NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/22/israel-palestine-poll


Interesting article about a poll taken of the same questions in Palestine and Israel. Basically, the normal people on both sides want a 2 state solution. Most important thing to the Palestinians is their own state, most important thing to Israelis is security. Least they have some point of agreement.

But fear not, both sides still think they should have total control over Jerusalem, so don't expect it all to break into peace anytime soon.

If they both want the city no one should get it.

Stupid question that probably has an obvious answer. Why can't Jerusalem be an autonomous area, run by the United Nations? This would take the Jerusalem question off the agenda. Then we can come back to the issue later when there has been a substantial period of peace and heads are cooler on each side and the situation more conducive to negotiation. If its the elephant in the room that prevents negotiation, lead the elephant out to drink, and create space for a deal on the rest of it to be made.

yeh, I'm not sure where that extended elephant metaphor was going either

If they both want the city no one should get it.

We could cut the city in half, and give half to each state.

Of course, to get the parallel right, we would have to nuke the city and then give half of the burned-out ruins to each state.

Let's just send Chuck Norris over there to "mediate" a solution. :p

euw. Grauniad.

euw. Grauniad.

Come now. Its an independent poll. Just because its not in the Torygraph doesn't mean its communist propaganda :p

Come now. Its an independent poll. Just because its not in the Torygraph doesn't mean its communist propaganda :p

Anything that has Polly Toynbee as a regular columnist gives me palpitations.:tongue:

To be blunt, I doubt a two-state solution would be tenable. To my knowledge, Israel holds most of the prosperous land and conurbations; I doubt they'd be willing to cede a proportion of these areas to Palestine willingly.