The Palestinian State

[undertakermat_49]

This is a very volatile topic, so please as passionate as you may be do NOT be aggressive. The Palestinian Authority will soon request statehood at the U.N.. It is very unclear as to whether or not any peaceful resolution will come from this ongoing conflict (really going back to the First World War), especially since a new era of bloodshed is looming. What do you propose as a way to ease the tension between the Palestinians and Israelis?

[dr2005]

It's not going to solve the situation in the Middle East by any stretch of the imagination, but I do think instilling some kind of equality of bargaining power into the equation is the only way to inject some life into the stagnant peace process. For one, it may encourage the current Israeli government to take talks seriously rather than set unreasonable demands and then claim it's all the Palestinians fault. That all being said, negotiated settlement is the only way this is ever going to be resolved fully, but I think the biggest change necessary is to break the US-Israeli stranglehold on the process. 21 years and by all accounts zero progress does not exactly speak volumes for their efforts, and I think it's time to try something new.

I also feel the USA threatening to use its veto is going to undermine any credibility it has left in the Middle East and would be a complete tactical misjudgement.

[Anthropomorphic]

Originally Posted by dr2005

I also feel the USA threatening to use its veto is going to undermine any credibility it has left in the Middle East and would be a complete tactical misjudgement.

Unfortunately, the United States has backed itself into a corner here. They want to improve relations throughout the Middle East (especially following the Arab Spring uprising, with revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, as well as revolts and mass demonstrations in Yemen and Syria). The reasons for wanting and needing better relations are vast and complex, but I'm sure everyone on this site knows the bare basics of at least a few of these reasons.

While we're trying to appear as open to the rapidly changing region as possible, we're also sitting on a proverbial powder keg of backing Israel with what appears to be little more than blind faith at times. While I think most of us can agree that select members of Hamas launching rockets and other attacks from Palestine into Israel is hardly helpful for peace talks or negotiation, the fact is that Israel is consistently pushing for new settlements in the West Bank, while intentionally blocking aid to Gaza (most infamously, the fight aboard the aid flotilla in the Mediterranean last year). When factoring the fact that the United States' loose ally Turkey is now giving intent of protecting flotilla ships from Cyprus to Gaza, things get even more complicated in protecting Israeli interests at all costs.

Palestine, along with its allies and supporters in Syria, Iran, Jordan and elsewhere would interpret a U.S. veto as a direct affront to a commitment of ensuring peace in the Middle East and standing up for oppressed peoples (Palestinians and many other nations, groups and individuals consider the people of Palestine to be oppressed by Israel).

[Casey.]

There is not much to ease the tension between the two groups except by convincing them that they are more similar than they think, which probably won't work. Although there was a video documentary on that. Anyway. I honestly think the US needs to stay out of it and let Israel and Palestine work this out with the help of the U.N or on their owns. But without the U.S poking their nose into it. Palestine has every right to become a state. It should have happened long ago.

[✖Ice✖]

Palestinians need to work out something with the Israeli government..

[Anthropomorphic]

Originally Posted by ✖Truth✖

Palestinians need to work out something with the Israeli government..

That would be easier to do if Israel wasn't trying to push settlements in the West Bank and evicting Palestinian civilians all the time.

[Sythan]

Both parties need to stop whining like a bunch of bitches and figure something out. If they don't, then it will be Israel who comes out on top, and there will be no hope of a Palestinian State anywhere in its borders.

[Acheron]

Originally Posted by ✖Truth✖

Palestinians need to work out something with the Israeli government..

The current Israeli government has absolutely no interest in negotiating. Netanyahu has made that crystal clear by refusing to restrain the settlers. Thing is, the Israeli right benefits from an ongoing conflict with the Palestinians. There's no chance of the Jews being driven into the sea as there was in 1948, but so long as the siege mentality continues, Israeli voters will keep voting for parties that take a tough line on Palestine. With the Americans unwilling to confront Israel, the two-state solution simply won't happen unless Palestine wins recognition at the UN. Which it won't.

[Guile]

I have nothing against the Jewish/Jews, but I do support Palestine, they rightfully had the land before it was stolen away from them, and as such, I am fully behind this notion.