Your mind is like a coherent pyramid consists of endless constituent pieces, once one defuses a piece, it regenerates a substitute piece to refill the gap !!!

OK Sami. Maybe that’s the way I am. I have a certain way of thinking, based on a set of assumptions. When one assumption proves to be false, I come up with another assumption which makes more sense. I am not married to one set of ideas. I try to remain open to new possibilities. For example, this idea that the West Bank may need Israel’s security apparatus, in order to become a free and prosperous state is a relatively new idea for me. I didn’t think of it before until the evidence stood there staring me in the face. If it turns out not to be true, I’ll move on to another idea.

We are stepping backwards Nissim and I cant follow anymore zionist “mirages” …

Peace has been a lot like a mirage for both sides. A lot of Israelis remain skeptical about the possibility of peace because they say they tried, only to be rebuffed by the other side. And Palestinians are fed up with the occupation and think that if the occupation were to cease, the problem would be automatically resolved. My take on it is somewhere in the middle, because I believe that most truth lies somewhere in the middle between extremes. The Israelis have not tried hard enough, and Palestinians have to think beyond just ending the occupation. They have to figure out how to contend with extremist forces like Hamas and Iran. Some Palestinians also have to give up the dream of destroying the Jewish state, and instead bring justice to themselves by partnering with that state for the sake of promoting economic opportunities and consolidating their security.

…you are ignoring the 200,000 settlers that are besieging Jerusalem…

All issues are manageable when the two sides finally decide to come together in peace, and to help one another out. Yes, Jerusalem is a highly contentious issue. It would be very difficult for Israel to agree to divide Jerusalem. I think that the answer would be to keep Jerusalem united, as the capital of the Jewish state, but to allow Palestinians some measure of sovereignty over the parts of Jerusalem in which they predonminate, including the Muslim Holy sites. Palestinians, if they wish, could call Jerusalem their capital as well. Theoretically, there is no reason why two states cannot share the same capital. If Jerusalem is truly the City of Peace, then let it be used to usher in an age of peace. To my mind that would be perfectly appropriate.

The PA is a bunch of corrupt but the more corruption is coming from the American hands that play with the system itself….

I am sure that there is corruption in the PA, as there is in parts of Israel, and as there is on Wall Street, and Washington, and in virtually all nations on earth. What you and I call corruption, some people call “the cost of doing business.”

However, Sami, what I am trying to say is that there is an alighnment developing of the self-interest of some key players, so that they may have to clean up their act, not because they necessarily want to, but because they have to in order to survive. And that is the hope I see for cutting a fair and equitable deal between Israel and Palestine. For example, to my mind, Hamas is like a knife to the throat of Fattah. The election in 2006 was a wake up call that the corruption of the past will not be tolerated any longer by the people. And yet, Fattah certainly does not want a Hamas takeover in the West Bank. So they may decide to clean up their act, and grow an economy with tranparency, and with fairness, as a strategic maneuver to stave off the Hamas threat. But for whatever reason they decide to do this, it can still be used as an opportunity to push the peace process forward. Israel, in tandem with Arab partners, would guarantee security in the West Bank, and help to revitalize the region economically, in exchange for a peace deal, including an equitable resolution of the key issues: final borders, Jerusalem, and refugees. The existential struggle between Hamas and Fattah is relatively new, and may be the missing piece in the puzzle of peace.

Your mind is like a coherent pyramid consists of endless constituent pieces, once one defuses a piece, it regenerates a substitute piece to refill the gap !!!

I hope I have the hope like you, However, I know that your hope is a false mirage that attracts the thirty bedouins to run after till they die running, I am a bedouin and I know it perfectly how and where it took us after decades of running after the mirage of the Israeli “peace” …. just look back a few months when Obama was talking of the Palestinian sate and “freezing the settlements”… We are stepping backwards Nissim and I cant follow anymore zionist “mirages” …

It seems that you are talking of the 305,000 settlers in the West Bank anf you are ignoring the 200,000 settlers that are besieging Jerusalem which is the heart of the problem as demolishing the houses is going on hectically there … in 1993 there were only 105,000 settlers (including jerusalem) and now it is a coherent system of connected settlements that house over 500,000 and pantostones of segregated Palestinians…. and still we need more lies to give Israel more time to devastate the West Bank with another half a million of fanatic settlers????

The PA is a bunch of corrupt but the more corruption is coming from the American hands that play with the system itself…. they, the Americans and the zionist, are playing a essential part in corrupting the remnant corrupted agents… they spoil the leaders with their financial support for their men to empower them on all the other agents even within the PA itself…. have you heard of the fighting factions within the PA and even within Fateh itself? The CIA and the Shabak are playing a major part in this…. shall I mention names?… probably you know them better than me !!!

No good governance can come out of Intelligence agencies but more corruption in the service of the “chosen people” and the American agenda to rule over the region and keep sucking the resources ….

It is an existentialist struggle dear…. as I no more believe in existentialism !!!

Sami, the bedouin.

The PA is an impotent wreck…

That may be the case now, but with a strong economy, and a security arrangement with Israel, the U.S., and some Arab partners, this will no longer be the case.

…Hamas/Hezbollah is merely another hostile arm of Iran.

That’s true, but what do we do about it? If you empower the West Bank economically, and enhance the security situation there, you automatically put a lot of pressure on Hamas to consider joining in on job creation, or face the resentment of the people. Hamas is nothing if the people on the street turn against it.

Palestine should be absorbed into Jordan and Egypt…

Unrealistic. The Middle East resonates with symbolism, and Palestine has become a symbol for Arab pride. A solution will only work if we respect the dignity of all concerned.

A two state solution is. impossible…

It is only impossible if people continue to believe what they want to believe. It is time to start believing in what makes sense. A two state solution is not only possible, but may be the only way of respecting the rights of both peoples.

“right of return”

A right of return for all Palestinians to return to Israel will destroy Israel as a Jewish State. Palestinians should have a right to return to a new and vibrant Palestine. Those who wish to return to Israel will be allowed to do so subject to what is agreed to with Israel, as part of a final status treaty. Those who cannot return should be compensated in an equitable way.

Source: Wikipedia

100% of the PA budget depends on the charities, and the good will of Israel

If the economy continues to grow, it makes sense that less of the PA’s budget will depend on international aid. In the beginning of statehood, everyone needs help, as was the case with Israel.

You don’t like depending on the good will of Israel. Well, at least you admit that there is some good will there, as I think there is. But actually, Sami, there is more than good will. There is self-interest.

Let me ask you this. Do you think a Hamas takeover of the West Bank would be in the best interest of the Palestinians living there? I assume the answer is no, considering the mess that Hamas has made in Gaza.

Now, let me ask you this. Who can you count on, in the area, to defend you from such a takeover? Isn’t the answer Israel, because only Israel has the capability and the will to do so? And why would Israel want to defend the West Bank? Not because of good will, but because of self-interest. Israel would not want a terrorist state on its borders any more than West Bank Palestinians want Hamas in charge.

First of all Nissim not only freeze the settlements but get off our back and we can build the best economy in the region

First of all Sami, I agree that you can build the best economy in the region, that’s the point of the article.

Secondly, I agree in ending the occupation, but with security in mind. Both Israel and the new state of Palestine should find a way to protect themselves from extremists, those who would nullify any chance for prosperity and freedom. A deal can be made, it seems to me, to form some sort of an alliance that protects both parties from such an outcome.

As to the settlements, I don’t see a big problem there. Too much focus on the settlements is just a diversion from much larger issues, like security. There are about 300,000 settlers. Of those, about 220,000 live in several large settlement blocks which Israel will probably keep, in exchange for Israeli land. That leaves 80,000 settlers. Of those, about 40,000 would agree to leave for money. That leaves 40,000 highly committed settlers. My answer would be to give them a choice. They could come back to Israel, or become citizens of Palestine. Prime Minister Fayyad said he would not mind having Jews become citizens of Palestine, just as Palestinians are citizens of Israel, to the tune of some 20% of the population. See, no big deal.

…all what I need is to get free and have a dignified life…

Yes Sami, that is what you need, but how do you go about getting it? If Israel abandons the West Bank, as it did Gaza, will that bring you a free and dignified life? Think about it. It’s good to be idealistic, but sometimes a good measure of strategic thinking is called for.

Stop cheating Nissim… nobody can buy your propaganda but the greedy butchers of Palestinian businessmen !!!

One man’s propoganda is another man’s honest assessment. I met some of the Palestinian businessmen you mention. They didn’t seem like “greedy butchers” to me. If anything, they seemed like sophisticated leaders, who learned from the past, and want to try something new for a change, like creating good paying jobs, and an economy that grows, and that becomes the foundation of a new, free, and prosperous state. What alternative do you offer?

The Paltel Telecommunication company is a subcontractor for the Isareli Bezek and both are greedy to suck the blood of the Palestinian consumer !!! Our economy is 99,99% consumptive in service for the Israeli businessmen….. (man doesnt live on bread only) and all what I need is to get free and have a dignified life but not to live on charities and the UNRWA flour and rice !!!!

Stop cheating Nissim… nobody can buy your propaganda but the greedy butchers of Palestinian businessmen !!!

Sami, the bedouin.