Palestine

[andrewducker]

The recent announcement on Israel/Palestine has me absolutely infuriated.

_Not_ because the plan has Israel holding onto bits of what they should really be handing back (which bits end up being populated by which people isn't really a huge concern to me and I'm fairly fluid about the concept of nation states at the best of times).

What really, _really_ annoys me is the way that it was announced. Bush stood up there with Sharon and told everyone what they'd agreed. The US is supposed to be brokering a deal between two sides and yet it presents a deal hammered out with one side without any actual reference to the other one.

Israel/Palestine may cover a tiny amount of area but it's become a major matter for the entire Arab world. Much of the anger aimed at the US stems entirely from the way it acts over Israel. By standing up there and saying "Fuck you, we're only actually interested in one side here." they've just pushed many, many more people towards anti-Israel and anti-US and anti-Western groups.

Can someone not give the current US administration a _tiny_ clue that if they treat people like shit those people will get upset?

Comments

The Solution?

[opusfluke.livejournal.com]

Don't get me started on the ins and outs of tribal politics (I thing I was never too clear on myself as years ago I had to admit that I not only don't think like the other monkeys but that I can't think like them either). But here's how I see things.
1/ This is like Ireland and certain areas of Europe, Africa and Asia: tribal wars over thousands of years with only names, weapons and slogans changing. If you don't believe me study a bit of Celtic mythology esp. concerning the REd Branch Warriors. Even the Roman Empire couldn't solve the Middle East problem and their methods included crucifiction and paid informers. (NOTE: This isn't a religious thing (for once) but an historical fact. Pilate was even recalled to Rome for his brutality in dealing with local politics at one point.)
2/The only way out of this (and I include ANY such situation) is to lay off the armaments and start education and medical programmes to knock out the firebrands. It's hard to gain converts with a free mind, full belly and good health. Hell, people might even start to see sense for once.
3/Jack Black proposed, in an interview for the great Bizarre Magazine, that the only solution he could see was as follows: Take all the relics, people and sites from Isreal and swap them with Hawaii. That way those Israelies who want to pick a fight will have todo so with Uncle Sam and the Palestinians will have some nice, relaxed Polynesians as neighbours. I dunno, it's a possibility.
4/ WE ALL INVADE TOGETHER. Seriously. We, as the United Nations or just nations of the world who have had it up to here with the lot of 'em (Jewish, Muslim, Atheist, Hindu or whatever) using their ideoligies to perpetrate tribal wars that drag the rest of us in. We throw out the activists and stick 'em all on a barren rock someplace (and believe me there's plenty of those off the coast of Scotland, I can tell you), and leave 'em there. If they want to act like warring chimps then the may do so without disturbing the rest of us. Meanwhile we carry on trying to get off this planet and evolve/survive as a species. Who knows? The murdering scum of all factions might start acting like animals and negotiate with dignity. Or act like humans and wipe each other out. Either way their actions show they are unworthy of Society (i.e. respect/tolernce for others, arguing without violence etc) so we withdraw from them.
5/ Read Bob Heinlein and build "Coventry". Like 4 but more humane.
Five points. A good number. But please recall the words of my alter ego the Discordian philosopher Socrates of Bran: "War never settles who's right- only who's left." Just me as you will, I have already judged myself and found me wanting.

Re: The Solution?

[terminalmalaise.livejournal.com]

Take all the relics, people and sites from Isreal and swap them with Hawaii. That way those Israelies who want to pick a fight will have todo so with Uncle Sam and the Palestinians will have some nice, relaxed Polynesians as neighbours.

Tangent, but something interesting I came across yesterday:

http://www.hawaii-nation.org/

I had no idea there was a movement for Hawaiin sovereignty. Luckily it's a non-violent one.