Martin Blank's Journal: To hell in a handbasket (hung on the barrel of a gun)

I don't even know what to say about the Israel/Palestine conflict anymore. Arafat's locked up in one floor of his HQ, and Sharon is saying that all they want is peace.

Holding your hand out to shake hands in peace while using the other to hold a gun is not the most efficient method for gaining long-term cooperation. At the same time, sending in suicide bombers -- the latest a 16-year-old girl -- to civilian areas of Israel isn't particularly helpful, either.

Some steps to take by Israel:

1. Withdraw the military and/or police from all territories taken in the 1967 war.
2. Dismantle ALL settlements outside of the pre-1967 borders, by force if necessary.
3. Recognize Palestine as an independent country.
4. Accept a split or demilitarization of Jerusalem.
5. Make shrines holy in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam open to all of any faith, no matter what country, with appropriate security precautions.

Some steps to be taken by Palestine:

1. Stop the suicide bombings and gun attacks, blocking by force passage of those who would, if necessary.
2. Arrest, try, convict, and sentence those who took any part in any suicide bombing or other attack.
3. Recognize Israel as an independent state, including printing new textbooks for children.
4. Accept a split or demilitarization of Jerusalem.
5. Make shrines holy in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam open to all of any faith, no matter what country, with appropriate security precautions.

Maybe it's because I'm an American and didn't have to grow up in this mess that leaves me missing some point. Apparently, in some places it's important how your skin looks or where you worship or what your ancestors did 600 years ago. I hold no grudges against the South for the Civil War. I do not curse the British for invading in 1812. I do not wish harm on the Mexicans for the battles fought in the 1800s. That all happened in the past. It's done and overwith.

Live in the here and now, and do not regret what passed centuries or even decades ago, but at the same time, be fair and follow through on the promises you make. Israel, withdraw and be secure. Palestine, let them go without a fight and be secure. Then try and live like adults instead of like little children with no supervision.