Thanks,
Bill.
For
others who didn’t explore the rest of the CSM report, here’s more, which gives
a bigger picture of the current debate about the ineffectiveness of current
policies. Even if the “People’s
Peace Plan” does not do anything more than gather more signatures, it raises
the level of awareness that the people most affected are losing faith in their
elected leadership to genuinely address peace negotiations. Personally, I find a grassroots
initiative a very positive, if desperate, sign for which to be hopeful. If they collect enough signatures
showing willingness to compromise on right of return and border/settlement
issues, it could encourage leadership to move forward, abandoning failed
policies. Let us be hopeful.
“The
UN News Center reports that the
text of the resolution, which had been introduced by Italy, on behalf of the
European Union, expressed the Assembly's "particular concern that the route
marked out for the wall under construction by Israel in the occupied
Palestinian territory, including in and around East Jerusalem,
could prejudice future negotiations and make the two-state
solution physically impossible to implement and would cause further
humanitarian hardship to the Palestinians." The CBC reports that Israel says it
will continue
with construction of the fence, regardless of the UN
vote. Israel's Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the fence is needed
to keep out Palestinian attackers.
NPR reports that
the lack of progress on peace talks, and the continuing
violence, mean that more Palestinians are willing to look at the idea of a "one-state"
solution. The proposal causes fear among Israelis determined to protect
their country's Jewish majority, but supporters of the idea
argue that current
Israeli policies of "reoccupation" in the West Bank are making it more likely.
The idea of one-state for both Israelis and Palestinians
was most recently
championed by the late Edward Said,
a professor at Columbia University and perhaps the best known supporter of the
Palestinian cause.”
Also
noted was a “Hollywood peace initiative”
where actors had signed up to tour Israel on behalf of peace negotiations,
sponsored by OneVoice
Israel. -
KWC
Bill
wrote: I have
added a power point slide that looks at deaths since Sharon. What is of
interest is that Israeli deaths are way up to. He had gotten Israelis to
believe that he came in to protect Israelis but the awful truth is that he
initiated the crises to dump Barak and to secure his future through increased
terror.
