Reply #29: I am unaffiliated with any religion [View All]

Mostly because I blame religion for most of the world's ills, the problems between the Israelis and the Palestinians included. However, my religious affiliation or lack thereof is irrelevant. I could just as easily ask you if you're a Muslim or an Arab, then state that most Muslims and Arabs are unwilling to acknowledge the crimes of the Arab countries in regard to Israel. Doesn't do anybody any good and simply foments further animosity.

The simple fact of the matter is that the nation of Israel was founded as a Jewish state, a place for Jews to call their own. Israel has a very serious problem in that regard, namely that unless they take steps to the contrary, Jews will no longer be in the majority. Like it or not, that is the fact and that is a real issue to Israel.

I do not condone Sharon's bullyboy tactics nor the expansion of Israeli settlements, but seeing the issue from Israel's point of view, how would YOU maintain Israel's "Jewish" character? This is a legitimate problem for Israel.

I also do not condone terrorism in any form that results in the slaughter of innocent civilians. In short, blowing up busloads of women and children won't get you your own country. End of story.

There is simply too much bad blood, in my opinion caused originally and ultimately by religious hatred, for there to be a solution that will please both sides. Frankly, I would rather see a Palestinian state founded with Jerusalem as an open city, a shared capital. See if THAT doesn't make the problems go away. I rather suspect it won't, though, because it appears that the Palestinian terror groups such as Hamas simply don't want Israel to exist at all. How about acknowledging THAT crime?