The American Spectator

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p> UNSETTLEMENTS br> Re: John Corry's A Conservative Blind Spot : /p>

Haven't read [yesterday's] letters column yet, so I hope I'm not repeating a common theme, but -- a political solution!!!! What the devil have we been trying to achieve in Israel for half a century if not that?

Wasn't allowing Hitler to have the Sudeten a Political Solution? Didn't we settle for a Political Solution in Vietnam? Or to put it another way, didn't WW II prove anything to you Political Solutionites?

As far as I can see the only thing that has worked for the Israelis is the military solution, and when that is followed by a political step -- such as giving back the Sinai -- does that lead to peaceful relations?

p>And don't even get me started on the Political Solution that followed the Gulf War. br> -- Richard Donley /p>

Your argument that the Middle East conflict can't be solved though military action seems to be based on some pretty shaky assumptions. The first is that a political solution is even possible. Israel has been engaged in a "peace process" since 1993 that has brought it nothing but more and more terrorism. Every concession from Israel has been interpreted by Arafat as weakness and has resulted in ever more violence. The deal was supposed to be land for peace. Well, Israel turned over the land, where's the peace?

The second misguided assumption is that the Palestinians are acting out of honorable motives. Arafat had his Palestinian State and the best deal he was ever going to get out of the Israelis two years ago but walked away to start the current war. The goal of the Palestinians is not to reach a reasonable compromise with Israel. It is to destroy Israel and establish a Palestinian State on the land that used to be Israel. It is pointless to argue about whether or not Israel should fight. War has been thrust on them and one side is going to win and one side is going to lose. If somebody is going to win I'd rather it be the free, democratic, pluralistic nation of Israel and not Arafat's racist terror state. If you're not convinced, ask yourself this: If Israel pulls out of the PA today, will the suicide bombing end or continue? Arafat's history tells us the answer. Once the military pressure is off, the terror campaign will continue. Here's another question for you: If the terrorism stopped today and Arafat recognized Israel's right to exist, would the Israeli army leave the PA?

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