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Originally Posted by RRW
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I really don't see how anybody can argue against that. Those settlements really do nothing to further Israels national aims. They're solely pursued because of the ultra orthodox radicals in Israel. What's even more disgusting is that as the primary settlers, they're the group within the Israeli population that requires the most protection from the Israeli army, while also being the group most adamant against being required to contribute manpower to national defense through conscription.
Realpolitik should tell Israel that pandering to the settlers is detrimental to Israel. At most, Israeli politicians seem to think that the settlement issue can be used as a club to bludgeon the Palestinians with when they do something they don't like. But that's been the Israeli response to everything the Palestinians do, and it's clearly not working. the only way force can settle this matter now would be if the Israeli's opted for outright extermination or conquest...something that has about no chance of being a politically viable option. Not for a state that gained international legitimacy as being a bastion to victims of genocide, not in today's world. Now they could try outright conquest...but that'd lead the problem of how you'd integrate hostile Palestinians into Israel. Make them second class citizens and Israel abandons ALL pretext (as minimal as that might be in the minds of some people) of not being another South Africa. And if all the Palestinians were integrated, the basis of Israel as a majority Jewish democracy goes right out the window.
The Two state solution is really the only viable long term plan. There needs to be a viable Palestinian state that Israel can make peace with, maintain order and prevent further attacks, as well as helping to improve living and social conditions enough so that the inclination to wage war against Israel subsides. But this is inherently impossible when Palestine cannot get recognition as a state, or ensure that radicals in Israel won't slice off more and more of its territory.
Obama has every right to think the Israeli's have no idea what's in their best interest.