An Honest Conversation about the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

the fundamentals of this conflict that have existed since 1967 are somehow becoming more obvious and less accessible every day. As rhetoric bleeds into strategy, sobering arguments are polluted by perverse distortions and the only thing that makes sense is confusion. As a humble remedy, perhaps, the following conversation is a synthesis of hundreds of hours of candid discussions between Israeli and Palestinian colleagues and friends. It offers no solutions ... Full Story »

Posted by Christian Avard
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Posted by: Posted by Christian Avard - Mar 12, 2009 - 10:57 AM PDT
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Edited by: Christian Avard - Mar 12, 2009 - 10:57 AM PDT

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Deborah Plummer
5.0
by Deborah Plummer - Mar. 12, 2009

It presents opposing perspectives excellently.

I wanted to scream through-out the whole article. I admire anyone who can manage the peace process between these two great cultures who want to be left along in their own countries.

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Naomi Isler
4.8
by Naomi Isler - Mar. 13, 2009

It manages to distill the current, quite legitimate arguments on each side into understandable language. However, it does ignore the 'refugee problem' - displaced Palestinians in refugee camps who aren't welcome in other Arab nations, and Jews from Arab nations displaced by the same wars who settled in Israel and don't want to go back. At the time of the wars, there was almost an equal 'exchange of populations'. That's changed, of course. And it mentions, but tiptoes around the violence between Fatah and Hamas.

George Mitchell may actually be able to accomplish something here. And just as some rogue IRA people seem to be shooting again, some rogue groups on each side will continue to cause problems in Israel/Palestine.

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Gerald Zuckier
4.1
by Gerald Zuckier - Mar. 16, 2009

it maintains a nonpartisan, nonfingerpointing point of view, which is required to educate those who feel one party or the other in this conflict is the injured innocent while the other is absolutely guilty.

Like the author, I can see that both "sides" have valid grievances and both "sides" have enough blood on their hands that to attempt to solve the solution by redressing past misdeeds is fruitless. Instead, one must rotate one's point of view 90 degrees; instead of Israelis vs. Palestinians, frame the struggle in terms of those who wish to continue the hostilities, vs. those who wish to end them.

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James Canning
4.0
by James Canning - Mar. 12, 2009

Quite interesting. Certainly a number of issues are to be found in seeking a solution to the Israel/Palestine problem.

I agree with Prince Hassan of Jordan who thinks Israel needs to accept the Saudi peace plan, get out of the Golan Heights and accept the peace deal offered by Syria, and end the occupation of the West Bank, with a third party of some sort taking over interim control (UN peacekeeping or some such).

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Kenneth Sibbett
2.7
by Kenneth Sibbett - Mar. 18, 2009

Writing an article in interview form of two people arguing is like showing a video of bullies in the grammar school pushing each other around. It's boring and you get nothing from it.

Everything each man said was basically true, What the hell did it solve. Thank God no trees were destroyed in the process of this interview?

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Christian Avard
4.7
by Christian Avard - Mar. 18, 2009

This article comprises "hundreds of hours of candid discussions" that in IMO accurately reflects what Israelis and Palestinians experience and/or discuss. It doesn't attempt to argue any points. It just shows an accurate portrayal how many Israelis and Palestinians perceive the historic conflict.

See Full Review » (6 answers)
Ian Crowley
4.3
by Ian Crowley - Mar. 18, 2009

this is good reporting, the words of real operatives, with real substance

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