Hillary to talk about Arab state obligations in peace process http://blogs.jta.org/ENTRY_PERMALINK_HERE/hillary-to-talk-about-arab-state-obligations-in-peace-process/ Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will discuss what the Obama administration wants to see from the Arab states in supporting the Palestinian Authority. en-us efingerhut@jta.org Copyright 2009 2009-07-15T;19:05:00-05:00 Comment by Linda Cooper lindagirl1@earthlink.net Why should Israel agree to vacate Jews from the West Bank when almost 20% of Israel’s population is Arabs? Here is a fair trade: Israel can trade its Israeli Arabs for the West Bank Jewish settlers.... Now that is fair. Linda Cooper Why should Israel agree to vacate Jews from the West Bank
when almost 20% of Israel’s population is Arabs?
Here is a fair trade:
Israel can trade its Israeli Arabs for the West Bank Jewish settlers....
Now that is fair.
Linda Cooper

]]> 2012-02-10T;12:44:00-05:00 Comment by daniel wade barry geronimo4@verizon.net I worry when Israel does get something instead of always giving,it’s a trick.a hat trick. I worry when Israel does get something instead of always giving,it’s a trick.a hat trick.

]]> 2012-02-10T;12:44:00-05:00 Comment by gael matheson lan.math@hotmail.com Eu Wei Choi - your 6/11/09 post never to “forget the role of the Palestinian Arab leader...in the Holocaust” also calls to mind never to forget that in the Reich’s political negotiations with their Arab allies no specific political promises were offered because: the mutual understanding and hopeful expectation was, that in due course, with the right powers in place, not only “Palestine”, but even more so, the world at large was to become “Judenrein”. Eu Wei Choi - your 6/11/09 post never to “forget the role of the Palestinian Arab leader...in the Holocaust” also calls to mind never to
forget that in the Reich’s political negotiations with their Arab allies
no specific political promises were offered because:
the mutual understanding and hopeful expectation was, that in due course, with the right powers in place, not only “Palestine”, but even more so, the world at large was to become “Judenrein”.

]]> 2012-02-10T;12:44:00-05:00 Comment by Peter Wedlund peterwedlund@yahoo.com I stated from the outset that the peace effort by Obama is not just on Israel, but on all Middle East parties to cooperate.  Peace takes everyone contributing, and can be ruined by one or more who refuse to do so. The log jam can be opened in measured steps of confidence building.  The freeze on settlements, improved interactions with Arabs on the West Bank, Hamas making a good faith gesture by releasing the Israeli soldier, Israel lowering its blockade of Gaza and allowing more food, medical aid, assistance, building materials to flow into Gaza so rebuilding can take place, Middle East nations stepping up and recognizing Israel and exchanging ambassadors, increasing trade and eliminating travel restrictions. With each step comes the possibility of the next step being taken. The Obama administration is right, Arab nations need to give more than just lip service to peace, they need to be actively engaged on that goal.  If Israel feels the pressure to stop settlements and does, the expectation is that other Arab nations, Hamas, and the Palestinians will be reciprocating.  Otherwise, there is nothing to justify continued pressure on Israel to help facilitate the peace process.  You can’t have peace if only one nation is willing to make an effort in that direction, every American understands that simple concept.  I hope that isn’t the case, but only time will tell.  If the Arab promises are empty, we will at least know them for what they are and those responsible for the failure will not be able to hide behind empty gestures.  Rest assured these nations will be reminded of their failure each and every time they meet Obama or members of the State Department over the duration of his term(s) in office and whenever they begin to raise some objection about Israeli actions.  With great power comes great responsibility, but that does not mean those with less power can be irresponsible.  That is also a clear message from the Obama administration. I stated from the outset that the peace effort by Obama is not just on Israel, but on all Middle East parties to cooperate.  Peace takes everyone contributing, and can be ruined by one or more who refuse to do so.

The log jam can be opened in measured steps of confidence building.  The freeze on settlements, improved interactions with Arabs on the West Bank, Hamas making a good faith gesture by releasing the Israeli soldier, Israel lowering its blockade of Gaza and allowing more food, medical aid, assistance, building materials to flow into Gaza so rebuilding can take place, Middle East nations stepping up and recognizing Israel and exchanging ambassadors, increasing trade and eliminating travel restrictions. With each step comes the possibility of the next step being taken.

The Obama administration is right, Arab nations need to give more than just lip service to peace, they need to be actively engaged on that goal.  If Israel feels the pressure to stop settlements and does, the expectation is that other Arab nations, Hamas, and the Palestinians will be reciprocating.  Otherwise, there is nothing to justify continued pressure on Israel to help facilitate the peace process.  You can’t have peace if only one nation is willing to make an effort in that direction, every American understands that simple concept. 

I hope that isn’t the case, but only time will tell.  If the Arab promises are empty, we will at least know them for what they are and those responsible for the failure will not be able to hide behind empty gestures.  Rest assured these nations will be reminded of their failure each and every time they meet Obama or members of the State Department over the duration of his term(s) in office and whenever they begin to raise some objection about Israeli actions.  With great power comes great responsibility, but that does not mean those with less power can be irresponsible.  That is also a clear message from the Obama administration.

]]> 2012-02-10T;12:44:00-05:00 Comment by Yehuda Shenef yehudavid@t-online.de Also this statement does not contain any “concrete actions the Arab world or the Palestinians need to take”. This is not understandable and it also is not helpful. It is just blabla. Also this statement does not contain any “concrete actions the Arab world or the Palestinians need to take”.

This is not understandable and it also is not helpful.

It is just blabla.

]]> 2012-02-10T;12:44:00-05:00 Comment by Michael Liebowitz adguy1014@me.com Terrific.  Where’s the reminder to everyone that Israel uprooted her own people and evacuated the Gaza Strip and in return, got bombings and worldwide criticism?  It’s always up to Israel to make sacrifices. Terrific.  Where’s the reminder to everyone that Israel uprooted her own people and evacuated the Gaza Strip and in return, got bombings and worldwide criticism?  It’s always up to Israel to make sacrifices.

]]> 2012-02-10T;12:44:00-05:00