Palestinian Prime Minister surprised last week when he said Jewish Israeli settlers would be able to stay in the West Bank once it achieves full statehood:
http://azizabusarah.wordpress.com/2009/07/17/fayyad-welcomes-settlers-to-stay-in-a-palestinian-state/
So then why is there such an insistence on a Jewish settlement freeze by the US, EU, and Palestinians? And why have Jews been removed fully from Gaza by Israel under Sharon in 2005? And certainly they have no hope of returning under an Islamist government in Gaza.
Meanwhile in Israel there are over one million Israeli Arab citizens. They are being subject to a terrible loyalty/fifth column discourse by elements of the new right-wing government. At the same time, Israel treats its minority Arab population better than any country in the Middle East.
In the end, Palestinians and Jews are so interconnected in terms of daily life, business, cultural activities, political future, and security that they will both have to ultimately respect minorities in their midst. The sign of any civilized society is ultimately the way it treats its minorities.
Tamir Bar-On
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