re: #147 Obdicut

This is far, far too blithe a way of putting it, and always has been. It insinuates that someone who saves a life in Palestine is not considered heroic. It insinuates that no one who takes a life in US culture is seen as heroic for doing it. This is wrong.

I think if Palestine recognized Israel, the other Arab states would attempt to overthrow the government of Palestine.

It’s not Palestine vs. Israel. It’s every Middle Eastern Muslim country vs. Israel.

Not sure about this. I think the majority of ME Muslim governments will be relieved once they can start treating Palis like citizens of a sovereign, and the governing parties as diplomatic counterparts. It will allow them to tell Hamas to fuck off, and the Pali public to start working on creating a real society and economy that is not built on destroying a neighbouring state. Jordan, and probably many of the Gulf Emirates, would rather have more or less normal relations with Israel and tell the Palis where to stick it until they grow up.