I've seen a lot of posts this week about the way folks feel -- folks understandably freaked out by the war. Folks angry at Israel. Folks (like me) a little freaked out by some of the intensity of the anger at Israel. Haven't seen quite so much about what we could do long-term about the situation over there -- a 10 year plan. Seems like everyone's (and this goes way beyond DK) always talking about the past, the present, or the very near future. It's the 3-week or 3-minute plan. Nobody really expects to solve a problem that spans generations in that kinda timeframe.
There are some awfully sharp people on the site and I'm really curious what folks think. Assume Israel isn't going any where and isn't going to give up its identity as a Jewish state. Assume the Palestinians won't be electing a two-state-friendly party any time in the near future. Just for the hell of it, assume that most Israelis, Palestinians, and Lebanese hate this mess even more than us north american types.
What would it take, long-term, to build a foundation for peace? A Marshall Plan for the West Bank/Gaza, with the US/Europe/the Arab States/the U.N. investing in non-political humanitarian relief, creating infrastructure for services, schools, jobs? We always hear Hamas' popularity is largely based on the services they provide. Do they have more resources than the West? What could that cost? $20 billion? $50 billion? A fraction of the cost W's war (or the next one), that's for sure.
I know it's simplistic thinking. But given time and resources, there's got to be a way. Anyone out there have any better ideas for what Europe, the US, and the Arab states could do long-term short of moving one or both populations to Nevada that over time could give people a reason to stop fighting?
-Cecil
