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In another comment thread, someone made reference to my comments on the recent Palestinan bombings. Lynn said “...they are a people who have endured a long inhuman occupation and they are desperate. Their take-home message I guess is the roadmap is not adequate.” And if “the roadmap is not adequate,” it's acceptable to deliver that “take-home message” via bombing innocent civilians? Before you decide to speak for the Palestinians with such certainty from thousands of miles away, perhaps you should check the news: “In an unusual protest, about 600 Beit Hanoun residents blocked a main thoroughfare with trash cans, rocks and burning tires to show their anger at the militants and Palestinian Authority officials.” "They (the militants) claim they are heroes," said Mohammed Zaaneen, 30, a farmer, as he carried rocks into the street. "They brought us only destruction and made us homeless. They used our farms, our houses and our children ... to hide." Meanwhile, 7 Palestinians were killed and 25 injured by fighting in their refugee camp ... among Islamic militants: “The fighting was between rival Palestinian militant organisations. Hospital workers said six members of Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement were among the dead. Witnesses said around 200 members of the radical Islamic group Osbat el Nur opened fire on Fatah office buildings. The groups traded fire with automatic rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and anti-tank rockets. The camp is home to 70,000 refugees.” Of course, the international peace activists who travel to the Middle East to actively protest the deaths of Palestinians won't have a peep to say about that incident. That's different. In fact, I had to go to a German site to even find media coverage of it. So it would appear in a way you are correct. These Palestinians seem to think they are suffering an inhuman occupation that has made them desperate. And they say it's the militants who've done it. Do you mind if I believe them rather than you?

Well the article you cite starts out reporting this as "an unusual protest." With the "Road Map" at issue I suppose some Palestinians feel a hope for the future is being undermined. I think it is also part of the policies and procedures of Israel that are having an effect. Palestinian sucide bombers risk not only their own lives, but also the safety of their families. It is standard practice that the homes and businesses of the families of suicide bombers are destroyed in retaliation for the acts of the individual. As this policy is employed more broadly it will begin to have an effect of reducing the solidarity of the Palestinian people...which is a goal of an occupier. Don't misunderstand me, I have no use of violence to solve problems and conflicts. I do believe though that it is reasonable to consider the roots of conflict---like a dehumanizing occupation--in order to find a way to a more positive future. I can be against the occupation and still support an Israeli State. As far as being thousands of miles away I suppose we all do the best we can to get good information. I have talked with those who travel as peacemakers to the West Bank and this has helped me to understand the day to day conditions they endure. I also have read recent reports of more orange groves being bulldozed in Gaza--effectively destroying the economic infrastructure that might be a point of hope for a Palestinian future. I do not see the logic that is making the Israelis do all this except fear, which is a very impoverished place indeed.

“I can be against the occupation and still support an Israeli State.” As I am against suicide attacks on civilians, yet still support an independent state called “Palestine.” We can all find many things to decry, as there are very few angels in this fight. But no one can find the road to peace. Not since the first “no” in 1947. When a concerted public effort is made, it is met by the murder of more innocents, a half dozen times. There seem to be plenty of people willing to sabotage the process. Thus, the frustration pours out from both sides. And let me add another wrinkle of frustration. We've heard so many times with regards to any US plans in the Middle East, “you can't do that until you solve the Israeli-Palestinian probloem.” I have to ask, in the past couple of decades, why have there been no other countries willing to step forward and act as a negotiating catalyst in this dispute? Where is the European Road Map to Peace? Hell, where is the UN Road Map to Peace? I guess I'm pretty tired of the world saying this intractable problem must be solved, and then turning to look solely at the US to do that heavy lifting, while they keep their seat, sip coffee, and prepare their next criticism. I know the argument that we are the only ones who can influence the Israelis, but the problem is that on the Arab side that has translated to a perception that the US and Israel have a puppetry relationship (the opinion may vary on who is controlling the strings). Do such perceptions make us the best hope for leveraging peace? When so many other governments have declared that the US is the biggest problem in this world, an empire out of control, it is most curious that those same governments insist we are the ones who have to fix the intractable Israeli-Palestinian issue. I'd be thrilled to try and see someone do a better job, and I try not to say that with a smirk. I say it because the goal is all that matters.

Hope you had a nice weekend...Now about the US role. Tony Blair is the one who pushed the road map, Bush it seems to me is reluctantly going along because he needed the UK as a partner in Iraq. We also bankroll the Israelis and arm them so that this occupation has legs. On the other side I am not impressed with the Arab world and their lack of care for the Palestinians. These people have been flapping in the wind for ... well I'm not sure how long. Over the weekend the Israelis seem to be shifting position? I've been out of the loop so need to catch up on news.

“These people have been flapping in the wind for ... well I'm not sure how long.” In my book, since 1947. It's little reported that the first UN Partition in 1947 would have given the Palestinians about 40% more land (including all of Jerusalem and a seaport in Haifa) than what we now think of as the disputed territories. Check out the map. Now, the Palestinians were told by their “Arab Brothers“ that they should refuse what turned out to be the best offer they ever got, and the Arabs would use war to give all the land to them. The Palesinians agreed, in the war the Arabs got their butt handed to them, and the UN drew up the new 1948 partition plan, with the lines we are familiar with today. It's also notable that what we call the Gaza Strip and the West bank was entirely under Arab control from 1948 until 1967. During that time, was any effort made to establish a Palestinian state? No. That demand only came after 1967. In some ways, the Palestinian people have been used as pawns from Day One. And as for the shifting Israeli position, it appears to be slip-slidin' all over the place: “'I think that the idea of keeping 3.5 million Palestinians under occupation is the worst thing for Israel, for the Palestinians and also for the Israeli economy,' [Sharon] told his fellow Likud MPs on Monday. 'You may not like the word, but what's happening is occupation,' he insisted. Israel's 'control over the Palestinians cannot continue without end. Do you want to stay forever in Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah and Bethlehem? That is not right,' he said.” Hard to believe those words came out of Sharon's mouth. But after those comments, he apparently faced great internal criticism. He responded by detailing the “reservations” he'd insisted the US acknowledge before he'd sign on to the Road Map. The response is telling: “'It would take a miracle for the Palestinians to fulfill the demands listed by Sharon,' rejoiced Yahalom, whose party voted against endorsing the peace blueprint on Sunday.” Given 5.5 decades of strife on this issue, I am more and more reminded of a quote from Voltaire: “A long dispute means that both parties are wrong.” So as much as I'd like to feel differently, excuse my cynicism and pessimism about peace between the Israelis and Palestinians. There's too many people who are more than willing to sabotage the process.

I understand pessimism on this topic, but if this conflict leads to world disruption (it's getting there) I think something will be forced on them--like a UN occupation or some coalition that occupies the Palestinian territories and keeps the parties separate. Maybe the US will even have to pull the plug on the big money to Israel. I like your post though and appreciate how the maps illustrate the problem.