Originally posted by Fardreamer:
(1947_UN_Partition_Plan). This is actually common knowledge, BGuitar.
But again let me ask you, what relevance does this have to the solution? Whether what was done in the past was right or wrong doesn't make a difference - Israel is a well established country with 6 million residents, sprawling urban areas, a strong and stable economy and unique cultural heritage - not a bunch of random jews from all over the world living in temporary agricultural settlements. And that's not going to change. Thinking it will leads to lines of thought such as Hamas's (destroy Israel and get rid of all Israelis) or Kahana Hai (get rid of all Arabs in the greater Israel).
But again let me ask you, what relevance does this have to the solution? Whether what was done in the past was right or wrong doesn't make a difference - Israel is a well established country with 6 million residents, sprawling urban areas, a strong and stable economy and unique cultural heritage - not a bunch of random jews from all over the world living in temporary agricultural settlements. And that's not going to change. Thinking it will leads to lines of thought such as Hamas's (destroy Israel and get rid of all Israelis) or Kahana Hai (get rid of all Arabs in the greater Israel).
Bottom line is that, just like the numerous conflicts over the years of human existence, there is no real solution. You fail to see what the other half of the "solution" feels. That's why background is important, to see where your agressors are coming from and how to deal with them accordingly. And the current approach won't do jack squat.
The Palestinians are angry, and they will be angry for a while. They are incensed by what they see as a imperialistic invasion, an infection that must be removed. Their enemies have the audacity to not only steal their lands but play victim when the original occupants try to get their land back. Their allies have tried to help them, but they've all been summarily repulsed. What's even worse is that others are on their invader's side, and paint the Palestinians as ruthless, savage, ignorant barbarians, while all they are trying to do is reclaim the land that was once theirs. Frustration mixed with indignation, mourning over deaths caused by the occupation, feed an immense hatred.
How do you calm a person down after their house is taken from them, their children murdered, and their neighbor beaten up by some thugs who claim that they are the good guys? And when the police come, they are on the side of the hoodlums who were the instigators of the mess! Their crimes go unpunished, and while they sit in your house you pitch a tent in the front yard, throwing rocks against their barred windows in a futile effort to fight back. The police come in and draw up a plan for you to get half of the house, but does that really make any sense in this picture?
You can't calm that person down! It will take time to heal those wounds. Humans can also keep grudges for a very, very long time. Realistically no amount of effort will ameliorate the inciters of violence and their supporters in the Arab world for a long time coming.
The point of this is that I'm trying to paint a picture of a how a Palestinian would feel. Considering they have to be part of the solution, if they harbor feelings like this, how can you reach peace? It doesn't matter to them how developed Isreal is. It's like the house situation, and the thugs install t3 lines, have moved their families in, and remodeled it to look like the Taj Mahal. It doesn't matter to them! And why should it?
