Comments on: There is no Partner for Peace

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 22:51:20 +0000

"Josef Avesar advocates for a mutual third government for Israelis and Palestinians. An American-Israeli of Iraqi background, he (lives in the US, and only) travels to Israel and Palestine." With opportunist idiots like Avesar, who needs enemies?

By: John Cronin

John Cronin — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 08:20:22 +0000

But, if there is going to be violence anyway, then why not try to use it in a more positive manner?

http://www.laxiankey.com

'Luke, use the force!'
.

By: Roger Liebmann

Roger Liebmann — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 04:50:09 +0000

If I were to use physical violence against my wife, she would resist that violence as best she could and all her energy & time would be focused on that resistance. There will be no peace between us while I use that violence.

Israel must stop the occupation if she wants peace. I fear the Palestinians look at the occupation & the violence they have to suffer under it, and note that they have no partner in peace.

By: Ari Greenblatt

Ari Greenblatt — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 07:15:42 +0000

Have u read the article ? It's spot on!

By: Ari Greenblatt

Ari Greenblatt — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 07:13:56 +0000

Disagree

By: Patricia Brenner

Patricia Brenner — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 02:08:03 +0000

50 states government within a country. Switzerland has 20 cantons and Canada 10 provinces. But neither the states, nor the cantons nor the provinceswere ever sovereign countries.

By: Josef Avesar

Josef Avesar — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 08:27:28 +0000

The idea of a Confederation is not new. The United States has 50 states governments and one national government. Even if the Palestinians have two governments it will not make a difference. According the Israeli Palestinian Confederation Constitution every portion of the geography which the IPC seeks to include in the legislation will have a veto power. If Hamas controls Gaza, they will have a veto power over legislation involving Gaza only. If the PLO controls the West Bank they will have a veto power over the portion of the legislation involving the West Bank. Since Israel has one government it will have a veto power over Israel.
Israel will have to consent to reasonable legislation. It cannot reject reasonable legislation. Just like the Palestinians will have to do the same.

By: John Cronin

John Cronin — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 08:23:02 +0000

As a former engineer, I've always found that the judicious application of a little oil can assist when friction has to be overcome. But first you have to build the machine. Otherwise, all the oil in the world won't help get matters moving.

http://www.laxiankey.com

By: Jim Murray

Jim Murray — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 03:08:39 +0000

There's always friction when you're trying to sharpen up the human race.

By: Patricia Brenner

Patricia Brenner — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 03:00:16 +0000

A country has only one government down on this earth… Which means there is only one government for the Israelis, the elected government of Israel. The "Palestinians"? They have two governments (or three, if you count the real Palestinian state, Jordan).

You cannot have the consent of the government of Israel as the vast majority of Israelis won't consent and Israel is a democracy.

As to supra-national governments, they are useless bureaucracies.

By: Josef Avesar

Josef Avesar — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 01:06:55 +0000

The Israeli Palestinian Confederation is not about the Palestinian or the Israelis as a singular entity. It is a third government for the people of Israel and Palestine together. It is about those Israelis and Palestinians who do want to make peace and not those who do not want to make peace. In essence, the Israeli Palestinian Confederation is a third government for both the Israeli and the Palestinian peoples together. A Confederation does not dissolve the Israeli or Palestinian governments. The Israeli and Palestinian governments will remain the governments of the Israeli and the Palestinian peoples. The Israeli and Palestinian peoples and institutions will remain subject to the jurisdictions and laws of their respective governments. However, the Confederation is an independent third government representing both the peoples of Israel and Palestine together.

Under the Israeli Palestinian Confederation Constitution, there will be 300 Parliament members representing 300 districts of the entire area of Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.

In order for the 300 representative to pass legislation, they will require 55% of the Israeli and 55% of the Palestinian Parliament members to vote "yes" for the same legislation.

The separate Israeli and Palestinian governments will have a veto power over the legislation. If those governments veto the legislation, it will not become law. However if they fail to veto it, the legislation will become law.
As you can see the IPC has nothing to do with what you claim it does. The state of Israel and the government of Israel remain intact and secure. The IPC will help make peace with the Palestinians with the consent of the Israeli government.

By: Patricia Brenner

Patricia Brenner — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 23:40:37 +0000

I believe you were answered. The"Palestinians" do not recognize Israel or the right of Jews to their state. Their position is we want a Palestinian state and the ROR which means the end of Israel. Until and unless they recognize that it isn't a question of sulcha and then destruction of Israel there cannot be anything.

I am opposed to a confederation because of this. I am for returning Gaza to Egypt and part of the West Bank to Jordan and close the borders of Israel to the non-Israeli Arabs.

You give yourself a bit too much importance when you say nobody wants to discuss. Israelis do not live in cloud cuckoo land. They have seen t5he Arabs at work!

By: Dave Howlett Rhb

Dave Howlett Rhb — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 22:26:04 +0000

It is unfortunate that the conversation is generally overshadowed by people who want to launch personal attacks and labels. I am a Canadian citizen (neither Arab nor Jew) who has been labeled a "Zionist" when I ask about security for Israelis as well as a "Jew-Hater" when I inquire about living conditions for Palestinians. I truly believe that the vast majority of people care little for religious or political agendas and just want to live their lives in a good economy, with a house, food and education for their kids. I started a "movement" a few years back that is based on behavior, not on tribal alliances. On a grassroots level, I feel it is the only way we can get people to see past narrow self interest and resist eye-for-an eye revenge.

By: Josef Avesar

Josef Avesar — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 19:17:13 +0000

How do I know that my idea for an Israeli Palestinian Confederation makes the most sense? How do I know that engagement is far better than isolation? How do I know that those who oppose my ideas have no logical counterargument? How do I know that those who oppose my ideas for an Israeli Palestinian confederation really want to keep the conflict forever? How do I know that those who oppose engagement between Arabs and Jews also oppose peace?
There are several good clues. Those who oppose my ideas never respond substantively. They never deal with the article itself. They resort to a personal attack on me. They are afraid to deal with the ideas and hope to divert attention from my ideas by attacking me.
If you were a person who is interested in peace you would have discussed in your comment the following: Why are you opposed to a Confederation? Do you think isolation is better than engagement? Did you read the Israeli Palestinian Confederation Constitution, available at http://www.ipconfederation.org , and if so what did you find wrong with it?. What is your plan for peace between Israelis and Palestinians?

By: Patricia Brenner

Patricia Brenner — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 15:58:45 +0000

I can only agree with what Michèle is saying… When the other side spew hatred, this time we'll believe it!