Reply #37: Unfortunately, you're probably right about that. [View All]

[aranthus]

Which confirms what the Israeli Right has been saying; that the Palestinians are not yet serious about making peace with Israel. Of course, they want peace. Who doesn't. But they haven't made peace with Israel, either the Jewish state's actual existence, or the right of the Jews to a state of their own. You've said elsewhere that the Palestinians have taken responsibility for terrorist attacks, but that they see them differently. What appears is that the Palestinians either take credit for terrorist attacks, or else they critique them sometimes as not tactically helpful. What they don't do, is declare that terrorist attacks are morally wrong. What they don't do is consider whether their war against Israel's existence is unjustified. They don't even take responsibility for starting the war in 1947, even though the historical evidence of it is manifest. Instead, they want Israel to make peace as if the Arab attack was justified, without even admitting that there was an Arab attack.

On the Israeli side, there is at least an appreciation of the Palestinian condition. There are Israeli and Jewish scholars and journalists who take a pro-Palestinian (many would say anti-Israel) view. People like Neve Gordon, Ilan Pappe, Avi Schlaim, Norman Finkelstein, and many others. Even Benny Morris recognizes that at least some Palestinians were forcibly moved during the 47-49 war. Where is the acceptance of any culpability on the part of the Palestinians by a Palestinian of similar stature? It doesn't exist. If it does, please tell me where?