"Israel does not deserve all the blame. Arab political and religious leaders, despite historic grievances, have a duty to recognize that Israel is their neighbor. Israel is part of the mosaic of the modern Middle East. A change in tone and tenor and a public embrace of Israel by religious leaders will calm the nerves of an anxious Israeli population.
In the end, Israel has limited options. Peace is not possible without Hamas, and Hamas is not a simple terrorist outfit. Its political arm, its leadership inside and outside Gaza, despite their tensions, are open to indirect talks with Israel.
Just as the British and American governments negotiated peace in Northern Ireland by reaching out to IRA terrorists through their political wing of Sinn Fein, we must tame Hamas through politics, not the failed strategy of war." Ed Husain
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Ari Shavit of Ha'aretz was on Morning Boob today saying much the same thing as Husain does in this opinion piece. IMO a willingness of the GOI and Hamas to deal with each other is an absolute requirement for any kind of settlement.
The Irish example is now proposed as a fashionable and reasonable "path" to a way out of the dismal mess that is the Palestinian impasse in dealing with Israel.
Even Mornin' Joe Scarborough expresses this thought on Mika's daily orgy of feminism. He had the Palestinian ambassador to the UN on today and managed to walk down the fine line of political caution while expressing support for peace.
Joe asked the ambassador how Israel could be assured that a PA run Gaza with Hamas still present would not wage war against them. the ambassador said that if an agreement could be reached then an international observer force (UN?) would be needed, a force with unlimited rights of "no notice" inspection.
I agree and IMO such a force would have to be built around a core structure of Egyptians. pl
http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/04/opinion/husain-hamas-negotiations-gaza/index.html?iref=allsearch
