[John Kilduff]

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"But it seems that the "all or nothing" mindset and political clout of those with such views amongst the Palestinians, is too widespread, too irrational, and too violent."

the same goes for the Israelis, no?

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I don't think so. Many Palestinians will be satisfied only if the Israelis are pushed into the sea or Israel is completely destroyed. I doubt many Israelis hold to a similar hard line such that they would only be satisfied if all of the Palestinians are forcibly removed from where they are now and deported to, say, Jordan.

Didn't Israel offer the Palestinians a two-state solution (which may have been flawed, and did not meet with Arafat's approval)? The point is, Israel at least offered it. When has the Palestinian leadership ever offered a two-state solution? Why do so many Palestinians insist on a right of return instead of being willing to countenance a two-state solution? Major political leaders amongst the Palestinians have said that a two-state solution is unacceptable.

It therefore seems to me that the Palestinian position is more extreme and hard-line than Israel's position (which is also an also ironic observation, as the party with the weaker bargaining power usually does not also adopt the more intransigent position).