Editor,
I will borrow some advice from the world’s most well-known Jew and not hide my light under a bushel. I stand with Israel. Without looking back thousands of years to the origins of today’s conflict over Gaza, let’s look forward, and ask: “What’s next?”
Israel has every right to sustain its sovereignty and security; Palestinians do as well. Peace and mutual state determination cannot happen if Hamas represents the Palestinian people. A successful two-state solution requires different Palestinian leadership. Peace can come when the larger Arab world rejects Hamas’ “winner takes all” strategy and adopts the spirit of the Abraham Accords like several Arab nations have done.
A two-state solution should be everybody’s end game. Gaza and most of the West Bank become a demilitarized Palestine. While larger Israeli West Bank settlements would remain under Israeli authority, smaller settlements would be disbanded. Israelis in those smaller settlements would relocate. The western portion of Jerusalem would be Israeli, however, the IDF and the U.N. would provide safe corridors and unfettered access to important religious sites in Jerusalem and the West Bank. The IDF and the U.N. would also operate a safe corridor for Palestinians to travel from the West Bank to Gaza and back again.
No one can right the wrongs of Oct. 7, but a two-state solution can bring peace. Hamas stands in the way of peace ... I stand with Israel.
Ray Fowler
Redwood City
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(8) comments
llo Ray,
Time for my three cents worth of comment on the subject. To start, religious wars in the middle east are nearly as old as the middle east. In most cases the causes and ill will between the players is multi generational and seldom is there a winner. It is hard to settle peacefully a dispute that goes back possibly hundreds of years in a family. When one person says that my great, great uncle of my grandmothers third cousin was killed by your sixth cousin of your sister’s great aunt there isn’t a lot that can solve the hatred.
Yes I agree that that Hamas and those that supply and support them must be eliminated. I don’t have the answers for the two-state solution but think that it must be tried. I have seen solutions offered such as an international peace keeping force being involved but those seldom seem to work for any extended time. Another suggests relocating Palestinians to Egypt and other countries even though Netanyahu has said the war in Gaza is aimed at eliminating Hamas not expelling Palestinians. As mentioned, Netanyahu must go also once something is in place. In MHO he is one of the big flies in the ointment.
Knowing that DJT and BiBi are BFF, with apologies to our feathered friends, birds of a feather lie together.
OOPS! wrong fingers, should be Hello Ray.
Hey, buddy... lots of good points.
We agree on a lot of the basics. In MHO, relocating Palestinians should not be part of the equation. That is a point of view of Israeli right-wingers who can make MAGA rally attendees look like Marxists. You know who else does not want a two-state solution? Iran. If the promise of peace becomes a reality with an Israeli state and an independent Palestinian state existing side by side, the Ayatollahs stand to lose opportunities to support terrorist cells on Israel's borders. Bibi seems to feel the end is near for Hamas. Hopefully, that's true and a new prime minister will be installed soon.
Nothing can happen until Hamas is eliminated.
This sounds like a plan, Mr. Fowler, but Israel first needs to drum out Hamas, as Israel continues to do. After that, I guess we’ll see what Israel plans to do and whether a two-state solution would be considered. I would add that Israel should take advice with a grain of salt from those who didn’t/don’t support Israel.
Thanks, Terence
I heard a report this week that 80% of Israelis support finishing the job of eradicating Hamas... then Netanyahu stepping down. I feel new Israeli leadership is vital to moving toward with a two-state peace solution.
Ray - I understand your point but I can't help thinking that after HAMAS there will be other factions within the Palestinian population that are bent on destroying Israel. Even now we are hearing that some hostages are held by other fanatics. Whether these are outside forces that make this hatred fester or not, somehow we need to help Israel and the Palestinians to get to the root of it. If a two-state formation is a solution, Israel also needs to quit building illegal settlements on the West Bank. That alone is major thorn in their side and understandably so. I stand 100% with Israel and always will. The ouster of Netanyahu should proceed post haste, I would not trust him as far as I could throw him.
Hey, Dirk
I think the wrong way to create a two-state solution is to start assembling the building blocks and hoping the end product will be something that will work. Let's start with the end in mind... start with Israel and an independent Palestine side by side, then find ways to make the pieces work. However, none of this can happen until the Hamas threat is eliminated.
Israeli West Bank settlements... they presently number 144 with maybe 100 "illegal" outposts. Only about six of those settlements have populations of more than 10,000. So, the large West Bank settlements remain as part of the security network guaranteeing access of Muslims, Jews and Christians to religious sites in the West Bank. Gaza would be 100% Palestinian.
If a two-state solution can be realized and if a rocket is launched, where do you think that rocket would be launched from? Israel of Palestine? In a workable two-state scenario, Palestinians would be just as invested as Israel in stopping terrorists' attacks. That would be a sign... paraphrasing Golda Meir... that Palestinians love their children more than they hate Israel.
I agree. Israelis need to tell Bibi... bye-bye.
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