competing claims - Reader comments at The New York Sun

Reader comment on:
Giuliani Warns on PLO State
in response to reader comment: Wade's comments

Submitted by Wade C. Johnson, Aug 17, 2007 01:51

Hello Chaya... I appreciate your response. Saudi Arabia has an established state religion (like Israel), it is primarily a tribally based state (somewhat like Israel), and I'm sure you would agree that as such it is a source of conflict and instability in the region. And while it is true that the Saudi regime has traditionally been an ally of the United States (like Israel), it would certainly be in the interests of the United States, the Saudi people (and Israel) if Saudi Arabia could find a way to move away from this type of state identity. Don't get me wrong, I'm not equating these two governments... Israel is in a much better place in terms of open, accountable government that serves the interests, needs and aspirations of it's people. Further, Saudi Arabia suffers from a terrible lack of legitimacy, not only because it is not representative of it's people, but because it is a religious and tribally based government. But as fervently as some may wish or pray for it, the Palestinians are not going away. Peace is going to require their accommodation and ultimately their integration into a free, open, and just Israel. I'm not saying this is going to happen anytime soon, or even that it will become U.S. policy anytime soon... only that it is the only conceivable path to an Israel at peace.

And I don't doubt for a moment the legitimacy of claims to the land by the Jewish people. But now just as in times preceding the diaspora, there are others on that land as well. To deny that others also have legitimate claims is to condemn our children to perpetual war, and possibly to annihilation.

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
Finally some straight talk on 'palestine'. The reward of statehood should come only after a period where the 'palestinians' show... [MORE]	Z. Cochrane	Aug 15, 2007 23:09
I don't support guliani, bu the has good common sense on this issue. [MORE]	Joseph Back	Aug 15, 2007 18:35
Overall a good statement, but I'm disappointed that Rudy didn't specifically confront the Wahhabis. For four months now, I've been... [MORE]	R Hampton	Aug 15, 2007 16:43
It's about time a major US political leader stood up for Israel. Now, if only he would advocate confiscating Saudi... [MORE]	jdg	Aug 15, 2007 23:22
There is neither intelligence nor courage in the (yuk) Baker-Hamilton report. Nor is there any in the Bush/Rice approach which... [MORE]	Victor Galindo	Aug 15, 2007 14:56
I believe that he is the one candidate that will not let the State Dept tell him what to do... [MORE]	Dorothy Wachsstock	Aug 15, 2007 08:54
Mr. Giuliani's frank words (quite in opposition to Geo. Bush and C. Rice's unrealistic optimism) warning to go slow on... [MORE]	J.T. Russell	Aug 15, 2007 08:09
Thank-you for your comments Mr. Russell, and I agree with most everything you assert. It seems to me however that... [MORE]	Wade C. Johnson	Aug 18, 2007 02:21
Mr. Giuliani has truth and advantage on his side. Since the Wretched Nixon bypassed the State Department and made Mr.... [MORE]	Claude Bogardus	Aug 15, 2007 08:04
I am still waiting for a candidate that will expose the myth of the so-called palestinian people. As much as... [MORE]	Chaya	Aug 15, 2007 08:00
I must respectfully disagree with the assertion that Palestinans in the occupied territories should be forced to emigrate or to... [MORE]	Wade C. Johnson	Aug 15, 2007 19:54
Wade, what is Saudi Arabia if not a religiously based state?? And this country is an ally of the United... [MORE]	Chaya	Aug 16, 2007 15:13
Hello Chaya... I appreciate your response. Saudi Arabia has an established state religion (like Israel), it is primarily a tribally based...	Wade C. Johnson	Aug 17, 2007 01:51
Rudy Giuliani is the clearest and strongest in a field of excellent Republican candidates. Of course a Palestinian state should... [MORE]	Christopher Brooks	Aug 15, 2007 06:49