The Israeli Palestinian Choices

Next month, if everybody agrees, there will be a meeting between the US, Israel and Palestine in an effort I guess to revive the so-called Road Map for that troubled region. Our own Condoleeza Rice would probably be the official envoy with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for the affected parties. The question is: Are they going to reach an accord leading to peace? Probably not.

Here’s the thing. Israel does not want to give up the idea of the acquired country and in fact, while this meeting is in the works, they are building yet more houses in Palestinian territory. Palestinians in turn, with a divided government, mostly sympathetic to the Hammas movement, have specific demands that the Israelis are not ready to concede.
The Israeli government does not trust whatever the Palestinian say and vice versa, as is traditional in the region. And finally, our country’s participation as a broker has no credibility among Palestinians. Past actions and words from the US have demonstrated an unconditional support for Israel making this meeting an unbalanced one.
This summit if carried out, will be just a political show; in an effort to soften the bad image the US and Israel have rightfully gained in that region.

Until Israel recognizes that their country was a gift to be cherished and accepts the fact that is surrounded by other people with different believes and traditions there is no end to the conflict. They have the military power to keep the gift, why not enjoy it, make peace with those they displaced and create some productive business ventures in the region?
If anything, Israel should be a leader in commerce, trade and prosperity for its neighbors.
No, I’m not forgetting the extremists and their bloody actions. It is precisely the point I’m trying to make. If the Palestinian people could benefit from a fair exchange with Israel and have a place they can call home without feeling threatened, I bet all the extremists in the world couldn’t convince the population to give up that for martyrdom. But the move must be from the Israelis. They have the monetary power and, of course the guns. The other side has resentment, poverty and yelling fanatics stirring the pot.