The Ultimate Equity

It is a mistake to view the existing situation through a prism of blaming the "settlers and hawks".

This is a common theme - "If only moderates and liberals in Israel held the reigns, we would have peace..."

They have, for decades. Olmert is a moderate. Israel was ruled by huge liberals up to the 2nd Intifada. Even Bibi was dovish in dealing with the Palestinians.

You have an expectation that a liberal or moderate Israeli leader, in the face of 5000 rockets being fired indiscriminately out of Gaza, will apologize for the Nakba, release all Palestinians convicted of murder and terrorism, open Gaza's borders and send Hamas a fat check for all the pain and suffering.

Sharon, the hawk, the bulldozer, removed settlers from Gaza, not a liberal.

The Gazans are under a self-imposed siege that has reduced them to little better than stone-age living, yet still they do not surrender. Why would you expect Israelis, with a $200Bil economy growing at 5% a year, to surrender when faced with 5000 Qassams?

The only thing those Qassams do is create more "settlers and hawks".

I won't preach to you further, except to say that this is a flawed logic that needs reevaluation on your end. "Settlers and hawks" are not the root here.

To restate an earlier point, "Some on this blog consider the preservation of Jewish life to be at odds with Palestinian human rights."

If this is a pledge the Palestinians have made - that they must have the ability to threaten Jewish life - then there is nothing to discuss.

My people are, for the most part, safe. I will not risk or sacrifice Jewish life for a semblance of "fairness" in a negotiating position.

You believe that the demographic threat gives you leverage to exact concessions at the expense of preserving Jewish life. I reject your leverage.

There will be no concessions on preserving Jewish life.

Reconsider your posture so that Jewish life and Palestinian human rights are not mutually exclusive. This is the basis on which I view the situation. It is the ultimate equity.