03/10/10 | "Do We Really Want Peace in the Middle East?"
I’ve been to Israel several times and have always enjoyed being there. It is like no other place in the world. This year I once again went with my friends and with a question that my friend Tim wanted to know. His questions centered around whether Israelis and Palestinians saw hope for peace in that region of the world because of our new President Barak Obama. We asked Taxi drivers, waitresses and guides who we ran into along with shop keepers what they thought of the possibilities for peace under the new administration. The overwhelming response was one of cynicism and doubt. They have seen no change and anticipate that he too will be stuck like past Predisents in the muck and meyer of intransigence of extremists who have no interest in peace.I was saddened this morning to read that our Vice President Joe Biden who was visiting the region to promote peace was slapped in the face by the announcement that Israel’s is intending to build more settlements in disputed areas of East Jerusalem. To me, that was a clear message to everyone that the current government of Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doesn’t really want peace but it is all about a land grab.The fate of Jewish settlements is one of the most contentious issues in the Israeli and Palestinian conflict. With peace talks dead locked why is it that Israel under Netanyahu continues to ignore the things that could make for peace?APRIL 2010Do We Really Want Peace in the Middle East?I’ve been to Israel several times and have always enjoyed being there. It is like no other place in the world. This year I once again went with my friends and with a question that my friend Tim wanted to know. His questions centered around whether Israelis and Palestinians saw hope for peace in that region of the world because of our new President Barak Obama. We asked Taxi drivers, waitresses and guides who we ran into along with shop keepers what they thought of the possibilities for peace under the new administration. The overwhelming response was one of cynicism and doubt. They have seen no change and anticipate that he too will be stuck like past Predisents in the muck and meyer of intransigence of extremists who have no interest in peace.I was saddened this morning to read that our Vice President Joe Biden who was visiting the region to promote peace was slapped in the face by the announcement that Israel’s is intending to build more settlements in disputed areas of East Jerusalem. To me, that was a clear message to everyone that the current government of Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doesn’t really want peace but it is all about a land grab.The fate of Jewish settlements is one of the most contentious issues in the Israeli and Palestinian conflict. With peace talks dead locked why is it that Israel under Netanyahu continues to ignore the things that could make for peace?