May 17, 2008

Standing in solidarity

It is truly painful to see Israel celebrating 60 years of terror against the Palestinian people ("Israelis 'have no cause to celebrate'", Gulf News, May 14). First came the criminal uprooting of Palestinians in 1948, and then the unlawful occupation of Arab territories in the 1967 war. The year 2006 saw Israel rejecting Palestinians' right to hold free elections, while the cruel blockade of the Gaza Strip still continues. Let me offer all Arabs a few words of comfort: honest Americans will never accept this injustice and will stand with you in solidarity, demanding justice for the Palestinian people and their right to return to their homeland.
From Ms Doris Cadigan
Massachusetts, USA

Razed to the ground

Whether they accept it or not, the state of Israel benefited wrongly from the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from the land of their forefathers ("The old may die but the young will never forget", Gulf News, May 13). They continue to segregate Palestinians from their families and illegally annex land from the rightful owners to build colonies for right-wing zealots. Palestinian villages have been razed to the ground in the hope that people will forget that others lived there before them. Anyone who supports Israel supports the position of forcibly removing people from their homes and land, in order to make way for immigrants.
From Mr Abdul M. Esmail
UK

Unfair

I do not think the Palestinian-Israeli conflict will be resolved amicably in the foreseeable future - at least not in our lifetime. The international community, especially the US government, has not been fair in its vision and approach towards the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. This is mainly because of its long-term geo-political goals in the Middle East, as well as the acute pressure of powerful Jewish lobbies in the country, spanning all political, public, governmental and financial institutions. The solution in my opinion to this grave and tragic Palestinian-Israeli conflict is to implement all UN resolutions in letter and spirit.
From Mr Aamir A. Salaria
USA

Bad blood

I do not think the Palestinian-Israeli conflict will ever be resolved, because both people want Jerusalem for themselves and as their main holy site, which is not viable. After 60 years of fighting and killing since the formation of the state of Israel, there is too much bad blood between the two sides.
From Mr John
UAE
Full name withheld by request

Return home

Palestinian refugees have every right to return to their homeland. It is unfair to be kicked out from your own homes because of Israeli occupation and I cannot imagine why Palestinians living abroad cannot even visit their own land. I hope they are able to return home in the future and live peacefully.
From Mr Firas
UAE
Full name withheld by request

Neutrality needed

I do not think the conflict will end. The international community, specifically the US, has not been fair in its attitude towards the issue and has not taken impartial or just steps to resolve it. There must be a neutral country that is willing to intervene and settle the dispute.
From Ms Rubie
UAE
Full name withheld by request

Amicable solution

The Palestinian-Israeli conflict should be resolved soon, but the matter of concern is what formula will be adopted to achieve a resolution that is acceptable to all parties involved. The blame for the current situation falls on those who were behind the Balfour Declaration of 1917, and on world powers that intervened and deprived Palestinians of their territorial rights. This includes the US, which has adopted a biased view. Only Arab nations seem to sympathise with the Palestinians. The only way to achieve an amicable settlement is to get emerging nations like China, India and Russia to extend their support for the Palestinian cause.
From Mr Shameer
UAE
Full name withheld by request