The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #67817   Message #1137975
Posted By: McGrath of Harlow
16-Mar-04 - 08:30 AM
Thread Name: BS: Middle East: Solutions
Subject: RE: BS: Middle East: Solutions
Pedantic note: It's not really accurate to call Lebanon "a colony" of Syria, since that implies that putting in colonists in foreign territory is the heart of the relationship - "a protectorate" would surely be the correct term. In this case a protectorate in a former province that is now legally an independent state.

Not so pedantic note: "2004 Saudi Proposal (with a few modifications and incentives):"

Wouldn't this be better called "Teribus Peace Proposal 2004". If there has been a 2004 Saudi Proposal it doesn't seem to have been very high profile.

It's not clear whether the "No right of return" is supposed to apply just to Palestinians who came from what is now Israel, or also to Jews from the rest of the world. I think that would be a rather serious stumbling block for Israel - though it would be a concession that could have a considerable impact on the willingness of Palestinians to make an equivalent concession.

As for "no compensation" - I'd have thought that "non compensation by Israel" might have more mileage. Compensation from other countries which have contributed to the problem might be appropriate, more especially Germany, the USA and Saudi Arabia. (Remember, the compensation in question would be to innocent people and families who have had their whole lives disrupted in an unjust way by events over which they had no control.)