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The Forum > Article Comments > Historical grievances form barrier to peace > Comments

Historical grievances form barrier to peace : Comments

By Irfan Yusuf, published 3/9/2007

Muslims who insist Israel has no right to exist are deluding themselves. Such claims enter the realm of hypocrisy when expressed by Pakistani Muslims.

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This article points to interesting parallels between the “creation myths” of Pakistan and Israel, out of broadly similar circumstances, and the harm these can do when perpetuated uncritically by future generations. Another thought-provoking piece from Irfan.
Posted by Rhian, Monday, 3 September 2007 3:38:29 PM
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A fine article Irfan. Though Israel is not working to thwart any creation of a Palestinian State. The Palestinians themselves have refused over and over again any help or encouragement to form their own country unless that country had direct influence in Israeli national matters. The Palestinians under Arafat made the conditions of no compromise for the continuance of the State of Israel and was supported in this by neighbouring Arab Countries with monies and weapons, and who, by their treatment of Palestinian 'refugees' in their countries, care little for the Palestinians as a people.
Israel is a State. A functioning country contributing to the world markets and intellectual and technological advancement. What could be the State or country of Palestine is a barren, socially dormant limbo kept alive by it's Arab neighbours for the sole purpose of spawning martyrs to the Arab/Islamic cause. whatever that meant yesterday or may mean tomorrow. A willingness to compromise could have had a Palestine flourishing as Israel does(even in the face of a history of continuous terrorist attacks and outright warfare).
Posted by aqvarivs, Monday, 3 September 2007 4:08:31 PM
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A fine and balanced piece, thanks. Pity the same can't be said about the post from Aqvarivs. It begins with a classic piece of doublespeak 'Though Israel is not working to thwart any creation of a Palestinian State'. Israel didn't even recognise the existence of the Palestinian people (a people without a land for a land without a people, remember?) unfortunately until Arafat's PLO began its terror campaign in the 1970's. But then this same PLO took the historic move of accepting Israel inside the pre-1967 border, a move ignored by Israel and her Zionist supporters. This is a massive concession, which sheds the light on Israel's true goal of annexing large parts of the West Bank. Coupled with the Arab League Peace plan, Israel's aggression is naked before the world. All it will take is for America's falling star to hit the ground, and Israel's grubby land grab will be history.

It is Israel's continuing occupation that threatens the very existence of Israel now, not Arab armies.
Posted by Earthrise, Monday, 3 September 2007 4:41:40 PM
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Earthrise, that is because there is no people named Palestinian. Palestine was a name given by the Romans to a tract of land partitioned from Judaea for reasons of government management. Those people, some Arab, others of minority religion, unwanted or unclaimed tribes and associations, who were pushed into that section of land by the formation of or defining of the Trans-Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Egypt and Saudi-Arabia. The Arabs living in the area of Palestine did not take up the name of Palestine or consider themselves Palestinians until after the creation of Israel by the British from land taken from the land under British control following the destruction of the Ottoman Empire, namely Palestine. Palestine today is the remnant of that geography not of a people. Palestine was never a State and as such remains a geographical area until such time as those calling themselves today Palestinian create a State and it is recognised as such by the World and principally The United Nations. Arafat never wanted Statehood because with Statehood the 'Palestinians' would be restricted by international law and convention as to their behavior. Israel is a State recognised by the world (sans Arabia)and the United nations and is held to a higher standard of State behavior because of it. Your Palestinians are a Stateless people confined to a geographical unclaimed territory. They are not victims of Israel. They are victims of an non-cohesive tribalism unwilling to take up the responsibility of statehood.
Posted by aqvarivs, Monday, 3 September 2007 5:52:43 PM
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Earthrise isn’t interested in FACTS, Aqvaris.

For instance he wouldn’t care that in 1970 Israel had already been brought to the brink of extinction twice by invading Arab armies. Israel wasn’t occupying any Palestinian land prior to 1967 by the way. They would face a third attack within three years.

The Israelis offered Arafat such a deal at Camp David in 2000. He refused it because the Palestinian terror organisations aren’t interested in a two state solution.

What is really amusing is your wishful thinking about Israel being forced to give up those parts of the west bank under its control. It would take an army to do that, or more likely a nuclear weapon. Is that something you would support Earthrise?

Maybe you are having your palm read, or you have a functioning crystal ball?

What we do know is that there is massive support for Hamas’s brand of Islamic theocracy. Support for Fatah is almost non existent. Earthrise might think he knows what Israel intends to do. He only need look at Hamas’s charter to see that they have absolutely no interest in ANY kind of deal with Israel, pre 1967 or otherwise They want the whole lot, or martyrdom. Nothing else.
Posted by Paul.L, Monday, 3 September 2007 7:09:51 PM
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Britain had no right to give what was Palestinian land to the Jews to set up the state of Israel. The Jews that first made up the state of Israel were Europeans and had no links of any kind to the land.

The English-speaking West has ganged up with Israel to get rid of the Palestinians from the land of their fathers, an ethnic cleansing. That the Palestinians do not want statehood is a statement made by the ethically and morally bankrupt.

The sad thing is that the Palestinians have turned what is essentially a political conflict into a religious one now that Hamas is representing them.

http://www.newstatesman.com/200708230026
Posted by Philip Tang, Monday, 3 September 2007 10:27:06 PM
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