Hi Rhys-Jones,

The Palestinians can't do much without the full
support of the US. And the US can put pressure
on Israel. President Biden can do that.
For Palestinians to go opposite a military force
like Israel on their own won't achieve very much
as we've already seen.

Dear Rhys Jones,

If I may add to Foxy's previous post, you wrote:

«it is the Palestinians who need to change strategy if they want an independent state.»

But that's a big IF: they don't!

Had they really wanted it, then they could get their own state decades ago, on 97% of their land plus 3% land-compensation from Israeli territory, plus financial compensation to refugees, etc. etc. All this was available under Ehud Barak's leadership.

The Palestinian leadership is happy with how things are, they speak of a change but they don't want one, the existing situation keeps these nobody's in power which they could not hold in a normal independent state.

Historically, the people of the West Bank wanted to become part of Greater Syria while the people of Gaza wanted to be an integral part of Egypt. If you ask the ordinary Palestinian in the street, anonymously, about their dream situation, then they would now rather live under Israel and become Israeli citizens.
(but then, at present neither Israel, Syria or Egypt would accept them, not with their terrorist history and experience, perhaps Lebanon would because they are so broken and have nothing to lose)

Hi Foxy, I am certainly not suggesting the Palestinians take a military approach. That is the path they have taken so far and the results are obvious. Rockets and bombs have only given the Israelis more credibility on the world stage. A pacifist approach might work. Negotiations would be a good start.
Yuyustsu - I think you have nailed it!

Dear Rhys Jones,

I take a different view.

It is patently evident that it was military actions by the Gazans which have seen Gaza retained as a contiguous parcel of land.

The acquiescence by Fatah and other West Bank leaders has seen the West Bank illegally settled and carved up in a continuous erosion of Palestinian land.

Appeasement has not worked and the aspirations of a viable Palestinian homeland have evaporated as a result.

SR,

You should be ashamed. Comparing corruption in Israel to that in Gaza is comparing a molehill to a mountain. Again with the antisemitism.

Secondly, Fatah did not at any point acquiesce to the building of settlements any more than Hamas acquiesced to a large strip of Gaza being a no go DMZ.

The actions of you Hamas heroes has been to create misery for all Gazans.

shadowminister,

Vomiting out the antisemitic slur yet again. It is only second behind your preoccupation with child sexual abuse. Both may well speak to inner torments but who really knows.

However leaving that aside your obviously don't know acquiescence means "the reluctant acceptance of something without protest" which perfectly fits Fatah's approach.

Of course elements of Fatah are corrupt however that is far less obvious with Hammas. Indeed there have been repeated evidence of good governance of aid monies.