The widely-held assumption in many foreign, and Israeli, circles that a Palestinian state is the desired solution for the current conflict is increasingly coming under fire. Arutz-7 presents the following set of excerpts - the first in a series - presenting voices that warn that a PLO state is far from an ideal solution:
\"Many of the same Arab nations that fought for their freedom after World War II and claimed the right of self-determination have transformed themselves into entrenched enemies of progress, brutally repressing their people and projecting a threat to their neighbors and to the maintenance of international order. Instead of a comity of nations dedicated to the advancement of their people, countries such as Libya, Syria, Sudan and Iraq have devolved into dictatorships, unconcerned with human rights or individual liberties. That pattern would doubtlessly repeat itself with the creation of a Palestinian state. For anyone observing the development of the Palestinian Authority over the past nine years and the Palestine Liberation Organization over the past 40 years, the view is grim. Instead of freedom, the people of Palestine could expect only further repression; instead of peace, they would be urged to constant aggression against neighboring countries; instead of prosperity, they would see more corruption and nepotism.\"
-- from \"It\'s Too Early for a Palestine State,\" by Avi Davis, May 14, 2002, LA Times
\"…What [the Likud did] is make clear that they do not want a state in the West Bank and Gaza, one that was free to raise an army, amass military materiel and sign treaties with nations hostile to Israel. These are all sensible concerns. Israel should not be forced to accept the creation of a state on its borders capable of threatening its very existence… Even if it were true that suicide-murder were the only means at [the PA\'s] disposal to advance their cause, it undermines the very thing that it is now incumbent on the Palestinians to demonstrate, which is that they can live side-by-side with the Israelis in peace. Until that can be shown, talk of a Palestinian state must, in any case, remain just that -- talk.\"
-- from \"Bibi Defines the Problem,\" May 15, 2002, Wall Street Journal Europe Editorial
\"We are all supposed to support the notion of a Palestinian state. [But] why? We know perfectly well what it would be like. Why should we wish for another gangster-satrapy to be added to the Arab roll of shame, busy manufacturing terrorists to come here and slaughter Americans in their offices?… I don\'t want to see a Palestinian state. I think I\'d be crazy to want that. I am starting to think that [expulsion of the Arabs from Judea, Samaria, and Gaza] might be the best option. I\'m not the only one, either. Here is Dick Armey, Republican leader in the U.S. House of Representatives, talking to Chris Matthews on Hardball:
MATTHEWS: Well, just to repeat, you believe that the Palestinians who are now living on the West Bank should get out of there?
Rep. ARMEY: Yes.\"
-- from \"Why Don’t I Care About the Palestinians?\" by John Derbyshire, May 9, 2002, National Review Online
\"Many of the same Arab nations that fought for their freedom after World War II and claimed the right of self-determination have transformed themselves into entrenched enemies of progress, brutally repressing their people and projecting a threat to their neighbors and to the maintenance of international order. Instead of a comity of nations dedicated to the advancement of their people, countries such as Libya, Syria, Sudan and Iraq have devolved into dictatorships, unconcerned with human rights or individual liberties. That pattern would doubtlessly repeat itself with the creation of a Palestinian state. For anyone observing the development of the Palestinian Authority over the past nine years and the Palestine Liberation Organization over the past 40 years, the view is grim. Instead of freedom, the people of Palestine could expect only further repression; instead of peace, they would be urged to constant aggression against neighboring countries; instead of prosperity, they would see more corruption and nepotism.\"
-- from \"It\'s Too Early for a Palestine State,\" by Avi Davis, May 14, 2002, LA Times
\"…What [the Likud did] is make clear that they do not want a state in the West Bank and Gaza, one that was free to raise an army, amass military materiel and sign treaties with nations hostile to Israel. These are all sensible concerns. Israel should not be forced to accept the creation of a state on its borders capable of threatening its very existence… Even if it were true that suicide-murder were the only means at [the PA\'s] disposal to advance their cause, it undermines the very thing that it is now incumbent on the Palestinians to demonstrate, which is that they can live side-by-side with the Israelis in peace. Until that can be shown, talk of a Palestinian state must, in any case, remain just that -- talk.\"
-- from \"Bibi Defines the Problem,\" May 15, 2002, Wall Street Journal Europe Editorial
\"We are all supposed to support the notion of a Palestinian state. [But] why? We know perfectly well what it would be like. Why should we wish for another gangster-satrapy to be added to the Arab roll of shame, busy manufacturing terrorists to come here and slaughter Americans in their offices?… I don\'t want to see a Palestinian state. I think I\'d be crazy to want that. I am starting to think that [expulsion of the Arabs from Judea, Samaria, and Gaza] might be the best option. I\'m not the only one, either. Here is Dick Armey, Republican leader in the U.S. House of Representatives, talking to Chris Matthews on Hardball:
MATTHEWS: Well, just to repeat, you believe that the Palestinians who are now living on the West Bank should get out of there?
Rep. ARMEY: Yes.\"
-- from \"Why Don’t I Care About the Palestinians?\" by John Derbyshire, May 9, 2002, National Review Online