No American Dog in This Hunt
Gail, I'll happily concede that the Palestinians and larger Arab world have been irresponsible jerks, acting like victims of little Israel. But because there are so many explosive issues of religious identity between an angry Muslim populace and a self-proclaimed Jewish nation, that's precisely why America -- the most powerful nation on earth, which functions as an avowed secular democracy -- should be neutral regarding this holy mess.
The Holy Land has been a holy mess ever since God ordered the first act of terrorism in Deuteronomy against Canaanite women, children and livestock. The Stern gang and Arabs extended that tradition. Anger seems to be the only manner of dialogue there, and that is seen in Israeli approaches to impose day-to-day misery on average Palestinians (as with the Gaza economic blockade that preceded this debacle). As for the UN partition in 1948, that seems to be the only time that Israel respected UN wishes.
Both sides are at fault, and neither Arab fanatics nor Israeli settlers want peace. But the U.S. loses global credibility (and does no favors for Israel ultimately) when it acts as if one side is totally at fault.
Rob, IMHO, it doesn’t appear that the Arabs want peace. Not judging by their rhetoric and the terrorist acts they commit. How could the settlers not want peace because there are very few people who would like rockets lobbed on them.
And I don’t think that the US should be neutral not as long as there are countries who largely support the Arabs and who are willing to sell the Palestinians weapons. Never mind that we have made the Arab nations rich beyond even their imaginations because of all that black gold they’re sitting on.
Also, 1948 was not the only time that Israel has respected the UN's wishes. The Israeli government has the right to protect her citizens, but if anyone wants to look at not respecting the UN's wishes, then you would need look no further than Hamas and many other Arab nations.