Dozens of 12th graders tell Netanyahu: We refuse to serve in

soulsinging

rebornFixer wrote:

soulsinging wrote:

The problem is that the position of "Palestine should stop using violence" is a cop out. It doesnt' require you to do anything, and it never could. You can't make them stop, only they can. So the only question we have is what can WE do to help the peace process. That is why I advocate for the US withdrawing their support and letting Israel stand up to the world on its own. Put pressure on Israel to make those overtures. Because it's the only thing we can do given that we do have SOME say in how the US conducts its affairs. Placing the onus on the Palestinians is just an easy way to avoid responsibility for our role in it. We created this situation, and now we're asking the victim to forgive us before we lift a finger to make things right with them. Even children know it doesn't work that way.

Maybe ... Like I say, I have no qualms about putting the primary responsibility on Israel and American support. I maintain the view that putting ZERO onus on the Palestinians could backfire, though. If indeed groups like Hamas exist because of Israeli and American policy, changing said policy should cause these groups to lose steam. Let's test it out, I say. It would probably take the Palestinians a few generations to change, and they should be given the chance to do so, after Israel steps up to the plate. Keeping in mind, though, that even children typically feel that big changes or compromises on their part require some reciprocity on the part of others.

True, it wouldn't help to let Palestine totally off the hook. At some point, they have to show that they're willing to play ball too. I just feel like we need to make the first overtures and it has to be more than saying we're willing to work with them.

catefrances

soulsinging wrote:

rebornFixer wrote:

Overall, I think there's more agreement than disagreement in this thread, at least right now. You guys win, in that my view has shifted quite a bit from my original position, and 1) I agree with the basic notion that Israel probably has the higher level of responsibility here, and 2) the international community outside of the Middle East has enabled the Israelis much more than is desirable ... I maintain the view that violence in the form of organized Islamic extremism is not going to help the Palestinian cause, but I can also concede that Israeli actions have fueled this movement. The fuel supply needs to be turned off, and that is Israel's job, assuming they are serious about peace.

The problem is that the position of "Palestine should stop using violence" is a cop out. It doesnt' require you to do anything, and it never could. You can't make them stop, only they can. So the only question we have is what can WE do to help the peace process. That is why I advocate for the US withdrawing their support and letting Israel stand up to the world on its own. Put pressure on Israel to make those overtures. Because it's the only thing we can do given that we do have SOME say in how the US conducts its affairs. Placing the onus on the Palestinians is just an easy way to avoid responsibility for our role in it. We created this situation, and now we're asking the victim to forgive us before we lift a finger to make things right with them. Even children know it doesn't work that way.

the problem with "Palestine should stop using violence" is that there is no palestine. this is the state of israel vs the palestinian people dispossesed of their land.