In the Troubled Middle East, Obama Will Confront Multiple Crises

palestinian problem

you can't have peace talks leading to statehood with a divided palestinian entity, where one part wants to destroy Israel.giving up more land won't solve that problem.

The Middle East and Peace

Middle East culture and civilization is very old and very complex,it has been a crossroad or meeting of east and west or of the orient and the occident ,for many hundreds of years the Turks dominated the area which changed after the first world war.....then the british and the french shared power etc....after the israeli's created their own nation in 1948,the sparks began to fly because the Islamic people and others did not like the presence of Jews and others in their back yard...now we have a new president,who does not have much experience in world affairs, and it is hoped that he will listen to both sides befor he tells others what to do to make him happy.....Cordially...

Cancer of the Middle East

All chroinc problems in the Middle East being in Lebanon, Afganistan, Iraq or Palestine are generated by one malicious power house named Israel. The unlimited support of the US to Israel from 1948 till now ,and the illegal creation of Israel on the ruins of Palestine, has led to unmatched state of disappointment and despair in the Middle East, which in turn has led to the creation of terrorist groups who are ready to sacrifice their own bodies in a holy war agianst Israel and US interests, not only in the Middle East but all over the world.

What do we expect from a palestinian refugee who has been deprived of all his belongings and thrown out of his country to live in a refugee camp for more than 60 years now.

The war in Iraq is nothing but an Israeli war unfortunately fought with US blood and US taxpayer's money.It is time for the US admin to wake up to the real cause of all problems in the area and to change its foreign policy categorically.

Stupidity strikes again...

sam of nj is a real ninny, ladies and gentlemen. Doesn't he realize that the United Nations is not a global government system and therefore it can not really claim any nation illegal. As for Palestini refugees, if sam would take the time to read a book, the Israelis offered the refugees to come back. However, after getting their butts kicked in the first Arab-Israeli conflict, many Palestinians ran away fearing retribution. Those that did remain created Arabic political parties and maintained their material posessions.

As for apartheid, what does he think Iran and militant Palestini groups like Hamas are wanting to do to the Israelis? Give them a hug and forget their own genocidal proclamations?

Ladies and gentlemen, the way I see it is this: Israel has surprisingly survived every attack made against and all the land she has right now are her spoils from defeating an aggressive enemy. If anyone should be grumbling about unfair treatment, it should be the Israelis for being portrayed as genocidal maniacs by the media and people like sam. Israel has the right to defend itself and take over land that has shown to be hostile to her.

Illegal State

Israel was admitted by UN as a member state under reolution 273.However its admittace was conditional and only upon iplementation of resolutions 181 and 194 which clearly call for the return of all Palestinian refugees to their homes and belongings and to limit the borders of the new state as per resolution 181. Since Israerl until now refuses the return of Palestinian refugees and has expanded its borders far beyond the territories specified in resolution 181,it should not be considered a member state anymore.In fact it nothing but abunch of illegal military gangs whose only game is to practice all kinds of aparthaid aganist all non jews and to kill as many Palestinians as they can everday.

Sam, you're crazy as ever!

Israel became a nation because the European countries after WWII felt sorry for the Jews and all they had to go through during the Holocaust. So they tried to give reparations by granting Zionists a strip of desert land in 1948. Israel becomes a nation and the next we have the very first Arab-Israeli conflict.

Now why did we have this war? After all, the Zionists were only allotted and occupied a small part of Palestine and had yet to have Jerusalem in their territory. Plus, the Palestinians were promised their own little country with Jerusalem being an international city. Sounds good, so what was the problem? Well, the Arab nations have racial and religious qualms about there being Jewish state in their midst. In biblical words, the sons of Ishmael and the sons of Isaac don't like each other. So the Arab nations told the Palestinians that it was a disgrace and intolerable to have Jewish neighbors come into their land to live. The only way of course to regain honor is to fight the Zionists. The Palestinis foolishly agreed.

So during this first conflict, the Arab nations and there armies were defeated by a small group of Zionists that had no help from any other nation like the US or Britain. Then, the Palestinis who were afraid of retribution left their own homes fled to their "ally" nations hoping they'd find sympathy. Those that stayed created their own political parties and retained their property. Looks like the reason the Arabs are having problems is their own fault.

Sam, read your history. It might help you from looking like a fool.

Palestine+Israel=Palisra

Israel never wanted peace with the Palestinians.They just want to keep killing more and more Palestinians everday hoping that desperate Palestinians will eventually leave the country and take refuge somewhere else.This is not going to happen regardless of this ruthless and systematic genocide. Palestinians have stood against all European Invaders during the Crusades in the 12th. centry while the Zionist neo invaders were hiding in Europe making business and hoaring money. Throughout all their history,Palestinians never gave in to foreign invaders.The only solution for this chronic Dlemma is establishing one secular country on all the land of Historical Palestine for Jews,Moslems and Christians with equal rights and responsibilities and without any kind of descrimination.

Sam, you silly goose!

How on earth do you expect the Palestinis and the Israelis to play pretty?

"Give'em a secular nation that they can unite behind!" Mmhmmm...

So you mean to say that Hamas, Hezzbolah, and all the other radical Arab militants are going to stop the jihad and actual act civil with their Jewish neighbors? Call me crazy, but that is not going to happen.

The reason Hamas and people like them exist is because they gain the sympathy and control of their people by proclaiming themselves as the lone heroic fighters defending the Palestinis from the big-bad Israelis. If they lose the ability to fight for the Palestini homeland, they lose power over the people.

"But that's why they need to have this Palisra! To get rid of their power! If we get Palisra, the fighting will end!"

No it won't. So Palisra is created and what do you suppose Hamas and friends are going to do? Move all those who aren't Arabs out of their homes and possibly begin a genocide/apartheid of their own. (Funny, but don't you typically and falsely accuse Israel for doing the samething?) Why? Because they will want to stay in power and a unified land will only agitate them more into gaining control of the populace.

No Sam, the best thing to do is to let Israel deal with her problems by crushing groups like Hamas and deciding whether or not to give the Palestinis autonomy. Also, the Israelis had to win the small strip of land that they have now. I do believe they have earned the right as the victors in keeping it.

PALISRA

PALISRA is the only feasible and lasting solution to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Both Israelis and Palestinians have been fighting and killing each other for more than 60 years now and unfortunately, no light could be seen at the end of this dark tunnel.

The geography and demography of the area that extends between River Jordan and the Mediterranean indicate the complexity of the current situation. Every party is trying hard to grab by mere force what is in the hand of the other. Many wars have been waged and thousands of innocent lives have been shed for this purpose.

Nowadays, almost everybody is talking about setting up two countries for both Israelis and Palestinians. This simply means that the land of historical Palestine will be divided between the two parties, Israelis and Palestinians.

I doubt very much that either party will be satisfied with his share of the cake. There are chronic problems like Jerusalem, refugees, settlements, borders, water resources that nobody on earth can sort out to the satisfaction of both parties.

The short vision of setting up two separate states could sow the seeds for more bloody conflicts in the future. Nobody can guarantee or secure permanent and lasting peace under this proposition.

A far better viable solution that should satisfy both parties and put an end to all complicated issues is available. It is the establishment of one secular country for all on the whole territory of historical Palestine that includes the West Bank and Gaza besides Israel. Jerusalem will remain united for both parties, settlements could remain where they are now provided an appropriate compensation is made to the original land owners, natural geographical borders are already in place for the whole country and the issue of refugees could be settled by allowing all refugees to return home and to be compensated for the 60 years of misery they had to spend at refugee camps. All citizens of the new state, PALISRA (Palestine +Israel), would enjoy equal rights and bear the same responsibilities.

The newly established state, PALISRA will emerge as a prosperous and safe country within a very short period of time, and citizens of this state will learn how to tolerate,respect and even cherish each other. PALISRA will become a key player and an integral part of the Middle East as yesterday's enemies will become today's friends and allies for ever.

THE AFGHANISTAN, PAKISTAN SOLUTION SAME AS IRAQ

Iraq corner was turned, according to one view, by finally convincing the Sunni clans and tribes to stop fighting the government and join the reunification forces. The same can be done in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They are just called the Taliban and are considered the far right of the Muslims. Pakistan is already doing, according to the news reports.

May sound like money bribes but it is not essentially any different than is done with the initial supporters. This has to be the best solution. The Bush administration did not at first see it with Iraqi Sunnis. The Iraqi Kurds took the initiative on their own, and for all intents and purposes this is the same.