07/12/2004: "Thanks for the advice, Bish"

Via the pro-Palestinian Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) we get this deep diplomatic thinking from Episcopal bishop Barry Howe of West Missouri:

"The security that Israel seeks, and deserves, will be found in resolving the conflict through a negotiated solution with all concerned and the establishment of a Palestinian state with peace and security for all in the region."

This claptrap was uttered in response to the International Court of Justice's ruling against the security fence. One wonders: exactly what is it that Israel is supposed to negotiate with Hamas and Islamic Jihad, both of which have repeatedly said that they will accept nothing less than the total destruction of the Jewish state? Or does one actually have to consider such questions before mindlessly repeating the PC slogans of the day?

Replies: 6 Comments

on Tuesday, July 13th, Greg S said

I'm not sure I understand what there is to "resolve" at this point, and how anyone expects Israel to negotiate.

You can't negotiate during a gun battle unless your opponent stops shooting. And if you're tired of shooting back, the only way to safely put down your gun is to make sure your opponents shots can't hit you.

The climate of psuedo-peace during the late 90s made a difference among both populations, but it will take a generation of such peace before any long term resolution can be reached.

on Saturday, July 17th, M. J. Howell said

Really? If you have lost your home, your olive groves, your land, to an occupier, what do you do. The Israelis established their state by force and those who take what does not belong to them can expect to feel insecure.

on Saturday, July 17th, olgoat said

Dear Mr.Howell,
And your proposal is.....

on Saturday, July 17th, Athanasius said

Actually, Mr. Howell, Israel was established by United Nations action. Israel was then invaded by five Arab armies, and fought back for the sake of its survival. Sorry if the Arab world doesn't appreciate it if the Jews didn't just roll over and die.

on Sunday, July 18th, J Flynt said

The United States was also established by force. We found through experience that the only way to have this country was to kill so many enemy troops that they would count the cost too high to continue. That is what will end the Islaeli problem.

on Monday, July 19th, Greg S said

Actually, Israel has tried repeatedly to give back the olive groves, land, homes, etc. Instead, the Palestinians who currently have power have called for nothing short of the destruction of Israel.

But hey, if you think it's already an illegal state, then what's the point in degotiating a 2 state solution?