tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24900977.post115478000732244608..comments2024-01-26T23:15:06.335+02:00Comments on Northern Light – chilled thoughts from the top of Europe: Jerusalem dispatchToby - Northern Light Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14342195033125549912noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24900977.post-1154989668776246172006-08-08T01:27:00.000+03:002006-08-08T01:27:00.000+03:00"Cynics just think that the Arab elite and ex Brit..."Cynics just think that the Arab elite and ex British public schoolboys have interests in common that cannot be named in a family blog."<BR/><BR/>it's not only public schoolboys. there are plenty ex state-school boys that bugger each other too you know. twat.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24900977.post-1154944600114632572006-08-07T12:56:00.000+03:002006-08-07T12:56:00.000+03:00I am in agreement with your assessment that not al...I am in agreement with your assessment that not all states (even Muslim states) desire Israel's destruction. Its a well known secret that Israel has many friends throughout the Arab League, its just that they are unable to voice those same opinions in public, due to the rage of the Arab street. Anti-Semitism in the ME, concocted by other protagonist Arab states has a "spill over" effect on the publics of more moderate regimes in the Levant. One of the worst contributors of this form of racism is Egypt, Syria and Iran. The need for this type of unifying "mob control" by the more dictatorial Arab/Muslim regimes is regrettable and predictable of that type of system, which needs an outside enemy.<BR/><BR/>Concerning the disputed territories, its not wise to contribute the brunt of the Arab/Israeli conflict solely to the Israeli's presence in both Judea and Samaria. The settlements were not the decisive factor in the failure of the Oslo accords, the subsequent Camp David peace talks in 2000, nor will it be so in the future. During the height of the OSLO period, when the Palestinian were in control of more land than they ever before, Palestinian terrorism was at its zenith. A peculiar way for a national movement to act, when there is a prospect for more land to be handed over for a future Palestinian state. With the withdrawal from Hebron, the PA was in control of over 95% of their future state, yet the violence raged. That is reason enough to throw away the notion that "it's the occupation" being the linch pin for any future peace deal. The supposed Palestinian "Right of Return" has always been the spoiler for any peace deal, and will continue to be so, until the moderates (I don't mean main stream Fatah members either) win over the "gotta have it all" portion of Palestinian society.<BR/><BR/>What is at stake is Palestinian intransigence, whose policy vis-vis Israel has remained unchanged during the entire conflict. They have failed to under go the process that Israel has went through, in reaching a conclusion that they "can't have it all". Greater Israel is no longer a dream shared by the overwhelming percentage of Israelis, who have now returned the original tenants of modern day Zionism. That being, a Jewish national home in an Israeli state that is accepted by all. The last pillar in the Zionist platform remains yet unfulfilled, Israel's full recognition by all its neighbors. <BR/><BR/>As for Geneva Accords besting the Road Map, I return to the unrealistic ROR mantra by the mainstream of Palestinian society. The Geneva Accords is incredibly vague on this point. In referring to criticism by many Palestinians that the GA calls for relinquishing the right of return for all refugees to their original homes inside Israel, PA national security advisor Jibril Rajoub's , underlines my understanding of the GA; " There is no phrase that calls for dropping the right of return."<BR/><BR/>The statements coming form the EU Finnish presidency spells doom for any contingent that could be utilized by the Security Council to enforce its chapter seven resolution 1559, to disarm the Hezbollah. What Halonen and other EU appeasers contemplate, is a regurgitated UNIFIL force that already has proven itself to be (for 25 yrs) an ineffective/useless arm of the UN. What is needed is NATO, or the IC is not at all serious in disarming/removing the threat that causes instability on Israel's northern border. Why it has taken so long, is the need for Israel to make enough hash out of the Hezbollah, (because UNSCR 1559 has been ignored) that it's been defanged enough/or destroyed completely for the IC to operate effectively. Another UNIFIL mandated contingent will be just a waste of time, and its just that type of force the Finnish MFA is hoping for.KGShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09743739958015568193noreply@blogger.com