How would you solve is Israel-Palestinian issue?

[Heresson]

Population transfer is the only real solution. One side or the other will eventually achieve this as the result of a major war (not this little stuff we're watching now). Until then the broken record will continue.

I don't understand your proposition, otherwise than transpher of Israelis to Jewish Autonomous Region in Russia.

Anyway, the answer is easy:
1) Give Palestine independance, it should consist of West Bank, Gaza, and eastern Jerusalem except for jewish quater of Old Town.
2) Palestine should resign of pre-1967 Israeli territories
3) Evacuate israeli settlers, by force if necessary
4) Israeli pays recompensations for descendants of 1948 expelees/refugees, it builds cities for them in West Bank, former israeli settlements should be used for that as well.
5) Even financial support from USA for Israel and Palestine
6) Drastic mesures for people breaking the peace on either side, disarmament of Hamas and other militant groups.
7) Golan Heights should return to Syria, including the part of Tiberias Lake coast that belonged to Syria before 1967 (it's that piece of land that made 1990 peace talks fail)

etc


However, I don't think either side is interested in peace, and it can only be forced by USA.
Israel:
1) The conflict allows Israel and Jews to control entire Palestine, making radical Jews happy, yet not making West Bank / Gaza Palestinians citizens, hence assuring Jewish dominance in the state.
2) Thanks to the conflict, Israel gets american cash
3) Any backing out of territory by Israel will be seen by many guillible Arabs as A Great Arab Military Victory Showing We Should Fight Even Harder
4) Peace would mean Israel will finally resign of some of jewish sacred places, which means fury of radical Jews.

Palestinians:
1) Peace would mean that 71+% of Palestine is lost forever
2) Peace would mean Palestinian refugees will not return to the cities of their origin, no chance for that.
3) Peace would mean for islamic groups lesser chance of winning over the youth

USA
1) The jewish-fundie christian lobby will never agree to peace other than Israeli dictate.

[Heresson]

There already is a Palestianian state. It's called Jordan. Give Israel Gaza and the West bank. Recognition of the right of Israel by all the remaining Arab powers.

The next solution would be for Israel to do the same as they did to Egypt. Completely destroy them in a war, and then get peace in return for Israel returning all the remaining lands.

Ben, sorry, but that is such an unclever thing to say...

First, Israel doesn't want Gaza and West Bank and rightful provinces, it doesn't want more Arab citizens. It would gladly take the land, as long as the Palestinians would go, and, even better, stay, be cheap labour force, but could not vote in elections... And in fact, that's what they have now.

Who should Israel destroy in a war anyway?
Honey, You got it all wrong in the case of Egypt. Sure, Israel could enter Cairo, but what then? Controlling such big territories and completely hostile population would cost too much. It's like USA conquering entire muslim world or worse.
The peace between Israel and Egypt was achieved because, too much USA's suprise (an unpleasant one, in fact), Egypt did all USA demanded from it, hence forced it morally to live up to its promesses and pressure Israel, AND
because Egypt has shown Israel it is not completely defenceless.

Why do You want Israel to take entire Palestine? By what right? Isn't 71% they've already incorporated enough? Palestinians are indigenous people there, not Israelis.

[Sirotnikov]

Gaza should be unarmed and turned into a UN protectorate with very strong forces such as NATO dealing with peacekeeping. UN, EU, Egypt and Israel should participate in nation building - building proper fundamentals for a 21st century nation, except for the government - beyond local government Gaza would be rulled by a UN committee with area representatives. This should go on for 5-10 years, after which Gaza gains independance.


The west bank - Israel withdraws the scattered settlements leaving only major blocks, adjustant to Israeli border. Palestinian government declares independence. UN, EU, Jordan and Israel assist him in nation building. Most palestinian militants get a general amnesty from Israel and return home. Most vicious terrorists are transferred to palestinian prisons with very long sentances. Radical preachers and leaders of extremist groups are arrested, tried and jailed.

The palestinian state is built on around 95% of the west bank, with Israeli presense on the Jordanian border, and some Palestinian presense within Israeli borders. Israeli forces are allowed to patrol the Jordan valley border to secure peace and prevent drugs and arms trafficking. Perhaps a united Jordanian-Palestinian-Israeli border security center is set up.

[Heresson]

The west bank - Israel withdraws the scattered settlements leaving only major blocks, adjustant to Israeli border.

God, isn't 71% of Palestine enough for You? Why shouldn't You evacuate ALL settlements?

Most vicious terrorists are transferred to palestinian prisons with very long sentances. Radical preachers and leaders of extremist groups are arrested, tried and jailed.

Please do the same with your little but influential religious parties demanding entire Palestine for Jews as well as supporting illegal settlements.

The palestinian state is built on around 95% of the west bank, with Israeli presense on the Jordanian border, and some Palestinian presense within Israeli borders. Israeli forces are allowed to patrol the Jordan valley border to secure peace and prevent drugs and arms trafficking. Perhaps a united Jordanian-Palestinian-Israeli border security center is set up.

This de facto would mean you still think of West Bank as an Israeli protectorate. I'd understand international guards on Jordan, but Israeli?

[Dr Strangelove]

Return to the UN mandate boundaries, but put in place a massive UN occupation force. Blanket the whole country with CCTV and implant micro video cameras and microphones in all of the inhabitants on their 16th birthdays. Watch everybody 24/7.

[Ben Kenobi]

First, Israel doesn't want Gaza and West Bank and rightful provinces, it doesn't want more Arab citizens. It would gladly take the land, as long as the Palestinians would go, and, even better, stay, be cheap labour force, but could not vote in elections... And in fact, that's what they have now.

All Israel wants is peace. No rockets hitting them. There have to be consequences. If you launch a rocket into Israel, then you are going to get destroyed.

Honey, You got it all wrong in the case of Egypt. Sure, Israel could enter Cairo, but what then? Controlling such big territories and completely hostile population would cost too much. It's like USA conquering entire muslim world or worse.

Sinai was the linchpin to peace with Egypt. The return of the Sinai meant Egyptian recognition of Israel. Now they just need to do the same with Syria, and that will mean rolling into Damascus.

As for Gaza and the west bank, you cannot have a power vacuum and expect peace. The Palestianians have not shown that they are capable of governing their areas. If they were willing to be good neighbours, I could see them both coexisting, now I cannot.

Besides, the Jordan river makes a more sensible border anyways.

Why do You want Israel to take entire Palestine? By what right? Isn't 71% they've already incorporated enough? Palestinians are indigenous people there, not Israelis.

Jews have always been there.

[Darius871]

Design a Civ2 scenario recreating the area and have representatives from Israel, Fatah, and Hamas duke it out in a ladder tournament. Winner take all.

[Darius871]

Hmm interacial marriages in the US have solved all of our problems.

Seeing as Obama will solve all of our problems, you're not that far off.

[OneFootInTheGrave]

it's simple really... give West Bank to Jordan, and Gaza to Egypt + some money from US,EU,Chinas,Russia,India (G8+ emerging nations) for reintegration... and that's it.

They don't want it? Well than withdraw all that USD support that those two countries already receive, and I am sure they will finally agree...

Other than that - create some sort of Palestinian state in both areas, but integration into somewhat stable countries is more viable.

[chequita guevara]

A single, unified, federal Israel Palestine. It will happen eventually, but both sides will need to keep killing each other for a few more decades until they finally see they can't militarily defeat the other side. The longer it goes on, however, the more animosity will build up.

[TCO]

Move the Pals out of Gaza. Give the land to Israel. Make a wall and stop accepting guest laborers. Harsh, but only solution.

Alternative. Jews move to USA.

[Sirotnikov]

God, isn't 71% of Palestine enough for You? Why shouldn't You evacuate ALL settlements?

71% of Palestine is in Jordan.
Didn't you get grades on your history tests?

[quote]Please do the same with your little but influential religious parties demanding entire Palestine for Jews as well as supporting illegal settlements.
Our "influential" religious parties have yet to propose or support killing of innocent civilians and terrorist attacks.

The fanatic minority of religious figures that indeed represent a threat to civil law, are not knesset members, are ostracised and disliked by the religious parties you talk about, are hated by the Yesha committee, the grand body of settler political movement. They are also monitored by Shin Bet and Police for indications of calling for violence.

I've spoken many times here and in other places calling for their imprisonment.

This de facto would mean you still think of West Bank as an Israeli protectorate. I'd understand international guards on Jordan, but Israeli?

The west bank will always have a direct security influence in Israeli borders, and some of its towns are miles away from major Israeli cities.

For the next 10 years I would want Israel to patrol their eastern border to reduce influence of extremist parties that can come from Jordan (AQ, Iranian agents etc).

[Sirotnikov]

A single, unified, federal Israel Palestine. It will happen eventually, but both sides will need to keep killing each other for a few more decades until they finally see they can't militarily defeat the other side. The longer it goes on, however, the more animosity will build up.

for the sake of humanity I hope it wont happen.

A some sort of economical federation of ME nations, with Israel, Palestine, Jordan and Lebanon remaining as separate for might be a good idea.

If you suggest the national borders will be erased, or there will be a single president, there will probably be insane bloodshed.
You can't wish away national and ethnical differences and conflicts, just like you can't wish away capitalist economy. It's here to stay because it describes how people really behave, instead of how you'd like them to.

[Sirotnikov]

Return to the UN mandate boundaries, but put in place a massive UN occupation force. Blanket the whole country with CCTV and implant micro video cameras and microphones in all of the inhabitants on their 16th birthdays. Watch everybody 24/7.

If the UN force is given absolute mandate and really keeps peace, this might be the only sane solution.

[BeBMan]

First measure to success would be to replace Blair as special envoy to ME with Bush as soon as he's available. People in the ME like GWB so much that they throw their shoes in joy