Palestine

[Mojooo]

Should the UK recognise Palestine as an independent country?


I can't start a poll.

[valiant]

Maybe.

[Wills2]

Let's get Hamas round for tea a sympathy whilst we're at it, sounds a great plan, after all their objectives and outlook align with ours so well, perhaps we could start to cooperate with Iran on it's attempt to gain nuclear power as well? Let's bring Putin in from the cold whilst we're at it and form some kind of axis of the absurd, I almost forgot Hezbollah, they need a seat at the table, so lets not forget them.

[Ian Geary]

It has parallels (to me) of moving embassies in Israel to Jerusalem.

Symbolism has a place, but that part of the world is way beyond mere symbolic gestures.

And my view is this thread is just going to see a rehash of the endless sniping on the "Israel invaded" thread.

[CT05 Nose Cone]

If we did, where would the borders be?

[768]

No, it's part of the incentive for a diplomatic solution.

[Mojooo]

I assume at the moment Gaza and the West bank.

could get a bit shady with the west bank settlers mind.

[Oliver Hardy]

Should Israel back a referendum for Scottish Independence?

[grumbledoak]

It would be the decent thing to do. Most of the world does.

Absolutely no chance of us doing so, however.

[eharding]

grumbledoak said:

It would be the decent thing to do. Most of the world does.

Absolutely no chance of us doing so, however.

Not before July 4th, at least. Labour have said that they are very likely to recognise a Palestinian state, have they not?

[BrassMan]

Wills2 said:

Let's get Hamas round for tea a sympathy whilst we're at it, sounds a great plan, after all their objectives and outlook align with ours so well, perhaps we could start to cooperate with Iran on it's attempt to gain nuclear power as well? Let's bring Putin in from the cold whilst we're at it and form some kind of axis of the absurd, I almost forgot Hezbollah, they need a seat at the table, so lets not forget them.

"We" work with Saudi who are a ball hair away from being a slave state, Israel who are merrily bombing a ghetto and China who are genociding some inconvenient people who live on top of oil. The Palestinian government is stty, but we recognise worse.
Buying Russian oil and gas was an attempt to tie them to the EU economically, but that hasn't worked, mainly because Russia is not a professional country.

[119]

Wills2 said:

Let's get Hamas round for tea a sympathy whilst we're at it, sounds a great plan, after all their objectives and outlook align with ours so well, perhaps we could start to cooperate with Iran on it's attempt to gain nuclear power as well? Let's bring Putin in from the cold whilst we're at it and form some kind of axis of the absurd, I almost forgot Hezbollah, they need a seat at the table, so lets not forget them.

Ange is already getting the Wedgwood out and nicely arranged.

[Gecko1978]

Let's say we did and everyone else does bar Israel and the US. Then what, do they stop firing rockets, stop oppressing homosexuals, give women rights etc. Or and a bit of blue sky thinking do they go all out ab attack Israel shortly thee after Israel turns itself and parts of the middle east into glass.

[Skeptisk]

What is the long term solution other than a two state solution? There are 7 million Palestinians in Palestine/Israel. Although there are many Israelis who would like to drive out all the Palestinians that isn’t likely to happen so I don’t think the current apartheid state can last forever.

The rest of the world needs to isolate Israel like we did to South Africa. Only then will the Israelis be incentivised to make a deal with the Palestinians. Unfortunately if the US continues to support Israel unequivocally then they would probably live with isolation.

[Derek Smith]

Skeptisk said:

What is the long term solution other than a two state solution? There are 7 million Palestinians in Palestine/Israel. Although there are many Israelis who would like to drive out all the Palestinians that isn’t likely to happen so I don’t think the current apartheid state can last forever.

The rest of the world needs to isolate Israel like we did to South Africa. Only then will the Israelis be incentivised to make a deal with the Palestinians. Unfortunately if the US continues to support Israel unequivocally then they would probably live with isolation.

I was stunned when the US, in a presidential reelection year, was rather critical of Israel. It was about the most so since I can remember. Unequivocal support might be something Israel might regret losing, even if the chastisement is little more than an apologetic cough. Historically, the USA no more cares about its international reputation and appearance than, say, Russia or China. That might be changing? I don't know, but it looks more possible than ever.

I agree that a two-state solution is the only way forward. Netanyahu probably knows this, but politics dictate.

[Hants PHer]

Skeptisk said:

What is the long term solution other than a two state solution? There are 7 million Palestinians in Palestine/Israel. Although there are many Israelis who would like to drive out all the Palestinians that isn’t likely to happen so I don’t think the current apartheid state can last forever.

The rest of the world needs to isolate Israel like we did to South Africa. Only then will the Israelis be incentivised to make a deal with the Palestinians. Unfortunately if the US continues to support Israel unequivocally then they would probably live with isolation.

I disagree. I think the country that needs isolating is Iran. It is they who fund terrorists with hate in their hearts: Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis to name but three. Israel should be supported as a force for good in the region, including their policy to destroy a genocidal death cult in the form of Hamas. As long as Hamas exists there can never be peace, let alone a two state solution.

Oh, and to answer the OP: no, we shouldn't recognise Palestine as a country, because it isn't one.

[Oliver Hardy]

Skeptisk said:

What is the long term solution other than a two state solution? There are 7 million Palestinians in Palestine/Israel. Although there are many Israelis who would like to drive out all the Palestinians that isn’t likely to happen so I don’t think the current apartheid state can last forever.

The rest of the world needs to isolate Israel like we did to South Africa. Only then will the Israelis be incentivised to make a deal with the Palestinians. Unfortunately if the US continues to support Israel unequivocally then they would probably live with isolation.

Do we not need to isolate Jorden and maybe Egypt too, why is it only up to Israel to accommodate the Palestinians?

[768]

Skeptisk said:

What is the long term solution other than a two state solution? There are 7 million Palestinians in Palestine/Israel. Although there are many Israelis who would like to drive out all the Palestinians that isn’t likely to happen so I don’t think the current apartheid state can last forever.

The rest of the world needs to isolate Israel like we did to South Africa. Only then will the Israelis be incentivised to make a deal with the Palestinians. Unfortunately if the US continues to support Israel unequivocally then they would probably live with isolation.

There isn't a two state solution in South Africa.

[Electro1980]

Oliver Hardy said:

Do we not need to isolate Jorden and maybe Egypt too, why is it only up to Israel to accommodate the Palestinians?

Which of those states is Palestine currently in?

Something needs to change, either way. Either Palestinians are Israeli citizens or Palestine is its own state. The situation at the moment is part of the problem. Israel claims the land whilst at the same time denying it claims the land. They can’t have it both ways, but it suits them politically.

[Colonel Cupcake]

Hants PHer said:

I disagree. I think the country that needs isolating is Iran. It is they who fund terrorists with hate in their hearts: Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis to name but three. Israel should be supported as a force for good in the region, including their policy to destroy a genocidal death cult in the form of Hamas. As long as Hamas exists there can never be peace, let alone a two state solution.

Oh, and to answer the OP: no, we shouldn't recognise Palestine as a country, because it isn't one.

This.

Always support the most civilised side in a conflict / dispute.