The Tangled Course to Middle East Peace - Crisis and not Conflict

Although nations have severely criticized Israel's policies, approaches to resolution of the crisis have strongly favored Israel.

This favoritism has distorted the real issues and problems, including their definitions.

Misrepresentation of the problems has skewed the dialogue and deflected the discussions from a credible solution.

The fate of the Palestinian displaced persons and Hamas' participation in the proceedings are essential factors that need to be included in resolving the struggle.

The Palestinian state cannot be forced. Building institutions precedes construction of a viable state and prepares for negotiations to end any conflicts.


Favoring Israel
Despite continuous criticism of Israel's polices and a multitude of United Nations Resolutions charging Israel with violations of international law, western governments have permitted Israel to define the arguments of the crisis and set the agenda for its termination. Despite being aware that the United States would veto UN Security Council Resolutions, which might have forced Israel to modify its policies, nations have never prepared alternative means for accomplishing Resolution purposes. Just the opposite has occurred: Israel has pursued its program without interruption; characterized by land seizures, oppressive actions and settlements.

The psychological and political favoritism continues into the present. A few of thousands of biased instances:

Hundreds of mostly homemade rockets and mortars that struck southern Israel without a single casualty immediately before Operation Cast Lead are equated with Israel's more deadly blockade of Gaza and its well-placed missiles that killed about 1400 Palestinians, wounded about 5000, scarred the countryside and destroyed commerce.

The Palestinians, who are subjected to daily attacks and to control of their entire lives, lead one of the most insecure lives on the planet. Yet, the condition of Israel's security, regardless of its overpowering military force, which includes nuclear weapons, most concerns the western world.

Gilad Shalit, one captive Israeli soldier, receives periodic media attention to his plight, while 10,000 Palestinians, who languish in Israeli prisons without due process of law; are not publicized. These prisoners are only a portion of tens of thousands, or hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who have spent a major part of their lives in Israeli detention centers. Families without breadwinners. Children without fathers.

All attempts at peaceful settlement of issues contain discussions of how Israel can retain the territorial gains ruled illegal by the UN.

Even Israel's detractors couple their charges with the slogan: “It's good for Israel.”

Whereas western nations have reacted violently to virulent nationalism, militarism, land seizures and irredentism, they have tolerated Israel's inclusion of these characteristics in its agenda.

The world allies with most Arab governments to battle Islamic extremists. In Israel Judaic extremists are permitted to grow.

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