New at Reason

David Weigel | June 15, 2006

Michael Young has a solution for the strife in the Holy Land - get out of the way and let them work it out.

Comments

|6.15.06 @ 8:49AM|#

My solution is casinos. Make the PA like an Indian reservation and let them open up high stakes casino resorts. Within a few years the Palistinians would be just like the Picawats in Connecticut and be too rich to cause any trouble and the Isrealis would be so addicted to gambling they would never dream of causing any trouble that might close down the casinos.

|6.15.06 @ 9:31AM|#

With today, Palestinian workers storming Parliament demanding pay, Hamas bringing $20M cash across the border from friendly states to pay its loyalists, Israel giving 1000 machine guns to Fatah, and an Egyptian delegation asking the Hamas parliament to step down; I'd say they may take Young's advice.

|6.15.06 @ 9:42AM|#

And with Hamas asking for a ceasefire with Israel after finding it couldn't fire rockets without armed response from Israel, I dare say some one might want to wake Sharon from his coma and tell him that his wall and withdrawl plan seems to be working.

|6.15.06 @ 9:47AM|#

My solution is casinos.
My solution is open borders: no artificial lines in the sand! It's always good for everyone.

|6.15.06 @ 9:51AM|#

Le Mur,

I am not so sure that Israeli Jews who found themselves wearing yellow stars and living in an Islamist state and minority in their own country would agree with you.

|6.15.06 @ 9:57AM|#

John -
there was a casino in Jericho for 3 years from 1998 until 2001, when it was closed after it was damaged in firefights between IDF and militants.
During those three years, Jericho quickly became one of the quietest and richest places in the West Bank.
And yes, most of the gamblers were Israelis.

|6.15.06 @ 10:02AM|#

MGmort,

I meant it only half jokingly, but wow I didn't know that there really was a Casino on the West Bank. Prosperity cures all ills.

|6.15.06 @ 10:08AM|#

"Prosperity cures all ills."

Please forward this message to the Saudis and Iranians.

Meanwhile, the Palestinians really seem to be stepping on the accelerator of their basket today; more rockets fired into Israel and Hamas saying it did not ask for a ceasefire. Millions of not nearly enough to pay the bills cash continues to trickle over the border as the Egyptians delegates propose that a parliament of experts replaces Hamas, with Hamas oversight, of course. Experts on what I'm not sure, but if it's gambling, we may have a winner.

|6.15.06 @ 10:20AM|#

I think the only answer to the Palestine situation is to distribute more copies of the Bible and the Koran (take your pick), especially to the young. Religion can often be such a help, particularly during difficult times.

|6.15.06 @ 10:24AM|#

Prosperity cures many ills if it happens in a diversified economy with a variety of fluorishing sectors. Like the US has.

A state-run oil company that's flush with cash is not exactly the healthiest form of prosperity.

|6.15.06 @ 10:26AM|#

A state-run oil company that's flush with cash is not exactly the healthiest form of prosperity.

It's pretty sweet if you're head of state.

|6.15.06 @ 10:31AM|#

You are correct Thoreau. I was just being a smartass. In truth, too much easy money has the same ill effects on a society that it has on an individual. The Saudis are the equivilent of the spoiled rich heiress who joins a cult to find meaning her boring over-priviledged life.

|6.15.06 @ 10:45AM|#

Mark:

Re your comment about Bibles and Korans, that reminds me of the diplomat who said that the Middle East would be peaceful if they only followed Christian precepts.

As for letting them work it out themselves, well, that would mean a bloodbath, whether of Muslims or of Jews I am not sure, but people who are intent on killing each other, once your remove outside interference, well, they do just that...

|6.15.06 @ 10:54AM|#

Adriana,

If the Jews in Israel were intent on killing the Palestinians, they could be doing it at a much greater rate. The have the capability, that they haven't indicates they don't have the intent. As for the Palestinians, they don't have the capability to kill Jews at a much higher rate than they are, so their intent is immaterial.

Warren|6.15.06 @ 11:02AM|#

Mister Young, that is a lucid, intelligent, well thought-out, objection.
*overruled*
Seriously, that is the best article on the Israel/Palestine situation from the US perspective I have ever read. My only critique would be the note of hope for future peace. The people of the Mid-East are committed to killing each other, and nothing will ever change that. The less we have to do with it the better. Our involvement only serves to risk importing the culture of eternal hatred.

VM|6.15.06 @ 11:36AM|#

"Mister Young, that is a lucid, intelligent, well thought-out, objection.
*overruled*"

VINNY!!!!!!!

One word of caution about the myth that "Indian Casinos --> wealth for 'Indians'" - most do not benefit from the riches. Only a few areas. It wouldn't be a magic bullet. It's a good idea to have, but it's not the total solution. Or implement it better/ more practical than in the US. Still, it's a kick-ass idea!

The Berlin Wall got knocked over by Big Macs and Levis. :)

So - going from Vinny to Roman Maroni:

"yooo and the rest of you bastiages can gamble.
But don't you go and try no fargin trix or you'll end up with your bells in a sling"

|6.15.06 @ 1:00PM|#

Young's suggestion that the US let Israel and the Palestinians "go it alone" makes no sense unless the EU, other nations, and the UN are prepared to adopt the same attitude. International pressure is the primary reason that Israel is perpetually embroiled in conflict with the Palestinians. Without this pressure, Israel would probably have unilaterally enforced a permanent border years ago.

Young's assertion that it is physically impossible for Israel to do so is ludicrous. A Berlin-style wall is not a pretty thought, but Israel could easily build and secure such a wall. The Palestinians might continue to lob rockets over the wall for a while, but the will to launch these attacks would probably quickly evaporate. Palestinian terrorism only makes sense when there is something to gain--a permanent, done-deal border would radically reduce the incentive to engage in pointless attacks on civilians. Furthermore, no Palestinian government would tolerate such terrorist acts if it had nothing to gain but a swift artillery bombardment from the Israeli side.

But for whatever reason, the international community has decided that Israel is primarily responsible for the fate of the Palestinians, and largely absolved the surrounding Arab states and the Palestinians themselves. In this political context in which almost all Palestinian political leverage comes from the international community, it is naive to talk of letting Israel and the Palestinians "go it alone." There is no rational reason for the Palestinian government to accept compromise while Israel is constrained and the Palestinians are propped up indefinitely by the international community.

|6.15.06 @ 3:06PM|#

I think having them go it alone would help them and it would help us.

with all of our pressure and our assistance I think that we are only making the problem worse. It is like when you have to dogs on a leash and they are always barking at eachother. Once you let them go, top dog wins and the fight is over.

|6.15.06 @ 8:47PM|#

that is a lucid, intelligent, well thought-out, objection.
*overruled*

Is that a quote from something? I see it here from time to time.

|6.15.06 @ 10:51PM|#

Warren,

The people of the Mid-East are committed to killing each other, and nothing will ever change that.

Sure there's something that will change it, as Adriana so astutely pointed out.

As for letting them work it out themselves, well, that would mean a bloodbath, whether of Muslims or of Jews I am not sure, but people who are intent on killing each other, once your remove outside interference, well, they do just that...

kwais is right, let top dog win and the fighting be over.

|6.15.06 @ 10:54PM|#

Young's suggestion that the US let Israel and the Palestinians "go it alone" makes no sense unless the EU, other nations, and the UN are prepared to adopt the same attitude.

How long do you really think there's going to be "international pressure" if the US bails out? Who pays most of the UN's bills?

If the US bails (and it won't) I predict the melting of the rest of the "concerned outside parties" will only be a matter of time.

It's the US that has kept the international pressure on.