If the world ignores Israel and Palestine will they stop fighting?

[Tmy]

Is it me or has there been little action in the Israel / Palestine conflict? Just months ago it was bloodbath with daily bombings and counterattacks. Now that the Iraqi conflict has taken center stage you hear very little about Israel. Is it just not being reported on, or are they not performing for a world audience that’s not paying them any attention.

[Kodiak]

IMO, it's just a normally-occurring, periodic ebb in their conflict...

[corplinx]

Well, it could be that Saddam's supplies to the terrorists have been curtailed since he is circling his own wagons to prepare for an attack.

I doubt he is still doing his money and arms aid when he might need it all himself in case of an attack. If this is the case (and it might not be), then I hope some who don't believe removing Saddam will weaken Hamas and the other groups he supports will finally be convinced.

[c0rbin]

I remember hearing about an Isreali tank getting hit and four Isreali soldiers dying.

Pretty recently, no?

[bjornart]

There have been several incidents recently, including this one: http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/02/23/mideast/index.html
But it's not exactly breaking news compared to imminent war in Iraq. Also Sharon has managed to put together a majority government (61 out of 120 seats) by convincing both extreme right and more centrist parties to join him. With the coalision depending on the National Religious Party I doubt the violence will suddenly end.

[CapelDodger]

There have been about 25 Palestinians killed in the last week, but "Dog Bites Man" ain't news.

[a_unique_person]

Originally posted by Tmy
Is it me or has there been little action in the Israel / Palestine conflict? Just months ago it was bloodbath with daily bombings and counterattacks. Now that the Iraqi conflict has taken center stage you hear very little about Israel. Is it just not being reported on, or are they not performing for a world audience that’s not paying them any attention.

In fact, it is going through another period of turmoil. If the world ignored the issue, Israel would invade and formally annexe palestine tomorrow.

It is just not front page news at the moment.



Gaza toll mounts while army moves on Hamas
February 25 2003
Jerusalem





Israel's political horse-trading yesterday was played out on a day of violence in the Palestinian territories that left 11 people dead.

Israeli forces occupied a northern Gaza Strip town and started building camps in commandeered houses, killing six Palestinians in an operation to stamp out militants firing rockets into southern Israel and at Jewish settlements.

Four other Palestinians and an Israeli soldier died as a result of violence elsewhere in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.

As the army dug in, Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz warned that troops would stay in Beit Hanun, north of Gaza City, until they had eliminated the risk of Hamas Islamic militants firing crude home-made rockets across the border.



http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/02/24/1046063961282.html

[Ben Shniper]

Originally posted by a_unique_person


In fact, it is going through another period of turmoil. If the world ignored the issue, Israel would invade and formally annexe palestine tomorrow.

It is just not front page news at the moment.


Israel would annex if the world ignored the conflict? So all those years without suicide bombings where the world wasn't looking at the conflict in quite so focussed a way, the Israelis were working on a secret plan to annex, not the Oslo accords?

That's a wrongheaded view of the conflict. The suicide bombers brought in Sharon. He's just the firefighter. When the suicide bombers inevitably stop, the right wing parties will lose power again. Until then, Israel has a fundamental need to show strength to survive this conflict.

Keep the focus on Iraq, where the terrorism is funded from.

http://www.jewishworldreview.com/michael/long.html


-Ben