Ray Hanania and I have had a very heartfelt e-mail exchange on the plights of our two peoples. See below for the latest. Maybe we can figure this thing out eventually amongst ourselves.....
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Thanks Howard for your comments.

I appreciate them and recognize your sincerity to be fair, which is probably the only thing we can ask of each other. Rather than say you are right or wrong, or vice versus, Palestinians and Israelis need to engage in a constructive dialogue of understanding.

As a palestinian, here is how I view things (very summarized, of course).

I don't agree that they should have divided Palestine into two states that crisscrossed illogically. The Partition was flawed and made to fail. But, since Israel was established and because events have changed so much over the past 50 years, I don't believe that Palestinians should continue to argue about whether or not the creation of Israel was right or wrong. It's there. Deal with it. Most Palestinians agree with me.

Most Palestinians do accept the ability to create a state in the West Bank and gaza Strip with East Jerusalem as its capitol. If that were ever really offered, we would take it.

The problem, as I see it, is that while some Israeli officials say theys upport the concept of a Palestinian state, they don't offer a vision of what that state will be like. It's almost like they have a precondition: Palestinians accept Israel and its security, then we negotiate about the borders. Palestinians fear that Israel will whittle the "state" down to small strips of land, divided by Israeli roads and settlements. And, while they negotiate, they continue to build and expand new settlements.

It's makes it hard for even the most supportive of the State of Israel to feel comfortable that Israel willdeliver what it implies but does not really say.

I'm not saying that Israel is right or wrong. Just trying to help you understand what themajor problem is on our side.

Add to all this on both our sides, extremism. Settler extremism which results in violence and death. Hamas/Islamic Jihad extremism which results in violence and death. Israeli military excesses that result in the killing of innocent civilians. Palestinian police excesses that encourage Hamas and Islamic Jihad rather than undermining them.

You need to recognize that the real fight is between extremists and moderates. The moderates on both sides don't have to agree on every detail, just the hard core principles. And they need to work together, even when we find ourselves angry and emotional over events. There isn't one Palestinian or Israeli, Arab or Jew who hasn't said something they should regret. On both sides.

I'm not Muslim but I am discriminated against as if I were a Muslim. Arab buildings are vandalized. We had seven Arab newspapers in Chicago and six have been forced to close because of bigotry and no one is doing anything about it, except saying it's part of the Arab community "extremism" against Israel.

I fear for both of us, but again, I recognize your feelings, hear what you are saying and genuinely wish we could all arrive at a settlement that is fair to both sides. I think it is possible. I'm just not sure we have a situation where both sides are fairly positioned to achieve it or are being treated in a fair and balanced manner.

best regards
Ray Hanania