Israel-Hamas: Huffington Posted

I joined in the fracas on Mitchell Bard's posting (click on title above for link) stating that Hamas is responsible for the civilian casualties:


Mitchell,

I admire your writing and I'm, officially, "a fan". Mostly, I agree with this post but most heartily disagree with one statement you pose as a fact, without any support:

"The long-term answer to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is two side-by-side states, each respecting the other and its right to exist."

First of all, it looks like the number of states we are now talking about is three, not two: Abbas and the PA have no real claim to authority over Gaza, and that reality is unlikely to change anytime soon.

The real argument, though, is that the famous "two-state solution" is not a long-term answer to the conflict. It will put in place implacable rivals which will prolong the rivalry (ed.: should've been "standoff") indefinitely.

The only long-term answer is a federation, bringing together a state which is one geographically, but with the various social and religious constituencies' rights and political representation guaranteed. Like Lebanon's formula, but bigger: it should include Lebanon! This is an outcome more difficult to achieve than the two-state solution, but it is a better one.

Keep these arguments in mind when the endless, fruitless diplomacy about the two-state solution begins anew, after this crisis reaches its inevitable end: Israelis withdraw partially; embittered Gazans rally around an underground Hamas, and no one party can speak for the Palestinians, while the Israelis have no clue what line of diplomacy can produce any results.


I got this reply from "shanghaislim"

So would that be the same model as IRAQ? Sunnis, Shiites, Christians all living side by side with a federation to rule across.

As Dr. Phil would say.......

...."How's that workin' for ya?"

Which I appreciated but had to demur:
No, not the same model at all. What they are attempting (emphasis--attempting) to do in Iraq is have a strong central government. Shiite parties are attempting to utilize their narrow majority to dominate the politics in the nation.

They have no choice but to live together--not side by side, but mingled complexly within the same land, under the law--or to war. The choice then in Iraq is the same as the Jews and Arabs in Palestine. I can hope for a better solution than that emerging in Iraq.