 27, 2007 01:5899535
    SIR, I have thoroughly enjoyed your presentation here. [134 words]Seamus MacNemiJul 2, 2007 23:3899535
    The Folly of Supporting Fatah and Abbas [35 words]Martin E. WeinsteinJun 19, 2007 15:5299534
    Two 'Palestines?' Not Likely! [545 words]M. ToveyJun 19, 2007 15:4199533
    2 Palestines, anyone [115 words]Steven LJun 19, 2007 15:3899532
    Why is Israel doing what it is doing? [82 words]freemanJun 19, 2007 14:3099520
    freeman, Israel is defending themselves [108 words]InfidelJun 19, 2007 15:0999520
    How to differentiate between a Moderate Terrorist and Militant Terrorist ?? Any suggestion / explanation Mr.Pipes ? [165 words]ThokarJun 20, 2007 09:4199520
    Sometimes doing nothing helps [98 words]freemanJun 20, 2007 21:4299520
    idiot savant [167 words]jan lapterJun 19, 2007 14:1399515
    Hamas Putsch Indeed Irrelevant [276 words]Lonely in KabulJun 19, 2007 14:0599514
    Fatah and Hamas [109 words]Donald W. BalesJun 19, 2007 14:0299512
    Israelis: Infested with Suicidal LIberalism [277 words]James BurkeJun 20, 2007 08:0799512
    A Blast of Fresh Air - How to Build on It? [800 words]Ron ThompsonJun 19, 2007 13:4599510
    HAMAS gunmen [85 words]Erkhum MustafaJun 19, 2007 13:0799505
    Agreed [216 words]davidJun 19, 2007 12:5599504
    Terrorists in the pay of? [85 words]pigfootJun 19, 2007 12:3299503
    Two Palestinians [211 words]Ernie LofthouseJun 19, 2007 12:2699502
    The difference between Hamas and Fatah - in feet [173 words]Mladen AndrijasevicJun 19, 2007 14:3099502
    Penalty [51 words]true believerJun 20, 2007 04:1799502
    Fatah: 'We will continue to strike any place, targeting their children as well..' [394 words]NiagaraDec 26, 2021 19:4199502
    Not a bad assessment Dr, Pipes, but one thing I have to point out [153 words]Bryan JacksonJun 19, 2007 11:1599496
    Two or Twenty Palestines [76 words]ErnieJun 19, 2007 10:4999495
    Moderates Malaysians and Islamists Talibaan united in chanting " Destroy Britain " [387 words]PanchoJun 20, 2007 09:4499495
    One Palestine - from the river to the sea [280 words]PatJun 19, 2007 10:4299492
    Two Palestines Anyone [17 words]Steve GureJun 19, 2007 10:3899490
    WHAT ABOUT 2 ISRAELI STATES? [103 words]LEOJun 19, 2007 10:2399363
    Both deadly to Israel's cause [39 words]John MorrisJun 19, 2007 10:1999361
    Question for all US Presidents and YOU! [44 words]W WalkerJun 19, 2007 09:3299359
    People only understand when their close member loses his life in Islamist Terror Attack [39 words]BaioirusJun 20, 2007 09:5699359
    two factions [196 words]true believerJun 19, 2007 09:2199357
    Where do all those M16's come from [44 words]Steven HessJun 19, 2007 09:1699355
    Double standards will only make US weaker ! [20 words]NickJun 20, 2007 10:0099355
    Age [132 words]MartyrMakerJun 19, 2007 09:1299354
    Reply to Martyr Maker [13 words]Seamus MacNemiJul 3, 2007 21:1299354
    one Palestine [48 words]samyJun 19, 2007 07:5699349

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