Comments on: News From the Israeli and Palestinian Front: April 14th

By: human league

human league — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 08:36:09 +0000

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By: Jim_Satterfield

Jim_Satterfield — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 02:33:27 +0000

If a majority of Israelis want peace, could agree on the approximate terms they consider acceptable and find a single candidate/party to support to achieve that goal then it is possible. It is also the only way it will happen. With the highly fragmented Israeli polity every government for years has had to work hard to build a governing coalition. This has inevitably meant that they need to take positions that won't alienate the settler movement and their supporters. Only by rolling back the settlements drastically can peace be attained. I don't think it will happen any time soon.

By: runasim

runasim — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 22:30:26 +0000

I understand the fears of Israelis. My best friend and much of her extended family live in Jerusalem; some llive in Tel Aviv. Her two sons fought recently in Lebanon. I hear from some of them regularly Her family is divided on many specifics, but they all want peace.

I wonder lately if the Israeli leadership sincerely wants peace, or if they're simply gambling on their ability to shape the future unilaterally.

Carter is not acting in an official capacity. so he can't make anyy promises on behalf of any government.
What are Rice and Peres worried about?
The peace process that they claim he will disrupt is going nowhere. Do they want
to protect its failure?

I doubt Carter will have much success. But I admire his willingness to lay his reputation on the line in an attempt to jump start some movement. Even if he can only do something for the captive Shalit, that would make this worthwhile.

Not talking has accomplished nothing. Maybe it's time to try something new. Even if Carter accomplishes absolutely nothing, it's better to try and fail that to later regret not having tried one possible road to what everyone wants: to llive in peace.