In the papers
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
By Katherine Spencer
Edmonton Journal (Canada)
'Two peoples together in one state'
This Canadian newspaper suggests it might be time to abandon the idea of a two state solution and focus instead on a single, shared nation where Palestinians can move freely and the rights of the Jewish minority are protected.
Majorities on both sides have dismissed the current US backed peace talks as futile and some moderate Palestinians say that Israel’s terms for independence offer less than they could gain in a single democratic state containing Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
While no Israeli leader accepts the idea of sharing power with Palestinians, the article says Israel would be left in de facto control of a region wherein Jews would soon be a minority.
Hamas is also a determining factor for many moderate Palestinians unwilling to be ruled by the militant Islamic group, which has poisoned relations with Israel.
Haaretz (Israel)
Israeli newspaper Haaretz discusses the problems with celebrating the establishment of the Jewish state in the face of Israeli Arab mourning on the same date.
For Arabs, the date marks the destruction of their nation, their defeat in the war and the transition to the status of a national minority.
“We cannot and should not prevent them from remembering this day with sorrow.”
But the article goes on to say the mourning events should remind the Palestinians of their historic mistake in rejecting the UN Partition Plan.
Journalist Yair Sheleg says it should strengthen the recognition that a repeat of the opposition to partition and a claim of ‘it's all mine’ is likely to leave them as it did 60 years ago, with nothing.
Meanwhile he argues that the sensitive date of May 15 should be transformed from a day of tensions between the two nations of the land into a day for efforts to heal the wounds.
He suggests defining the date as the day of the Israeli Citizen, with an emphasis on the need for equal rights and resources, so that the day becomes a day of hope and not mourning…
The Daily Star (Lebanon)
'You can bring a politician to the table but you can’t make him talk sense'
Regional Lebanese newspaper “The Daily Star” talks about the Arab League’s efforts to restore peace to Lebanon’s warring government and opposition.
The editorial says both parties are experts in the “pointless art” of tearing apart one another’s plans for the country, but neither has come up with anything like a detailed blueprint of it own plan.
It also says that the Lebanese people have been left without anyone to represent them in a responsive fashion…but nonetheless have to suffer the consequences of a dysfunctional political system.
DIie Welt (Germany)
'Hillary Clinton’s exit strategy'
German daily newspaper Die Welt sets out the three remaining options open to Democrat Hillary Clinton.
The first scenario is to quit now because of her huge debt. The Clintons have already spent 11 million dollars of their own personal fortune.
The second scenario – dubbed the Rambo strategy – is to carry on until the August convention no matter how bloody.
The third scenario is to carry on until June and leave after the last primary.
One thing is for sure, she needs to choose her exit strategy wisely to secure her political future.
