Sorry, Ali, but too many innocent people have been killed for the sake of this one-dimensional blame-game. This formula hasn’t worked for more than 40 years – its time we come up with a new and more efficient concept.

You don’t seriously want to make me believe that the US or Israel ordered Arafat to take over Jordan, do you? It was Syria who backed the PLO and King Hussein safed his country by cooperating with the US. Look at Jordan nowadays – they have at least an idea about living in peace.

And then how exactly did the evil couple (US/Israel) motivate Arafat to initiate civil war in Lebanon? I know what Beirut was like before Arafat discovered it. A friend of mine grew up there until the day his father was killed.

Let’s skip the next 34 years and look at Lebanon today. After years of devastating civil war this country still has the strength to stand against Syria and Iran-financed Hezb. As if this weren’t enough, its young and still vulnerable Army is busy fighting another outbreak of purposeless violence.

Take a closer look at the entire region. Iraq and Lebanon are taking steps towards democracy and better living conditions for their people. Morroco, Egypt and Jordan cannot hold open elections. In Algeria the death toll has risen to 120.000 since 1990.

This is about Muslims killing Muslims, Arabs fighting their brothers. It’s not a Shia vs Sunni conflict, it is fundamentalism striving to take over the Ummah. And the same scheme accidentally applies to the Hamas/Fatah conflict.

If Muslims facing this conflict still insist upon blaming Israel/US, I won’t object. It’s your choice.

Agreed. Send this to your Israeli friends, and if they agree and abide by all UN resoltutions, then we’re game. The Lebanese resolutions will take care of themselves; no need for Hamas, Hezb, or anyone else.

I have long made the same argument as you on this one. I wish the UN would enforce their previous resolutions (regarding the Israeli-Arab lands) under a chapter 7. I don’t think we disagree there.

But as I keep telling you, 2 wrongs do not make a right. Just because they don’t enforce that one doesn’t mean I don’t want 1559 and 1701 enforced.

I am a firm believer in the rule of law. ALL of it. Not just the laws we pick and choose. And yes, I am man enough to say that I want that applied to EVERYONE. Israel, Arabs, Lebanese, Syrians, ALL OF IT.

You, on the other hand, want CERTAIN resolution applied (the ones that return arab lands), but do you accept Israel’s right to exist? (That is also a resolution). I’m gonna go ahead and guess that you don’t based on your usage of words like “immoral” in earlier comments.

So spare me your hypocrisy.

I’m perfectly willing to live in peace with all my neighbours, provided all laws are respected, and all lands are returned to their rightfull owners. Are you?

British academics are drafting their own resolution to boycott Israel as we speak. In a BBC poll just this last March, Israel topped the list of most unfovaorable countries based on an average of 27 countries worldwide, this inspite of the oeverwhelming effort you put into PR and the incredible pressures you bring to bear on the media to tout the Israeli line.

As for resolution 194, it still guarantees the rights of Palestinians to return to their homes. You can maybe excuse a person for refusing initially to give up half of his property to foreigners for no reason whatsoever. And you also conveniently forgot to mention resolutions 224 and 338 demanding Israel leave present occupied territory.

Israel and the US are the ones who set the stage for Palestinian-Palestinian violence. I am not excusing the Palestinians themselves for picking up the fight, but the US/Israel/allies boycotted a democratically elected government, and financed and armed the opposition. And then they sit and enjoy the show.

again you forget to mention the complete version. UN GA Resolution 194 was the first to handle the refugee question. Here is the ‘inalienable’ UN formula:

11. Resolves that the refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbours should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date,…

The first resolution foresaw the creation of two states. It was refused by the Arabs. Why do you ask Israel to stick to a Resolution that the other part refuses to accept all in all?

As to the nature of Fatah militias, I still don’t understand why they drove Jordan on the verge of civil war and managed to fulfill that aim in Lebanon.

Since last summer, Arabs are being killed by Arabs. In Gaza and in Tripoli. Sorry, but the Israel-blame-game doesn’t work anymore. Not in Europe, not in educated and informed circles. Strange enough the only ones who still take it are the ones, who suffer most from it. I completely agree with Bad Vilbel – keep them poor and stupid is Hezb’s principle.

Considering how much of a threat to world peace the Israeli-Palestinian problem has been, you’d think the powers that be would have chosen to put THESE decades-long resolutions under Chapter 7 and simply enforce the freaging thing. But no, the murder and tribunal of the prime minister of an inconsequential country poses more threat to the peace and tranquility of the rest of the world.

Get a life man, and open your eyes.

Btw, if you wanna cite the Geneva convention, how about you also note that the UN established and recognized the state of Israel? Howcome you don’t accept that?

Btw, I HAVE NEVER DENIED that the Pals are under occupation. That is also a fact. Unlike you, I abide by ALL the facts, not just those that support my side.

The Palestinians are a people under occupation! You give more right to the occupier than the victims themselves.

I suggest you read international law and the Geneva conventions to get an idea about the rights of an occupied people, and the responsibilities of an occupier (besides leaving alone what is not theirs). Even better, you may need to adjust your own moral references because something is amiss here.

I hope you do not bring your brand of twisted logic and questionable ethics to the Lebanese theater. God help us.

As for your contention that the Hezb refused funding to keep a lid on their supporters, regardless of the facts of the story, is as assanine an analysis as one can come up with. I may be able to correct your facts, but there is nothing I can do about about your ideological analysis and conclusions. I am still having a tough time convincing my little niece that the bogeyman does not exist.