When I last posted, talks between Israel and Palestine had stalled due to Israel's decision to end the freeze on settlement building in the West Bank. To keep the sides at the table, the US tried to make deals with both sides, but since then, no deal has been struck and the only "freeze" that is currently in place is on the talks themselves.
At this point, I'm fed up with the two sides' inability to peacefully negotiate (and who am I to complain given the longevity of this disagreement?). I realize that neither side wants to concede to the other, but during negotiations, concessions must be made in order for any progress to occur. But to me, it appears as though no side is willing to put differences aside and work with the other.
What is more is that I don't understand Israel's apparent unwillingness to settle this issue as peacefully as possible. I respect the fact that the disputed land is part of the Holy Land, but in being so stubborn and uncooperative with Palestine, Israel is angering (and has been for a long time) the entire Arab world. It's a wonder that no major action against Israel by the Arab world has been taken (aside from launched rockets and suicide bombings). It appears as if Israel's unwillingness to negotiate is caused by the support it receives from the US. Israel figures that any attack from an Arab state would trigger an equally (or more) response from its ally in Washington, and of course, for any Arab state, that alone is enough of a deterrent. But what would happen if an Iran or Saudi Arabia attacked Israel? One can imagine that Israel would have some sort of response, but would the US respond with an attack of its own? Given its current involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, I find it hard to believe that the US would jump at the opportunity to get involved in yet another violent Middle East conflict. It's a major gamble on Israel's part to continue ruffling the feathers of the Arab world, especially given those states' continued attempts to match Israel's military might. And if the situation gets even messier, Israel may find itself fighting without its biggest ally.
In my mind, Israel's best option is to reach a settlement with Palestine. But if this does not occur, what should the US do?
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