1. Tiburon said:

Ted?
"I am sure that Bush has read the Riot Act to the Palestinians as well. In no uncertain terms he has demanded that they deliver on their obligations under the Roadmap. They have no choice."
This is Hamas and the Al Aqsa Brigades you're talking of? The same death-worshipping homocide bombers we see daily in the news? While I'm hopeful that and grateful if Bush has "read the Riot Act' to the Palestinians", I can't take much solace in the chance that the former are even listening, or if they are - not simply rolling on the floor in paroxysms of laughter.

Ted, I accept the first premise of your article: - I agree that Israel must seek a permanent solution. But where's the 'fall back' in this grand scheme? See, it's not just Lebanon, Iraq and Yesha where the baddies dwell - it's that annoying little figure Pipes calls attention too - a mere 100 million souls throughout Dar el Islam fully committed to support Jihad, in one way or another. Gonna take a little time to 'root out the terrorists', methinks.

Meanwhile, what? Israel again concedes the Land it has no right to concede, for more empty 'assurances'?

I too agree that the Occupation is untenable, in short, middle and long terms. I happen to see it as one of the critical dysfunctions of the situation, but however, not one overtly challenging.

Occupation a problem? Cease occupying. Pretty simple and it's worked over 20 years in the Golan last time I looked. And for all intents and purposes, despite gross failure of nerve on many occasions (such as not policing illegal construction), in "east" Jerusalem as well.

Gee. Go Figure.

2. BobW said:

"Permanent solution to the Arab Israeli conflict" and "getting all Arab countries to make real peace with Israel" are expressions needing amplification. The governments of the Arab nations-with only a couple of exceptions-do not represent the populations within their territorial jurisdiction as the concepts are understood in the Atlantic Alliance.

Egypt, with half the Arab world's population, has diplomatic relations with Israel. The situation does not yield Atlantic Alliance relations external to government to government contact and limited business. The area is volatile.

A "permanent solution" was tried in Lebannon. The "religious" component system of government collapsed. It is dangerous for Christians in Lebannon.

The overall situation appears that Israel will evolve into an enclave around an internationalized Jerusalem. The new "Palestine" will remain in existence as a function of continued donor funding. When the US oil industry relocates to Caspian fields, I anticipate both Israel and Egypt to have their foreign and military aid appropriations from the US up for review. We could witness a Shi'ite crescent from Iran to Iraq to South Lebannon to Gaza.

Both US and Israeli political plans and efforts will be eclipsed by social and economic forces. Eisenhower learned about this in Lebannon in 1959 and Reagan in Lebannon in 1983.

Kol tuv,
BobW

3. Per said:

"I am sure that Bush has read the Riot Act to the Palestinians as well. In no uncertain terms he has demanded that they deliver on their obligations under the Roadmap. They have no choice."

For sure they have a choice. The only thing they need to do is to pretend living up to their obligations (facilitated by an internal "hudna" among the Arabs) long enough for Israel to pull back to the green line, admit a few hundred thousand returnees, have their "Palestinian state" firmly established and funded by the US and the EU, membership in the UN, and associate membership in the EU (trade agreement). If the PLO and their terrorist offsprings just manage to hold their breath for 3-4 years (till the retired Bush, Abbas and Sharon have received their peace prices), and then revive intensified international pressure to have the 1947 UN partition plan implemented (already agreed to by Jewish organizations, they will say), the stage will be set for the final kill of Israel with overwhelming international (including US) support. There will be no country in the world ready to stand up for Israel, regardless what American grandstanders induce themselves to believe at present. Israel's most lethal enemy today is neither Palestinian, Arab or Islamist. The real enemy is President Bush who, like Clinton before him, is ready to sell his own grandmother for a legacy. Do not underestimate what his zealous and lunatic State Secretary may do to serve her master in this respect.

4. Ted Belman said:

All your comments are duly noted and deserve a response. The democracy train has left the station in Iraq notwithstanding the insurgency. As a result Iraq is better able to fight it. Similarly, the Palestine train has left the station and to avoid a train wrech Abbas must deal with the terrorists. He knows this to be true. The US is not naive. It is counting on establishing a peace agreement even if there is terror. Once all issues are agreed upon and "peace" is established, the terrorists will lose their legitamacy, i.e. fighting the occupation or the existence of Israel. Terror will linger in Iraq and in Israel but the deal would be done. Next comes Syria and Iran.

5. MrRiver said:

Hmmm, author Belman's own opinion is that his earlier article is correct, and he reprints large sections of the article in the same webspace. Is this a self-serving ego or what?
Why don't you just serve yourself to some more?

MrRiver

6. BobW said:

Shalom Mr River,

It helps to specifically address the subject matter with examples. Otherwise, readers will think an attack on the person is intended.

Kol tuv,
BobW