NP - Palestinian Moderate Leader's Home Shelled

[David Morris]

Trying to condense, not distort:
 
> >David Morris:
> > 
> > This the central point demonstrated by this article:  Israel has
essentially been waging war against the PA while maintaining a PR front to the
contrary.
>
> cfa:
> Again, we are obliged to ask if this is somehow "unique" to one side in the
conflict.....I would argue that Israel is now doing what the PLO/PA has been
doing for decades

But the imbalance of power between the two sides makes for the difference.

> > The violence of the Palestinian population has been primarily against
occupying forces, with a few acts of terrorism on Israeli turf. 
> 
> "Few acts" - this is an interesting qualification. The type of "war" 
> being waged by the PLO/PA DOES NOT rely in any way on attacks 
> against "occupying forces" or their assets

Not true.  The vast majority of the deaths in this conflict are Palestinians
shot in the act of throwing stones at occupying forces.  But I do recognize
that they are also now using arms, but again mostly at armed forces or
"settlers" on Palestinian land.

> The strategy depends on the use of indiscriminate terror against civilian
populations with NO rules of engagement.

Terrorism is a strategy of desperation, typically used against an
overwhelmingly strong opponent, and usually by an occupied populace.  I would
argue that sometimes it is the only option to force change.

> Given the circumstances of the area, do you really believe that individuals
can spontaneuosly source large volumes of explosives or the components to make
them?

No, I concede that there is an organization at work (and I'll agree that it is
not "democratic" and contains some bad high-ranking characters), but I don't
concede that all in the PA are unified in promoting these attacks, nor equally
extreme.  That's where the "moderate" distinction becomes significant.  Your
contention seems to be that no dissention is allowed in that organization, so
they MUST all be in league and thus all equally justifiable targets.

The NYT article referenced an editorial in the Haaretz,
( http://www3.haaretz.co.il/eng/htmls/kat10_2.htm )
which concludes that Sharon's unstated strategy is the complete collapse of the
PA, which would be justified if one concluded that there are no moderates to
work with.  I don't think that most people in Israel believe that, which is why
Sharon's strategy is so cynical:  He really wants to annex.

> > Eventually Israel must either grant statehood or eject the population and
annex.
> 
> I believe that Israel recognizes that statehood is the only viable
alternative. The biggest obstacle to that solution appears to be the status of
Jerusalem, and I am wont to grant more credit to the Israeli position on the
city - particularly given the record of previous muslim "stewards" of the holy
places contained therein. 

Some in Israel believe the above.  The hard-right doesn't seem to.  As for
Jerusalem, I agree with you.

> hoping I am within the parameters of our mutual vow....

You are a gentleman and a scholar.  In my house I have a simple sign which says
"Be Nice or Leave."  Of course since it's my house it doesn't apply to me.

David Morris

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