"Why are we stuck on countries recognizing each other? If the majority of the world recognizes each and both, why impose that sticking point on the disputing countries? What is gained exactly? They are competitors..I just don't understand why anyone has to recognize anybody..business people are going to do business with each other; laws have to be just; there have to be security measures in place..so why make them swallow their pride? What is the point?

And don't bother telling me than if they don't recognize each other they will attack each other. One doesn't seem to have much to do with the other. You can have good security without imposed recognition..but the world has to watch." - mg

This is without doubt the most idiotic thing I think I have ever read in my life.

To answer the various points put:

1: "Why are we stuck on countries recognizing each other?"

Because that recognition allows countries to be governed, that recognition allows nations to be separate but yet allows them to co-operate and peacefully co-exist pursuing what are perceived to be their national interests and protecting their cultures and way of life. If there was no recognition of countries the world would be a massive lawless free for all.

2: "If the majority of the world recognizes each and both, why impose that sticking point on the disputing countries?"

Ah, but the majority of the world does not recognize "each" and "both". All member states of the UN recognize Israel and did so formally in 1949. All states that have subsequently been created on joining the UN have had to formally recognize the existing member states. In 1949 the Arabs of Palestine had the opportunity to create their own state and rejected the proposal, they did so for greed in the hope of personal gain from the anticipated destruction of Israel and the eradication of her people.

The UN cannot in all honesty, out of respect to its own founding charter, give official recognition to and welcome into its membership a state (Palestine) whose declared aim is the destruction and annihilation of a long standing member of the United Nations (Israel). You are basically inviting the fox into the hen house and hoping for eggs for breakfast tomorrow morning as usual - utterly idiotic.

3: "What is gained exactly?"

In recognizing Israel and settling their differences?? For Palestine?? Any hope at all of survival. As previously stated any Palestinian State and the people who live within it borders rely on Israel in order to survive. They rely on Israeli services, the rely on the Israeli economy. Why haven't Jordan and Egypt over the last 63 years taken up the slack and developed trade and industry with the people of the West Bank and Gaza to provide them with alternative markets for their produce and for their labour? Oh that's right they couldn't because both Egypt and Jordan were too busy feeding the Palestinians a load of bullshit about how everything would be perfect for them once they had killed off all the Jews and destroyed Israel.

4: "They are competitors..I just don't understand why anyone has to recognize anybody..business people are going to do business with each other; laws have to be just; there have to be security measures in place..so why make them swallow their pride? What is the point?"

As stated above - survival for Palestine. Israel can function and is economically viable as a state without having to rely upon a single Palestinian. Why make them swallow their pride?? Because for 63 years they have been wrong, for 63 years they have consistently chosen violence over peace, they have to admit to themselves that they have been wrong in order that they can move forwards.

5: "And don't bother telling me than if they don't recognize each other they will attack each other. One doesn't seem to have much to do with the other. You can have good security without imposed recognition..but the world has to watch."

A tale of two Palestines - Gaza and the West Bank:

What happened? The Israelis leave Gaza completely and for their gesture are rewarded with a constant stream of missiles, rockets and mortar bombs raining down on their citizens. From the West Bank, Iranian and Iraqi backers sponsor suicide bombers to cross the porous borders to kill indiscriminately in Israeli cities, snipers from inside the West Bank randomly kill Israelis going about their daily lives. As far as the West Bank goes all this stops when Israel closes the border and builds a wall - What has happened to the intent to attack from the Arab side of that Wall? There is no doubt at all that both regimes in Gaza and in the West Bank would attack Israel - they have said so, they have stated it in their founding charters.

The only thing is while things remain as they are (i.e. Palestine not being a "State") the leaders of those regimes in Gaza and in the West Bank can deny responsibility and claim that those carrying out the attacks are a renegade few. Once Palestine becomes a "State" the regimes in charge become responsible for controlling their renegades, they are responsible for either delivering or bringing them to justice. If they do not and the attacks continue (as they undoubtedly would) then Israel would be perfectly justified in declaring war and attacking the newly recognized state of Palestine.

By the bye we, the world, have been watching for 63 years - what good has that done?