Reply #4: Yes, I'd agree with all of those. [View All]

[Donald Ian Rankin]

It's nice to see a post on the subject that isn't an attempt to be confrontational from one side or the other (not that I'm not as guilty of that myself as many).

I'd add the following.

It is quite likely that attacks on Israel would continue to some extent even if it were to meet all of the demands the Palestinians put forward at Camp David (withdrawal to the Green Line, parts of Jerusalem, etc); hereafter to be referred to as "Israeli withdrawal", for short. They probably would, however, reduce in frequency and severity to some extent. How substantially is debateable.

There is little chance of the attacks on Israel ending or reducing substantially without Israeli withdrawal, no matter how much force Israel uses.

Some of the Arabs will not lay down arms while Israel continues to exist

Some of the Arabs would be happy to trade peace for Israeli withdrawal.

There is no chance of Israeli withdrawal while a Republican is in the White House; there is not much chance even if a Democrat were to be.

The situation in the Middle East is unlikely to improve for a very long time, and is quite likely to get worse.

The whole thing is probably irremediably fucked.