The future of Palestine

[Arkacia]

I am wondering what people think about the ilness of Yasser Arafat, and what may happen if he dies.

Frankly, I am worried that without him, the violence between the Israeli's and Palestinians will get radically worse. That will effectively end the hopes of a Palestinian state.

While I do have a lot more sympathy and support for the Israeli's in this conflict, the senseless loss of lives, on both sides, is deplorable, and with the power struggle that will happen if Arafat dies, I can't help but wonder if there will ever be any sort of peace in the Middle east.

News story (http://www.couriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,11289963%255E954,00.html)

[Mick]

I think its more a case of when he dies.... sadly things are looking grim, considering the latest news. No one has admitted things are really bad, but i think its safe to assume hes in trouble.
Unless the Palestinians can find a leader everyone likes, theres going to be a lot more trouble in the country. Apparently he has no clear successor yet, so things are sure to get worse.
I think the trouble is going to continue for a long time....
As for the rest of the world....who knows....things seem to be gradually getting worse everywhere.....

[Arkacia]

We are getting very conflicting accounts of Arafat's condition. His wife says he's not in a coma, is getting better and the "rumours" he is dying are lies. The Palestinian authorities (who have sent a deputation to France to see him in hospital), are saying the opposite. Makes me wonder what the truth actually is. The doctors looking after him have been gagged by the family, and won't release any concrete information.

[Mick]

So now its official, Yasser Arafat is dead......and no likely successor... looks like things are going to be very tense for a while....

[Skeletor]

I saw a special report on the news here in the uk the other day where a jewish family had been told by the israeli government that they would have to leave their house and mov somewhere else ( i think they lived in one of the settlements that occupies palestinian land and where there has been a lot of fighting over the years), sorry not a fmaily it was an old couple, the guy had been shot in the hand, lost a leg etc and they had rocket shells that had been fired at their house. But, for the sake of peace the Israelis had said they would not occupy this bit of land any longer and would evacuate.
can you see where this is going??
well, this old couple point blankly refused to leave their house and said they would have to be forcibly removed....human nature and self preservation, i love it....peace is never free is it ;)

[Arkacia]

I can understand the old couple not wanting to move and leave their home, but in the end compromise will need to be made by both sides if there is going to be any chance of a real and lasting peace. The Israeli government is more to blame though, because they actively encouraged and permitted, or just turned a blind eye in the past to settlements on disputed land.

To be honest, I can't see why any Jewish Israeli's would want to stay on land that will end up in Palestinian hands. After all the animosity between the two sides, I can't see the Palestinians letting any Jews live in peace within their borders.

[dunkinmb310]

palestine along with the wole middle east and the whole world is all SOL cu 100 years from now all of us is gonna be dead and our kids are gonna have a crap load of problams to deal with

[doorkeeperz]

number one, there will never be peace in this region, the reason is, the palestinians
are trying to claim land that does not belong to them, this would be the same as
england coming over here to the US and trying to occupy 2 or 3 states and claiming it for themselves, just not going to happen, well thats what the palestinians are trying to do. if you have so many questions about this stuff, why don't you read the book?
to have the title (super moderator) you must not be reading the bible much.

[Arkacia]

Read what book? If you mean the bible then I have to ask what the heck does reading that have to do with the Israeli/Palestinian problem? They are Muslims and Jews, not Christians and the problems between them are political. Religion is just used as the excuse.

If you are aiming that last sentence at me then no I don't read the bible at all. I'm an athiest, and religion has nothing to do with the super mod job.

[yarnellcg17]

As far as taking and occupying land.. that has been going on for Centuries in every part of the world.. New or Old..
I agree Arkacia..it is political.. now .. more then at it's begining..as far as peace ever coming to that region..as I have always told my friends..there will never be peace in the Middle East..No matter how many accords ever get drawn up..and those for the most part in general are political as well..

[JsWoman]

Aren't accords, generally, all politically based, Yarnell? I mean, as far as all the accords I've ever seen, read about, or heard about, they all seem very political, to me. As far as peace in the Middle East? I think pigs will learn to fly before they start to settle down, for good. (Does that sound like never to anyone else?)