June 18, 2007
Well, we're edging closer to a "two-state solution" in the Middle East, but as some have commented, it's not the two states many hoped it would be. Hamas has consolidated power in Gaza, while Fatah holds the West Bank, with a wary Israel sandwiched between. We're going to talk about the Palestinian crisis this hour; particularly what it means for the stalled peace process. What do you think? Is a fully isolated Hamas-led Gaza more or less dangerous?
Hamas won election fair and square. They should have a chance to govern. Let us not forget that Israel and the West (US) have been after Fatah for many years and the US position today only adds to the hypocracy and there for more anger in the region. We wither support Democracy or not, selective democracy does not count. Need to remember that Hamas signled its willingness to work towards recongnition of Israel, Israel did not. The game the US is playing is dangerous, we never seem to learn the lesson of what arming groups here and there does in the long run.
I just want to know how the simple question is answered - if Hammas was democratically elected by the Palestinian people, how can Abbas just form an emergency government without Hammas? What authority does he have to do this other than the fact that the world community supports his actions? What about the Palestinian people, especially those in Gaza? Does his new government have any authority in Gaza or just the West Bank?
Thank you in advance for an answer.
Diana in Hamburg, NY
I'm reminded of Berlin. The Berlin Airlift was iconic heroism back in my grade school days.
Of course, we also had duck and cover drills back then, so I suppose the lack of nuclear weapons on Iran's part probably means that Iran can't play the US role in regard to Gaza.....
Neil just mentioned another election. The last Palestinian election was judged to be fair by International oversight groups including Jimmy Carter!
Will Israel, the Israeli lobby in the states keep demanding election after election until they get who they want?
This is Democracy?
Thank you for the on-air answer to the question of the legality of Abbas' emergency government.
So, if his actions are not legal, and obviously the actions of Hammas is Gaza are not legal, then why are we renewing our aid to Abbas' government. The US and the world community should not be endorsing the illegal actions of any of these groups - who are we to think we can support illegal actions, even if they are of a group we support.
Israel and the U.S. are experts at keeping the spotlight on the infighting, what the Palestinians are doing instead of the crux of the matter!
Israel needs to pull back to the 67 border, share the water rights and sign the Non-proliferation treaty.
This latest infighting keeps the spotlight off of Israel and their constant unwillingness to abide by the very same resolutions that they demand their neighbors abide by.
Notice that there was not one quesion that was let through on Talk of the Nation criticizing Israel.
Masters at re-directing the attention!
I understand US residents must now have passports to return from anywhere. Another way of saying: we now need, effectively, the government's permission to travel out of the country.
This and the wall along our southern borders can be viewed to keep us in at least as much as unwanted foreigners out.
Tom in Central Texas
Honestly, what options have the Palestinians had to create a stable government? I first became aware of the difficult issues they???ve faced over 20 years ago, and I???m sure it was going on long before that. For many, many years we heard about Palestinian youth being shot and killed for throwing rocks at the Israeli military that were occupying their land. The struggle the Palestinians were engaged in was very one sided so what option did they have, if they were to survive, then to get better military capability to fight for their lives and rights?
If the US were not such a strong supporter of Israel would public opinion see Israel???s actions as just? In my view the Palestinian people have been terrorized by Israel for many years.
How can the Palestinian people find justice and stability when necessary funds due them by Israel are cut off, road blocks are constructed and keep the Palestinians from moving freely in the region and from going to work; international aid is cut off, and international groups (USA, Europe) do not recognize a fair democratic election because we don't like the outcome?
We know that when any peoples are forced into crushing poverty they rebel. If their rights and ability to survive are being denied by a foreign military, they build a military that can fight back. Therefore, in looking at the recent history of Palestine, is it any surprise that Hamas has gained momentum?
Looks like the blog owner prefers pro-Palestinian opinions only. So here goes. Palestinian's are pros at blaming Israel for their situation. They are bolstered by Arab countries who are absent from helping Palestinians create a government or economy that works. They hate Israel 100 times more than they love Palestine, and it shows when faced with a situation like this one where they actually could help. Do Arab governments ever send "peace-keepers?" I thought not.
A perusal of the applicable law (established primarily by the USA and Europe, and, after WWII, by the UN), complex as it is, immediately and repeatedly demonstrates the lawlessness characterizing Israeli and American policy. Start with the League of Nations mandate, review Security Counsel resolutions 242, 338 and all the others. Read the International Court of Justice opinion on Israel's apartheid wall. Read the US Arms Export Control Act and compare American reaction to Israel's use of cluster bombs throughout the recion, along with other somewhat less illegal tactics. Look through the 1949 Geneva Conventions, especially the fourth, on treatment of civilians by belligerents.
This is only the beginning of a very long list of laws, treaties, assurances etc. you could cite in an indictment of both countries and their leaders for war crimes. It would be cynical, were it not downright deceitful, for Condie Rice to suggest that foreigners with no legal claim whatever on Palestine should determine who their leaders are (see Universal Charter of Human Rights) or that the results of a plainly democratic election can be ignored if those results conflict with what Americans think is best for America.
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