Originally Posted by
Stavros
The solution right now is to stop the rockets and stop the military engagement; in the medium term there has to be a re-negotiation of the border controls that have strangled Gaza -with both Israel and Egypt- and confidence-building measures on both sides to establish a meaningful dialogue. Just as there was a huge debate in Northern Ireland over the de-commissioning of weapons by both the Republican and Loyalist paramilitaries, so there must be serious discussions about the de-militarisation of Gaza, and the revocation of the right of (illegal) settlers in the West Bank to carry arms. There are as I have suggested before numerous measures that can improve life there, but at some point Israel has to make a major structural move on illegal settlements; it must also abolish the zoning of the West Bank which is an insult to everyone who lives there,and is in practical terms an obstacle to the economic and social life of the Palestinians.
Perhaps for once you will comment on Israel rather than Hamas; most people it seems are nervous, if not terrified of debating Israel, but it is important.