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Show So, something on your mind? You can always write a letter to the editor. Time to shine. Go to www.aggietownsquare for a submission box. Page 12 Views&Opinion Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009 The Israeli - Palestinian stalemate: why is it so complicated? O ften, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict reaches the media headlines and one cannot wonder why this ethnic dispute with on and off phases of violence does not seem to end. The current U.S. envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, cannot even get the two parties to talk directly with each other, something that only President Barack Obama was able to achieve during his visit to New York City last month. Well, the main reason that negotiations are not moving in the right direction (e.g. final peace deal) is because both sides are not able to currently deal with the core issues, which translates to the final status of Jerusalem and the Palestinian refugee problem. It is obvious to all parties involved including the mediators – U.S., Europe, Turkey, several moderate Arab states and Russia – that reaching an interim agreement as signed in the past only complicates the current situation even further and that will eventually lead to a fullarmed confrontation. Another issue that is often raised is the highly controversial Israeli settlements in the West Bank but former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (considered as the godfather of this housing project) proved in 2005 that a decision to remove settlements is always viable and this will not pose a major problem once a final satisfactory peace deal is reached. After Obama’s speech to the Muslim world calling its leaders to open up and address conflicts that are causing issues between East and West several months ago, the only leader to publicly respond the calling was the prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu. In a bold speech that might later cost him his seat and political career, he announced Israel will accept a two-state solution. This means Israel will withdraw into the Green Line from the areas it conquered of the West Bank during the 1967 Six Day War and these evacuated areas will become a demilitarized new Palestinian state. Coming from Netanyahu, a right-wing hardliner heading the conservative Likud party and a radical right-wing coalition government, this was a speech that everyone expected will be welcomed on the Palestinian side and cause a major stir in Israeli politics that even might lead to new elections after the government resigns. But nothing happened and while Netanyahu passed the ball to the Palestinian side, he also gained a lot of credit from the international community that he wasn’t the one failing the peace process. So why wasn’t Netanyahu’s offer accepted by the Palestinians with both hands and enthusiastically? The Palestinians have not made a fundamental decision to accept a Palestinian state bounded by the 1967 Green Line (the legal border recognized by the international community) or to accept Israel as the legitimate Jewish state. In addition, Abu Mazen (Mahmud Abbas), the Palestinian president, is too weak and reluctant to face the radical ultra-orthodox group Hamas that has controlled Gaza since 2007 after a military coup against the Palestinian authority. If it wasn’t for Israel’s military control of the West Bank, Hamas would gain control of that territory as well. The Palestinian authority hoped that the military operation in Gaza against Hamas Israel launched at the end of 2008, early 2009, following nonstop rocketing of Israeli cities, will lead to its regime demise but that did not happen despite the massive damage and death toll. Israel is aware that the Palestinian authority government is a much better negotiations partner than the radical Hamas group, which continuously vows to destroy Israel by arms and is financially and militarily backed by Iran and other fundamental Islamic states of the region. It has to be kept in mind that 20 percent of Israeli citizens (within the Green Line) are of Arab ethnicity. This Arab minority of Israel has a torn identity between its Palestinian brothers in the West Bank and Gaza and loyalty to the state it is part of today. Just to elucidate the complexity of the ethnic situation: recent riots in Jerusalem during the High Jewish holidays were provoked by a radical Islamic Arab sheikh who is an Israeli citizen. Another major issue is the refugee problem. Acceptance of an organized formal Palestinian state recognized by the UN and international community will leave several million Palestinian refugees that fled from Israel and the West Bank during 1948 and 1967 wars. These refugees are currently living in Gaza, the West Bank, nearby Arab countries and around the world and they will only be able to return to the new Palestinian state and not into Israeli territory. There is currently no Palestinian leader who is willing to take the responsibility to tell his people that the dream that keeps the Palestinian narrative alive for decades of coming back to the abandoned lands of Palestine (now Israel) and claiming the property they left behind amid the wars will never materialize. Obviously, any financial compensation to this problem is not even considered and it might take several generations until this issue is resolved. For now, it seems that no feasible solution is possible in the complex Israeli-Palestinian conflict and no leader in the region is ready (or able) to rise to the occasion of making major concessions to the other side for a true peace deal that will last a long time and will lead to a calm era. Obama and his staff will have to be very creative in order to end the conflict his predecessors failed to resolve despite their massive efforts and good will. This guest column was written by Nati Bergman for The Utah Statesman. Bergman holds an undergraduate degree in political science and geography, a master’s degree in geography and environmental development and is currently working on his Ph.D. in watershed science at USU. Comments may be submitted at www.aggietownsquare.com or sent directly to Mr. Bregman at nbergman@aggiemail.usu.edu www.a-bay-usu.com ClassifiedAds Utah State University • Logan, Utah • www.aggietownsquare.com Student Jobs For more information on these jobs, see USU Student Employment, TSC 106 or www.usu.edu/studemp FEeK AF@E FLI "8:<9FFB %= PFLeM< 9<<E ;I@EB@E> GC<8J< I@;< N@K? 8 JF9<I =I@<E; FI :8CC 8 :89 on-campus jobs: C429-96 Mowing $6.55/hr C395-09 S I Leader For Usu 1360 003 $8.00/hr C191-04 S I Leader Usu 1350 001 $8.00/ hr C397-05 Research Technician BOE C005-04 Research Assistant $1500/ month C160-06 Substitute Teacher 65.00 75.00 C448-07 Customer Service- Tooele Distance Ed 8/hr C337-08 Skyroom Server $6.00 per hour plus Tips C238-97 Clerk/secretary 6.55/hour C097-10 Temporary Substitute Slp $25$35/hr, doe C109-10 Political Science 3000 Tutor $8 C126-10 Teachers Aide 7.25 C139-09 Lab Manager Based on experience C296-05 American Sign Lanugage Interpreter $14-$26+ C106-09 Student Support Services Tutor 7.50 + C316-09 Applied Music Instructor C177-10 Research Assistant $8/hour C178-10 Office Assistant-research 8.00 C181-10 Usu 1350 Tutor (integrated Life Science) $7.75 C135-91 Intramural Official $7.25 to $8 per game C458-07 Biological Research Technician $10 / hr C134-09 Laboratory Technician minimum $7.25 C018-93 Writer BOE C188-10 Research Assistant 7.25 c208-96 Tutor $7.25/hr C203-06 Manager Off-Campus Jobs: 3545 Quality Control Internship $14.00 5543 Food Service Workers $7.25/ hr Starting pay 5596 Accounting salary negotiable 5597 Crew Member 7.25 5643 Nanny about 800 a month 5660 Motel Live-in Manager $1600 salary + rent 5659 Store Associate (level 1) $10 5666 Personal Trainer $15-$20/hr 5662 Programmer negotiable 5671 Ruby On Rails Web Application Developer DOE 5669 Front Desk/ Graveyard 7.50 5678 Help Me With Computer 15/hr 5674 Internet Sales Professional 5680 Fabrication $8.30 5686 C-na DOE 5687 Waiter/waitress $2.20 5689 Nursery/child Care Staff $8-$10 per hour 5663 Real Estate Sales/telemarketing $15-$35/hr 5695 Mothers Helper Neg 3113 Customer Service Associate $9.25 5701 Delivery Drivers/inside Crew 7.25 5700 Early Childhood Teacher $300/mo 0328 Office Worker start @ $7.25 5702 Inside Sales Rep based on experience 5704 Marketing/ Free Estimate Setter 5707 Nanny Needed Negotiable 5713 Web Page Programmer depends on qualifications 5709 Fedex Ground Delivery Driver Negotiable 5708 Office Assistant 10 - 14 5706 Tax Assistant neg 5705 Online Tutor $9-13 0013 Graveyard Shift Cashier 5710 Marketing Associate commission 5711 Recruiting/sales Weekly + Commisions 5712 Marketing Associate 5714 Exercise Specialist $10.00 5715 Insurance Account Executive Negotiable Please Note If any of the following ads have missing information, such as no phone or e-mail, please consult the complete listings at www.a-bay-usu.com Announcement Announcements Christian Bible Study Sunday 7 pm Food Science Building, room 202. www.hotm.tv Emmanuel Baptist Church in Hyrum, worth the drive! www.ebchyrum.com Bicycles Bicycles 24” Mountain Bike for sell! Norco mountain bike, 24”, purple, hand brakes, 15 gears, adjustable seat, in good shape. $55 OBO. Call Storee 208-360-2376 or email missrusset_ 2006@yahoo.com Haro V4 Mountain Bike Haro V4 Mountain bike: Hayes MX4 disk brakes, Truvative crank, Rock Shox Dart 2 front fork, Specialized Hemisphere tires. Its in great condition, clean, all parts work. No major damage. Great trail bike. $375 Or Best Offer. I live on USU campus call me to come check it out. 760.594.4787 Email me if you have questions. Apartments for Rent Rent Apts. for Apartment Contract for Sale. I’m selling my contract for a (girl’s) private room/private bathroom at Glenwood Apartments, just a block down from campus! The rent is three payments of $466 each semester, adding up to be $1400 a semester. The room will be empty by Saturday, October 24th, but I can also sell it for Spring semester if you need to wait. Five other girls live in the apartment, great roommates! Washer and dryer, cable included. Call Amanda at (801)668-2696. If you leave a message I will call back as soon as possible. Aggie Village Large Private Bedroom Spring Contract: Female I am selling my contract for a single Aggie Village Large Bedroom apartment. Will have a roomate but you will have your own private room. Total payment of $1633 is the total housing fee you pay to the University which includes all utilities, internet, cable, and most amenities. There is a laundry-mat on site with hook-ups available in apartment. It is a nice apartment, on campus (only a 10 minute walk), and near both Aggie Shuttle and CVTS bus stops. The building, as well as those surrounding it, are made up of mostly first or second year graduate students and juniors/seniors in undergrad. Email Kerry if you are interested in buying the Spring contract or in seeing |