[Abeja de Almirante]

No offence, but your solution shows how little you know about the topic.

No offence perceived or taken, but why would Israel give up land it conquered in war? Might as well ask the USA to give New Mexico and California back to Mexico, or Cuba back to Spain. Let's give Quebec back to France?

Forget about my solution, if you like, but what do you suggest? The example of Gaza's elected government supporting attacks against Israel will not give much support in Israel to giving the West Bank to the Palestinians.

 

[ganjavih]

No offence perceived or taken, but why would Israel give up land it conquered in war? Might as well ask the USA to give New Mexico and California back to Mexico, or Cuba back to Spain. Let's give Quebec back to France?

Bacause this is 2006 and hopefully most of us agree that stealing land is wrong. The US conquered Iraq... why don't they just keep it? And if Israel truly wants to annex the land they conquered, which is a legitimate option worthy of debate, then it's their responsibility to give the population full rights as Israeli citizens. Clearly, they're not willing to do that. You can't just grab the land and ship out the people.

There's no easy answer to the Arab-Israeli conflict, just as there's no easy answer to Kashmir or Northern Ireland. However, most experts believe that a future settlement would have to include a return to the pre-1967 borders (or some sort of land swap), East Jerusalem back to Palestine and some form of compensation (not a right of return) to those who were displaced upon Israel's creation.

 

[Abeja de Almirante]

However, most experts believe that a future settlement would have to include a return to the pre-1967 borders (or some sort of land swap), East Jerusalem back to Palestine and some form of compensation (not a right of return) to those who were displaced upon Israel's creation.

I may not have expert knowledge of the matter, but what does Israel gain in return for giving up the territory? The citizens of the new Palestinian country will likely remain as militant and anti-Israeli as today; it's poverty, not politics that's driving the anger. Israel IMO will not gain peace nor respect from the Arab world by giving up territory; as long as Israel exists, the Arab world will work toward its destruction.

 

[unimaginative2]

Then why have Egypt and Jordan scrupulously followed the peace treaties that they signed with Israel? The Arab countries are more than capable of making peace in good faith, if sufficient pressure is brought to bear in order to make a deal, something of which George W. Bush is quite incapable.

 

[blixa442]

It is Israel that is preventing a return to the 1967 borders, the Israeli government has repeatedly said that it won't happen.

By the same token one could say that Poland is refusing to return to pre-1945 borders, repeatedly insisting on occupying lands that belong to Germany.

 

[mpolo2]

"Who amongst thee are my favoured people: Jews, Christians, or Muslims? I dont know. I guess we will just have to see who wants it more." - Luke 1:11:04

Humour aside, (though in a situation like this...) - this is an endless debate. If you are Jewish, Arab (or a liberal arts student) you likely aren't really unbiased enough to give an objective opinion on this. And to be honest, it shows in the responses above. But if you feel like raging against the injustices perpetrated against your people (be that Jewish, Muslim or Christian) then fight away. An eye for an eye.

 

[unimaginative2]

That is a silly comparison, blixa. For one thing, Germany agreed (obviously under duress) to give up those lands, and they have renounced all claims to them.

 

[bizorky]

If you are Jewish, Arab (or a liberal arts student) you likely aren't really unbiased enough to give an objective opinion on this. And to be honest, it shows in the responses above. But if you feel like raging against the injustices perpetrated against your people (be that Jewish, Muslim or Christian) then fight away. An eye for an eye.

Liberal Arts students want a piece of the mid-east action?

I have always found it a tad bit ironic when those particularly religious citizens of Isreal make biblical claims for land when their own modern nation was founded largely upon secular principles. The entire modern middle east is made up of nations that were created in the 20th century by colonial powers. There is no "long historical past" to look to with respect to nationhood and national land claims.

So it is equally ironic when other national leaders make demands to go back to a specific date to reclaim national borders from the past. This constant pursuit of historical justifications for action is both dangerous and incendiary, yet now it is also going to be necessary in any peace process when the appropriate respect is applied.