Chris Hedges: Why Israel Lies

[JDPriestly]

100. Remember the period pre-Second Intifada?

Israel opened its borders to Palestinians. That was intended to be a step toward peace. The Palestinians responded by protesting Sharon's walking around the Temple Mount (that is the justification I have been getting here) with the Second Intifada.

Israel has to protect itself.

There has to be a negotiated settlement. That is the only way. Of course the return of land would be part of the settlement. I would suggest a settlement that would take place in increments over years and that would reward peace and enforcement of the settlement agreement on both sides.

The most difficult problems could be resolved at the end after the sides build up enough trust in each other to resolve them peacefully. That includes access to holy places and ownership of certain hotly contested sites.

The ideal would be one nation in which all groups enjoy the freedom to practice their religions and live in peace. But that would take a long, long time.

I have so often written about living in Alsace-Lorraine in the 1960s. People who have long opposed each other in war and treated each other like dirt can live together in peace. It takes hard work on both sides.

I suspect that Israel will focus on developing its relationship with the West Bank and then when that is greatly improved, the Gaza Strip will join in the effort for peace. That's just my guess.