Everybody should care about this issue. If the whole Israel/Palestinian/Arab thing was settled decades ago there would never have been an Al Qaeda to attack us on 911.
How many people here actually, honestly care about this? I know it's a divisive issue and so good fodder for those who like to argue, but really?
No.Everybody should care about this issue. If the whole Israel/Palestinian/Arab thing was settled decades ago there would never have been an Al Qaeda to attack us on 911.
Strong is the ignorance in this one...Al Qaeda attacked us because of our strong, steadfast support of Israel. That is pretty much common sense. Why don't you read Bin Laden's "Letter to America". Maybe you missed that back in 2002? It bases attacks primarily on Israel and our support of them. Common sense does not require connecting the dots with facts, but here you go.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2002/nov/24/theobserver
"The creation and continuation of Israel is one of the greatest crimes, and you are the leaders of its criminals. And of course there is no need to explain and prove the degree of American support for Israel. The creation of Israel is a crime which must be erased. Each and every person whose hands have become polluted in the contribution towards this crime must pay its*price, and pay for it heavily"
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What a stupid comment, the Arabs recognized The Israeli state at the Annapolis conference.
PRESIDENT BUSH: The representatives of the government of the state of Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization, represented respective by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and President Mahmoud Abbas in his capacity as Chairman of the PLO Executive Committee and President of the Palestinian Authority, have convened in Annapolis, Maryland, under the auspices of President George W. Bush of the United States of America, and with the support of the participants of this international conference, having concluded the following joint understanding.
We express our determination to bring an end to bloodshed, suffering and decades of conflict between our peoples; to usher in a new era of peace, based on freedom, security, justice, dignity, respect and mutual recognition; to propagate a culture of peace and nonviolence; to confront terrorism and incitement, whether committed by Palestinians or Israelis. In furtherance of the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security, we agree to immediately launch good-faith bilateral negotiations in order to conclude a peace treaty, resolving all outstanding issues, including all core issues without exception, as specified in previous agreements.
We agree to engage in vigorous, ongoing and continuous negotiations, and shall make every effort to conclude an agreement before the end of 2008. For this purpose, a steering committee, led jointly by the head of the delegation of each party, will meet continuously, as agreed. The steering committee will develop a joint work plan and establish and oversee the work of negotiations teams to address all issues, to be headed by one lead representative from each party. The first session of the steering committee will be held on 12 December 2007.
President Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert will continue to meet on a bi-weekly basis to follow up the negotiations in order to offer all necessary assistance for their advancement.
The parties also commit to immediately implement their respective obligations under the performance-based road map to a permanent two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict, issued by the Quartet on 30 April 2003 -- this is called the road map -- and agree to form an American, Palestinian and Israeli mechanism, led by the United States, to follow up on the implementation of the road map.
The parties further commit to continue the implementation of the ongoing obligations of the road map until they reach a peace treaty. The United States will monitor and judge the fulfillment of the commitment of both sides of the road map. Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, implementation of the future peace treaty will be subject to the implementation of the road map, as judged by the United States.
The objectives of the conference were in an attempt to produce a substantive document on resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict along the lines of President George W. Bush's Roadmap For Peace, with the eventual establishment of a Palestinian state. A draft document was leaked by Haaretz on November 17, 2007,[3] with the final and forthcoming Annapolis Joint Declaration expected to outline the scope of what will eventually be final peace talks.[4]
Seems fairly one sided to me - all for recognition by the Arabs but not the Palestinians and stopping of the terrorist attacks.What are the Issues
- A declaration of what?
Several months ago, the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships resolved to reach an agreed joint document ahead of the conference. However, the hopes for this document have been consistently downgraded over the course of time: Original thoughts of hammering out a highly-detailed framework agreement gave way to an effort to reach a so-called declaration of principles. However, due to Israeli reticence (see Israel above), the document under consideration is now even less ambitious, being termed a declaration of interests by Olmert. Israel would like to see the more serious negotiations postponed until after the conference. The Palestinians, on the other hand, want to pack as many details as possible into the document in order to justify their attendance of the conference.- Settlements: The Palestinians are demanding an immediate freeze on construction in Israels West Bank settlements, along with the evacuation of the wildcat outposts, as well as several government-supported settlements. Israel has made no specific commitments on this issue. In previous years, it has committed to evacuating the outposts, but has failed to implement this commitment, primarily due to domestic political constraints. In the past, it had agreed to halt settlement construction only after the Palestinian terrorist organizations were disarmed and disbanded. Under a final-status deal, Israel would likely be prepared to dismantle outlying settlements, while seeking to annex those lying close to the Green Line.
- Borders: The Palestinians want the declaration to state that the future border will be based on the 1967 lines. They are prepared for an exchange of territory with Israel, but want to limit this to 2%-3% of the West Bank in order to prevent the West Banks cantonization. Israel is willing to relinquish the majority of the West Bank, but has made no specific proposal as to future borders, preferring to defer this question to future negotiations. Unofficially, some Israeli leaders have indicated that they want a border based on the route of the separation barrier, encompassing 6%-8% of the West Bank, and including the majority of the settler population; it has been suggested
that Israel would cede in exchange a roughly equal amount of its sovereign territory.- Safe Passage: The Palestinians seek to have sovereignty over a safe passage corridor that would link the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Due to security concerns, Israel has historically objected to full Palestinian sovereignty over this corridor. Greater flexibility has been noted of late, with unofficial reports that this corridor might be the land ceded in exchange for parts of the West Bank.
- Refugees: The Palestinians want Israel to recognize its responsibility for the suffering of the Palestinian refugees and to compensate them. Although they have not surrendered their claim for a right of return for all Palestinian refugees, press reports indicate that such a concession would be possible. Almost the entire Jewish population of Israel rejects the right of return, regarding it as equivalent to a call for Israels destruction. Israel would be willing to see Palestinian refugees return to a future Palestinian state, and reports indicate that Olmert might consider token refugee return to sovereign Israel under the heading of family reunification.
- Jerusalem: The Palestinians want to see East Jerusalem, including the Old City, as the capital of the Palestinian state and under full Palestinian sovereignty. Reports indicate that they are willing to have the joint declaration state more generally that East Jerusalem will be the capital of Palestine and west Jerusalem the capital of Israel. On the Israeli side, Vice Prime Minister, Haim Ramon, has been leading the effort to prepare Israeli public opinion for significant concessions on Jerusalem. Ramons plan, which Olmert has not rejected, calls for relinquishing most of the Palestinian Arab neighborhoods of Jerusalem. Less clear are his plans for the Old City and the holy places, including the Temple Mount. A few reports suggest willingness for some concessions on the Old City, in addition to vague special arrangements for the holy sites. One report even suggests that Jordan would be given guardianship over the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif. Support for Ramons ideas seems to be gradually gaining ground among Israeli political leaders.
As for their previous Israeli friends in Turkey, Jordon, and Egypt, Bozo Netanyuhu has alienated them in the space of a single year.
If the Federal government did not act the way it did/does, then there would have been no al-qaeda to attack us on 9/11/01.Everybody should care about this issue. If the whole Israel/Palestinian/Arab thing was settled decades ago there would never have been an Al Qaeda to attack us on 911.
Cherry picking? This document was the SOLE product of the conference. In fact, this document was the sole PURPOSE of the conference. Yet your claim is that what Rice said to the American people about the conference is what the Arabs agreed to?As Shira said, "The bolded statement is NOT a recognition of the State of Israel. It's at a statement that the parties will engage in negotiations to work toward the goal of a two-state solution." But that ignores many Condi Rice stated goals. In other words, you are only cheery picking documents.
However, progress at the Annapolis Conference would have carried with it signed agreements that the surrounding Arab States recognize Israel right to exist within 1967 borders. And instead, Israel choose not to make any concessions that would have led to that end. While also settling and settling on disputed lands.
Its why most of the world no longer trusts Israel and any any progress on a negotiated solution probably will not occur until a Israeli complete settlement freeze will likely be forced on Israel regardless of how the USA feels.
Right now, all Israeli claims to disputed territories, rests on a continuation of its 44 year over extended military occupation. Don't you all think 44 years is way way way too long?
As long as the Government of Israel is ruled by Netanyuhu, and his coalition of crazed settler parties, peace and progress between Arab, Palestinians, and Israelis will not occur until either one or the another condition occurs. (a) Rational Israelis give Bozo Netanyuhu and his coalition of crazed idiots the ole heave ho.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Is the Netanyuhu regime really any more hard-line than Shamir in '88 or Rabin in '92? I recognize that it is desuctive and convenient to brand an opponant deranged or irrational but there isn't a great deal of difference between the 'crazy' Netanyuhu and the rational Rabin that helped lay a foundation for peace.
Furthermore, Netanyuhu has indicated that Israel is willing to negotiate; Abbas has indicated that unless his preconditions are met then he is unwilling to negotiate. So why are you blaming Natanyuhu? Moreover, why should Israel stop building in Jeruselum? I understand some of the outer-reaches of the West Bank but why is Abbas insisting on a complete freeze?
Abbas has rejected a deal wherein Palestine would get 98% of the pre-1967 borders -- with the difference would be made up through swaps -- and would have sovereignty in East Jerusalem. Yet this is the fault of Netanyuhu? Care to explain?
Ahem..Pissing contests are due to revision of historical facts for the purpose of justification of your position.
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the Palestinians have been offered a solution multiple times; their handlers say NO.
Having:Israel originally asked for one thing - peace.
These continued state actions and policy of Israel are all high crimes and an insurance for the continuation of protest and insurgency.
This is an out and out lie. A shameless lie. The Arabs in no way shape or form recognized the Israeli state at this conference. The ONLY product of the conference was the following joint statement, read by President Bush:
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Joint_Understanding_Read_by_President_Bush_at_Annapolis_Conference
The bolded statement is NOT a recognition of the State of Israel. It's at a statement that the parties will engage in negotiations to work toward the goal of a two-state solution.
If your grasp of history is so loose that you interpret this document as the Arabs recognizing the state of Israel (and note that Hamas protested the conference, so using "Arabs" is already a huge distortion), then NOTHING you write about the Arab-Israeli conflict can be believed.
You're a fvcking liar.
Upon Palestine, outside of the state of Israel, Israel is internationally sanctioned as the aggressor. Yet those who continue to fling shit on the wall, such as Eagle Keeper, keep running away from existing threads where the his and others' proclamations of Israeli expansionist actions and desires as just while the backwards Orwellian portrayal of the Palestinians as the perpetual aggressors upon Israel, and thereby receiving their due. Such points have been defeated upon legal, moral, ethical, and practical terms in numerous past threads... Hence a run away into a new thread as this to argue anew with the same BS propaganda talking points whilst ignoring the true reality on the ground. :thumbsdown:
Ahem..
Having:
... are not terms for peace.
- one's land colonised
- native people displaced
- demands for it to be militarily occupied by a foreign force into perpetuity
- domestic checkpoints manned and controlled by the foreign belligerent
- domestic natural resources (ie. water) controlled and managed by foreign aggressors
- and a key demand of the enforced demilitaralisation of the domestic state
Any rational person in this world would expect the subjugated to react.
That the current Palestinian Authority is acting legally and reasonably within the confines of international law and diplomacy is of little consequence to the criminally inclined bigots who support Israeli displacement and subjugation of Palestinians. To the them, the same unreasonable dogma is repeated into insulting ad nauseum -- Israel must do as it needs as Arabs/Muslims are wicked for their incompetence and absolute hatred for Jews.
Those advocates for the continuation of Israeli Zionist expansion are morally and legally bankrupt.
These continued state actions and policy of Israel are all high crimes and an insurance for the continuation of protest and insurgency.
The state of Israel desires this. As Germany of the 1930s the to expand and consolidate power, Israeli state strategy needs a visible enemy. Israel continues enacting such instigating stances of the status quo in order to foster and fabricate a PR security climate to continue international crimes of aggression. Israel does not desire a resolution until it obtains all the the territory that is yet to be annexed under a long lambasted historic state policy of lebensraum.
Your consistently predictable tit-for-tat arguments for the impossible chicken before the egg line of debating are strong evidence for the morally bankrupt side you choose.Ignoring that the Palestinians along with the Arabs attempted to destroy Israel multiple times.
'Marching', Macamus Prime? Surely you are not envisioning the IDF goose-stepping across Palestine?It's just one rabid dog that is stronger than the other rabid dog.
Give it a few more years and all the land will be occupied by Israel - the Israeli's march in and out of Palestinian land as they please. So, hopefully soon, we can all put this "issue" to rest.
Deportation by cattle car as by the Germans or by forced marches into starvation as by the Ottomans?Push the Palestinians into the Sinai and let them make a country there.
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Take back the Sinai by force if you have to and put ALL of the Palestinians there.
'Marching', Macamus Prime? Surely you are not envisioning the IDF goose-stepping across Palestine?
Interesting how often a free pass from critique those who advocate genocide receive on this forum.
You are confused and/or ashamed to admit for what your record displays:I don't advocate genocide.
The statement of 'hoping' is most certainly an advocation. Your words, and theme of desiring high crimes are consistent with your past posts.Give it a few more years and all the land will be occupied by Israel - the Israeli's march in and out of Palestinian land as they please. So, hopefully soon, we can all put this "issue" to rest.
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What will happen is that the stronger side will wipe out the weaker side - as they have been doing since the 60s.
Israel ceasing occupation and colonisation of territory outside of its borders is certainly a root to a solution. Only Israel is in control to choose such an plausible avenue to peace.How does that even get fixed?