Map To Mid-East Peace

There has not been peace in Israel since the days of King David. And since 1948, when Israeli's reclaimed the territory with the help of the United States, the fighting has been constant between two ethnicities that both claim the land as their birthright. And while the "birthright" is historically Jewish, that really does not matter much.

If you have ever been to Israel in recent years you would notice that the Jewish areas are affluent. But step outside the gates into territory occupied by Palestinians and all you will find is poverty. And the stark contrast, often just yards apart, helps fan the flames of anger and hatred.

The Jews work industriously to build a better life for themselves. The Palestinians, by contrast, only seem to work hard at taking it away, to have for themselves. So this presents a possible solution to the whole sordid mess.

The two factions would each have a part to play. And while this solution will not decide once and for all who gets what, it should work out that everyone gets their just due without the need for violence.

On the one hand, the Palestinians should agree to take the effort they expend in making war and fighting the Jews and put their efforts into building a better life, as the Jews have done. The Israeli's, on the other hand, would agree to use their affluence and their ability to create affluence to help the Palestinians do the same, so that they can rise above poverty. As the economics of the region level out, allowing everyone to flourish, the need for war would diminish. The land need not be divided any more than we divide America between one nationality and another. And as both factions flourish, they could then learn to live together as we have done here in America, as the stresses of poverty will have vanished. If you have what your neighbor has, there is no need to try and take what he has.

Just my humble opinion. I realize it does not solve any religious dispute, but if they both prosper, they could learn to accept each others differences and become more tolerant. As for "ownership" of the land, itself, if Jews and Palestinians are working toward prosperity together, they will simply live together in the same communities, just as the inhabitants of every other nation do. I have an Irishman on one side, an Italian on the other and a Thai neighbor down the street. We all have different beliefs, but because we all share in the opportunities of America, we get along well enough.

Instead of trying to settle the differences that the two sides are using to fight over (land, religion), perhaps we should be looking to simply help them find and work on their commonalities as people.

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