Did Kerry speak the truth? Is it possible for 2 states to exist in Israel? Israel and Palestine?
Is there equality in the state of Israel now? Is Israel really a democracy? Do all the people have equal rights or do some folks have more rights than others?
As usual, I think this is being taken out of context and blown out of proportion. Looking at what he said is that ‘Israel runs the risk of becoming an apartheid state….’ – not that they Are an apartheid state.
Wrong word, wrong time, wrong target. Especially when relations between us have not been so peachy for quite awhile. Kerry seems to be frustrated by the “peace process” —- like every SecState before him who thought they might be the one to go down in world history as a miracle worker. Nevertheless, it will all end in the dustbin after Kerry dons sackcloth and ashes and apologizes privately to the PM. Before Kerry says anything in public about Israel, he would do well to chant: “Iran…Nukes…Gaza…Hamas….Iran…Nukes….Gaza…Hamas…Iran…Nukes…..”
I guess we really won’t know if two states can exist side-by-side in peace and cooperation until the Palestinians and their allies truly concede the right of Israel to exist.
Kerry got it right. Israel is becoming an apartheid state.
@Pat.Herve
Excellent point. I tend to agree with Kerry on this subject
@Pat @ Starry
@Wolve
There is that little problem of Palestinian lands and people being denied right of return. There are people who have been displaced for over 60 years.
This is not a one sided issue.
Trust me, I have no answers other than it is clear that there are two sides to the issue.
@Wolve
I see no point in bringing up Iran. It just muddies the waters.
“Apartheid” is deservedly a charged word that has a lot of negative connotations and it was inappropriate in this context. The truth underlying the comments, however, has been stated many times previously by both Israelis and their many friends around the world: Without a two state solution, Israel cannot remain both democratic and a Jewish state at the same time. The arithmetic is rigid and unsentimental. They will have to decide how best to manage this reality.
I have thought and thought about what better word to use to describe what Israel might become if the hard liners had their way. I can’t think of one.
All seem fairly offensive. I have no idea what can be done about non continguous lands either.
Now I have a headache just from thinking about all of this.
The one thing remains clear to me. The film Exodus is still one of the most boring films I have ever watched. Then, and now.
@Starryflights
Starry…please…..expound on this.
You seem to have such knowledge of Israel.
Go on….
@Moon-howler
Right of return?
What right is that?
Those “refugees” departed voluntarily to assist those fighting a war against Israel.
They lost.
That’s what happens when you fight a war.
If the Israelis were in the same boat…..do you really think that the arabs would be allowing ANY return?
Cargo, right of return is a huge issue with Palestinians living in other lands, whether we like it or not. I had a friend who simply could not return to her home. She was an older lady and had been a young woman on vacation. It’s really not as simple as represented by you. She hadn’t left voluntarily to fight a war against Israel. She was a Christian Palestinian on vacation. Her family’s home and land were seized in those turbulent times. I don’t pretend to know all the ins and outs.
Many people just want to get out of the way of war and clashing armies. I doubt seriously if too many of the original refugees are left unless they were babies or children. They couldn’t have lost.
Then there’s that problem of Palestinians attempting to blow up Israelis. It’s sort of difficult to convince people to give you equal rights when they think you might be a suicide bomber. Not sure how Israel is supposed to get past that dirty little habit. Who foot the bill for some of that? Hmmmm…..
No easy answers.
Ask an Israeli if mentioning Iran in the context of Amercan-Israeli relations “muddies the waters.” Security regarding Hamas and the new threats in the Sinai the Israelis can pretty much handle. If or when Iran gets the bomb, however, will likely be the day when the Middle East book gets rewritten. (The Saudis have already been talking to Pakistan about a Saudi nuclear option.) I would say that Iran is one of the sorest points between the two of us. It would be wise to remember the whole table setting when sending out zingers of frustration against Tel Aviv.
As far as the grievances over the “The Return” are concerned, nothing moves at all toward a final solution until the other side agrees to the existence of the Israeli state and drops the intention of driving the Jews back into the sea.
Final solution? Could we chose a different expression, please. “The other side” ? Let’s speak about Palestine, not “the other side.”
There are two sides to the discussion, regardless of how you want to ignore facts. Not every Palestinian denies right of existence to Israel. Not every Israeli wants to drive out all Palestinians.
Like I said, I don’t have answers or solutions but I do see that two sides exist and somehow, if there is to be peace, everyone has to walk away feeling that they have gained.
Bill Clinton game the closest in recent years.
John Kerry is already trying to walk the comment back. It will soon be in the dustbin.
BTW, I meant John Kerry should chant that refrain in his own head before he opens the official mouth.
Seems like everything “leaks” these days — Sterling and his mistress; speeches at the Trilateral Commission; Snowden; IRS emails…………
There may be two sides, but true peace will not come until the other side stops calling for and promising the total destruction of Israel.
And I believe many Palestinians fled because the Arabs lied to them by saying that the Jews would slaughter them. An induced panic by their own side.
@Wolve
The Saudis just had a small parade.
http://www.debka.com/article/23878/Saudis-parade-nuclear-missiles-for-the-first-time-in-defiance-of-US-Iranian-nuclear-accord