Mac:
In response to your queries:

(i) The League of Nations and the United Nations endorsed the reconstitution of the Jewish National Home in Palestine and the granting of Arab self determination in the entire Arabian peninsula after the Ottoman Empire had been dismantled. It is therefore appropriate that any compensation for those affected by the outcome of those policies be met by the international community.

(ii) Citizenship, resettlement and rehabilitation in their host countries offers the best prospect of ending the refugees continued existence in squalid and depressing refugee camps.

(iii) Offers of a State in the West Bank and Gaza have been made by Israel to the Palestinian Authority since 1993 all of which have been unsuccessful. Attempting to assign blame is a pointless exercise. A new approach is necessary to divide sovereignty of these areas between Israel, Jordan and Egypt.

Keith:

In response to your proposal

I think it is impractical since it involves major changes to the status quo and the political realities that exist today. My proposal deals with the "here and now" in trying to find an acceptable and honourable way out of the present impasse without point scoring or arguing about the past. I do not pretend that the resolution of these issues will end the desire of many Arabs to wipe Israel off the face of the map. I would hope however that their resolution might help to defuse the current very dangerous situation in the Middle East which is wreaking havoc on the lives of both Jews and Arabs.

Polycarp:

Thanks for your endorsement.

I believe the issue of Jerusalem is not a major sticking point. Its status has already been discussed and its future dealt with in the peace treaty between Israel and Jordan signed in 1994.

The fact that there are already signed peace treaties between Israel and Egypt and Israel and Jordan is the foundation on which I hope my proposals could be advanced. It is much easier to solve problems with friendly states than enemy non-states.

Good argument David

Now apply the same principle to the illegal settlements... from the Palestinian and world point of view.

Of course you'll be an inconsistant hypocrite and advocate retention of all the brand new illegal settlements and their expansion ....

Readers may find Ahmadinejad’s speech to the UN helpful (Realplayer or K-Lite universal player required):

http://www.finalcall.com/media/news/UN_Ahmadinejad09-23-2008.htm

In any case, there's a transcript.

It's laced with a bit of ayatollah stuff, but that's OK - the emphasis is still on universal brotherhood based on respect and love, so even if you're not sitting in the palm of god's right hand, you'll get the drift. I really enjoyed it.

It does starkly reveal one thing though. Senator Obama condemned the speech as being anti-semetic and offensive, when it clearly was not (no US delegate was present at the speech of course):

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article20879.htm

You don't have to be a genius to figure out that the Zio-cons are in full "smoke-screen" mode. Worse, their naked influence in US politics stands revealed for all to see. If I was Obama, I would die of embarrassment. That's what makes him a professional politician I suppose.

Dunno about you guys, but I crave a bit of honesty so much. Sometimes in moments of quiet reflection, I can almost remember what honesty smelled and tasted like. Ah, but it's all so long ago.....

- about 60 years to be exact -

David Singer,

Your proposals are very plausible if we accept that the Palestinians don't exist as a people, however, I think that they do. Why do we need to assign blame? Because it demolishes the moral high ground so readily assumed by uncritical supporters of Israel. The Palestinians are paying the bill for 2000 years of anti-semitism and it appears that they will pay with their homeland.

David,

Sorry but I just can't see what you are trying to say; Like any effort to rescue a people that prefer to remain refugees. Maybe look closer to home and you will find the answer to why a people prefer one way of life over the other.
What ever it is you actually want to achieve with your prose, you better hurry up before those hybrids take over

Polycarp

If I'd have said

"The sooner the sense of '(Jewish) Idenity' is erased from the pages of history the better off we will all be, including them."

"The idea of '(Jewish connection} to the land' is invalid."

I'd be condemned in every forum by every propaganda mouthpieces and by decent people evberywhere.

You sir are a coward spouting hate who is hiding behind a non-de-plume .

David Singer do you endorse Polycarp's words?