is it worth it...

[determinism]

financially at least to keep fighting with the arabs for the next centuries?

seemingly for a handful of settlements in the WB and disapproving of an palestinian state.

with the money invested in the war machine one could probably make a sizeable part of the dessert habitable instead.

[Aviva]

financially at least to keep fighting with the arabs for the next centuries?

seemingly for a handful of settlements in the WB and disapproving of an palestinian state.

with the money invested in the war machine one could probably make a sizeable part of the dessert habitable instead.

Do you honestly think the Palestinians are fighting only over the West Bank settlements? They want Israel destroyed. Only then will they stop fighting and to be honest, if G-d forbid that ever happened, they'd find a million other things to fight about.

So, yes, it's worth it.

[Kenneth]

financially at least to keep fighting with the arabs for the next centuries?

seemingly for a handful of settlements in the WB and disapproving of an palestinian state.

with the money invested in the war machine one could probably make a sizeable part of the dessert habitable instead.

1. Stop fighting and be ruled by others.
   
2. Stop fighting and be killed.
   
3. Give up the land and leave.
   
4. Continue to fight.

Israel has neighbours from hell, What else can she do?

[determinism]

yes maybe regardless of what israel does they would keep attacking.

but so far it hasn't been tested what would happen if israel would retreat and the palestinians would get their own state.
if they would keep attacking one could still come back to the current strategy.

[PeretzRickett]

Israel has neighbours from hell, What else can she do?

How about win? Israel has won many battles but it has never won a war. This is the same war that started in '48. Time to stop settling for cease-fires, armistice agreements and hudnas, and time to prosecute the war all the way to the end until the enemy has unconditionally surrendered or until there is no enemy left alive.

[PeretzRickett]

yes maybe regardless of what israel does they would keep attacking.

but so far it hasn't been tested what would happen if israel would retreat and the palestinians would get their own state.
if they would keep attacking one could still come back to the current strategy.

I think you need to have your head examined. 11 months ago Israel completely withdrew from Gaza so that they could start building their state. On the very same day was the withdrawal, the enemy fired Kassams at Israel. Since then, 1200+ more Kassams.

[determinism]

PeretzRickett,

it is not only about Gaza where these people live in absolute poverty.
i am sure you know the WB and the occupation of it is the far more important part in the conflict.

[Kenneth]

yes maybe regardless of what israel does they would keep attacking.

but so far it hasn't been tested what would happen if israel would retreat and the palestinians would get their own state.
if they would keep attacking one could still come back to the current strategy.

There is no maybe, when Hamas/Fatah says 'lasting peace for Israel' it means 'buy time until next attack'. They won't recognise Israels right to exist, they want all the land for themselves.

This is how it works:

Israel's Government - Ok, here is your state, it's called Gaza, we have a two state system now, we can work out the West Bank deal peacefully later yes? lets shake hands.

Palestinian's Government - Yes lets, and please pay no attention to what my other hand is doing right now, because I have little or no control over it you see.

Israel's Government - Please stop punching me, it hurts, and it is all the more insulting as you are still shaking hands with me.

Palestinian's Government - Oh, you over exaggerate, but while I have your attention could you step with me towards the sea, I want to push you in.

[determinism]

Kenneth,

yes, israel gives the palestinians little consessions here little consessions there. but what about a real offer? to give them Gaza but keep it under a blockade and to keep the much larger WB occupied can hardly be seen as a very generous offer.
israel doesn't need Gaza or the WB. why fight about this and waste such huge capacities over it?

[PeretzRickett]

PeretzRickett,

it is not only about Gaza where these people live in absolute poverty.
i am sure you know the WB and the occupation of it is the far more important part in the conflict.

You are grossly ill-informed. The standard of living among PA Arabs exceed that of the entire Arab world. Besides, it has nothing to do with poverty.

And why is Judea and Samaria more important? Please, enlighten me.

[genghis_tom]

As far as I am concerned, a Jewish State is irreplacable, and therefore priceless. So yes, it is worth any cost, for any amount of time.

[genghis_tom]

You are grossly ill-informed. The standard of living among PA Arabs exceed that of the entire Arab world. Besides, it has nothing to do with poverty.

According to cia.gov, the WB GDP is $1.8 billion. Gaza's GDP is $768 million. Compare with, say, Saudi Arabia which has a GDP of $338 billion. Ill-informed, is it?

And why is Judea and Samaria more important? Please, enlighten me.

Because they are part of the historic land of Israel, which Israel has a right to.

[determinism]

PeretzRickett,

according to the CIA world fact book the GDP/capita in the Gaza strip is $600. In Egypt $3900, in Syria $3900 and in Jordan $4700. 60% of the population are below the poverty line.

why is the WB more important?
Gaza strip:
*population: 1,428,000
*area: 360 sq km

WB:
*population: 2,460,000
*area: 5,860 sq km

[determinism]

genghis_tom,

this is not about the right for israel to exist. its about this useless occupation of the palestinian territory.

[genghis_tom]

genghis_tom,

this is not about the right for israel to exist. its about this useless occupation of the palestinian territory.

The one goes hand in hand with the other, methinks...