President Bush and Secretary Condoleezza Rice have pretty much given up on the Israeli/Palestinian peace process and are leaving it up to Obama now. The fundamental issues of the conflict have not yet been resolved. Borders of a Palestinian state; security arrangements; the fate of Palestinian refugees who left their homes in 1948, or were forced to leave; and the status of Jerusalem. The blockade of a million and a half Palestinians in the Gaza Strip is now entering its third week.
And if Benjamin Netanyahu (Bibi) gets elected in the new elections in Israel the road to peace is most likely to become that much harder to accomplish. He has actually said that he would end Israel’s current negotiations with the Palestinians if elected prime minister. Can you hear my huge sigh at this point?
Two American activists are now in a new prison in Israel, recently being moved from simply jail. Amy Goodwin interview and video here. They are Donna and Darlene Wallach. They believe that they were actually kidnapped because they were in Palestinian waters not Israeli waters when they were arrested. What do you think and why isn't anyone from the department of state working to help get them out or even find out what they are charged with?
This situation is one of the most important issues on my personal plate, but like so many others it brings me much frustration while trying to think of what I can do to break the “Israel is always right” mindset of the United States government. Obama doesn’t seem to be much different than those who have come before, with the exception of Jimmy Carter.
Here is a woman telling why Americans go to Gaza and this man has some more articulated reasons.
Here is the link to the Free Gaza Movement.
Here Archbishop Tutu describes his feelings after visiting Gaza. The Nobel peace laureate Desmond Tutu has called Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip an "abomination".
So where do we go from here? How can we move this up on President elect Obama's incredible list of things to do?
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