If it was down to me, I'd bang both their heads together. I'd plant 100 bombs in the Jewish quarter, 100 in the Arab quarter, put everyone of influence in a room and lock the door.
Slipper,
You're quite right in saying that both sides need to talk.Not sure about the bombs idea though.:unsure:
Unfortunately Israel has so far refused to recognise Hamas as the democratically elected voice of the Palestinian people.
Just as we sat down and negociated with Sinn Fein and Botha first talked with Mandella for De Klerk to later recognise the ANC so Israel will eventually have to do the same with Hamas.
Correct me if i'm wrong but wasn't Mandela in prison for about 25 years, and released for about 10 before any talks took place? Didn't the IRA declare (and keep to) a ceasefire before any talks took place?
And you're still advocating that Israel talks to an organisation that only controls half the Palestinian lands (by fear) and even then only for about 5-odd years? In that time there hasn't been any ceasefire, and it is still part of the Hamas constitution to wipe Israel from the face of the earth? Even Fatah don't talk to Hamas, so why should Israel?
Even at the height of the troubles the IRA never had a goal of ridding the world of England. There simply is no comparison, and to try and make one shows a lack of understanding.
Even at the height of the troubles the ANC never wanted to rid South Africa of whites. There simply is no comparison, and to try and make one shows a lack of understanding.
IMO posterity will also judge that Israel missed an historic opportunity to reach agreement with Yassar Arrafat's moderate PLO.
Moderate that is in comparison with Hamas.
I think you mean less extreme Fatah (the name of the PLO). However, you also seem to be re-writing history here. Everyone agreed, it was Arafat that reneged on the deal. Even the rest of the Arab world were annoyed with him.
Here's some quotes from your "moderate" Yassir Arafat:
Peace for us means the destruction of Israel. We are preparing for an all-out war, a war which will last for generations.
The victory march will continue until the Palestinian flag flies in Jerusalem and in all of Palestine.
We plan to eliminate the state of Israel and establish a purely Palestinian state. We will make life unbearable for Jews by psychological warfare and population explosion. We Palestinians will take over everything, including all of Jerusalem.