I got a delightful and practical view of war from a Dane - I think in Odense not far from Copenhagen. He told me that Denmark went to war against practically everyone. Then, the Danes noticed that after every war Denmark was smaller. So, they stopped going to war.
The experience of Israel was different. Israel defended itself against attack, preemptively the second time, and got bigger. As I've said earlier, it gave the Israelis a buffer zone - particularly at the waist of the country - that if I were a general I would like as a protection against the next attack. It's an old military adage that you should fight your war somewhere else. Never on your home turf.
The Israelis are not going to give up Israel and go to central Africa or something. They are a fixture - in spite of the fact that the Arabs refuse to recognize her. As I've mentioned, their children are taught that the area known as Israel is really Palestine. That's what their maps show. This is perhaps why the Arab States have never recognized Palestine as a separate state. They prefer the present state of flux and do very little to help.
In fact, they appear to hinder any progress - promoting Hamaas and making Arafat's life pretty miserable.
About the only way to get through the present impasse is for us to persuade Israel voluntarily to withdraw from the West bank. We could perhaps achieve this if the US were to write a mutual defence treaty with Israel. If either is attacked, the other rushes to help.
Major problem is the Jewish settlements in the acquired areas. How many people are involved? How many Jews would need to be relocated in Israel? Is it a few thousand, tens of thousands - what number would need a new home inside Israel?
Perhaps part of any deal would be a requirement that the Arab states redraw their maps to show Israel. Actually, it would be interesting to see the reaction of the Arab leaders to a possible withdrawal. I suspect they would not support it (except openly for PR purposes).
Nor would the settlers necessarily agree. The Jews have a history of displacement, eviction, pogroms. (Most affecting to me was the show "Fiddler on the Roof". To see the people you have begun to know and enjoy forced to leave their homes was poignant.)
Then there is the attachment of people to their land - a profound characteristic of humanity. On the other hand, I understand many young Israelis are not enthusiastic about staying far from the attractions of the cities. The ones who wish to stay put may be the middle-aged and old settlers - but they may be persuaded.
Back in the 60's I had a radio program called Dialogue. I decide to have a special program "The Arab-Israeli Dialogue". There were plenty who would speak for the Israelis, but I had trouble finding a Palestinian. I didn't want student hotheads not interested in dialogue. Finally, I found a Palestinian surgeon and we finished with a pretty good and sensible meeting of minds.
I went on to other things, but I believe Pacifica continued with a series of Arab-Israeli Dialogues.
So, I have been in contact with this a long time - and it seems insoluble.
On the other hand, the Northern Ireland "troubles" seemed insoluble - but now offer some hope of resolution.
Harry
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Karen wrote:
Chris, here is an interesting commentary on the Barghouti trial from Ha'aretz today, along with their Editorial endorsing restraint against Hussein if Israel is attacked first. Below, Chris Patten, the EU commissioner also writes Cousins and Strangers: the US and EU, for those interested. - KWCHAARETZ/GIDEON SAMET/JEWISH BRAINS IN CHAINS @ http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=220933&contrassID =2&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y Opening paragraphs: "A government eager for a show trial; a Palestinian leader accused of murder; a judge with a feisty personality; a lawyer who didn't inherit his grandfather's best genes; an atmosphere charged with pain and desire for revenge. With ingredients like that, it couldn't be a tasty stew. But that's what's cooking at the pointless trial of Marwan Barghouti in Tel Aviv. Again, it has become clear that nothing in Israeli life, even the white-as-snow courts, can escape the stain of 35 years of corrupting occupation. Not even common sense has survived. Barghouti, 43 years old, was kidnapped half a year ago and is now being tried for killing 12 Israelis and wounding about 100. Even the army and the government, who prefer quicker ways of neutralizing terror activists, realized it was best not to gun down the leader of the Tanzim and the Al-Aqsa Brigade. He is a member of the Palestinian parliament, a strongman around the Palestinian Authority and an Oslo supporter. Assassinating him would set off a God-awful mess. The government decided on a trial (although the Shin Bet disagreed). Someone less rash might have told it that show trials also give the accused an opportunity to open a big mouth. Barghouti, of course, denied that the state has any right to prosecute him, and sounded off in front of the cameras. Actually - and no demagogic protests will help - he said what the members of the Jewish underground said when they were tried by the British in Mandatory times." HAARETZ EDITORIAL: WESTERN IRAQ FIRST @ http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=220958&contrassID =2&subContrassID=3&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y Opening paragraphs: "Prime Minister Ariel Sharon left his meeting with President George Bush at the White House on Wednesday with a sense of satisfaction. Bush may have equipped him with a "road map" for progress toward the establishment of a Palestinian state, but navigating according to that map will only begin after the military campaign Bush plans against the Iraqi ruler, Saddam Hussein. The Iraqi issue therefore was the focus of Sharon's discussions with Bush and his administration's officials. On the rhetorical level, Bush's comments at the end of his meeting with Sharon can be interpreted as encouragement for Israel to use its right to respond militarily to an Iraqi attack. Bush formulated his words as an "assessment" and not a position, and even defined the type of Iraqi attack that would justify an Israeli reaction - an "unprovoked" attack - and that could be interpreted as possible reservations from an Israeli preemptive attack. But the legalism is not significant. In the eyes of the Americans watching their president, and perhaps in Saddam's eyes too, this was Bush standing up, alongside Israel. If this is an element that deters Saddam (and that's not self-evident, since Saddam, for his own reasons, may want to provoke Israel into a reaction), then Bush's remarks were welcome. PATTEN: COUSINS AND STRANGERS THE US AND EU @ http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=220934&contrassID =2&subContrassID=4&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y Chris posted: Palestinian territories are "the largest detention camp in the world" -- Britain's ambassador British envoy's criticism angers Israel By Alan Philps in Jerusalem UK Telegraph 15/10/2002 Britain's ambassador to Israel has angered its government by describing the Palestinian territories as "the largest detention camp in the world". Sherard Cowper-Coles accused soldiers of humiliating and harassing civilians. He put his complaints to Maj-Gen Amos Gilad, the officer in charge of the welfare of Palestinians under occupation, after a tour of the West Bank which he is said to have found shocking. After his comments were leaked to the press yesterday, a senior Israeli official said: "The ambassador has forgotten that the British mandate is over. He went too far." British officials said the criticisms were co-ordinated with Whitehall after Gen Gilad visited London, where he was asked to explain why 3.5 million Palestinians were effectively locked up. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2002%2F10%2F15%2Fwm id15.xml Outgoing Mail Scanned by NAV 2002 --- Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.394 / Virus Database: 224 - Release Date: 10/3/2002
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