I have a new bad habit… talking to telemarketers. Luckily they are not trying to sell me stuff, only get my opinion on various items. It all started out when one of the televised Virginia Gubernatorial debates claimed they would let Russ Potts in to the debate if he polled at 15% or greater. Being a supporter of multi-party democracy (where multi is greater than 2) I am still appalled that valid independent candidates are stonewalled in this country.

Yesterday I got a survey call after the Redskins game, and being in a good mood after the Redskins 52-17 win over the 49ers, I decided to participate. It was regarding the Israeli Palestinian situation, and other than the telemarketer (tele-sureveyor?) pronouncing Hamas as Hummus it went as well as a 20 minute phone survey can go. However, it really didn’t let me express my full opinion on the matter. So, just to set the record straight here is a bit of what I feel on this matter.

  • Regardless of what has happened in the past, both sides are equally at fault for the current state of affairs, and the current lack of progress towards peace. I don’t support either side as I see them both as being equally to blame as opposed to seeing them as equally innocent.
  • There are factions on both sides that gain politically and monetarily from a continued conflict. Unless the benefits of prolonging the conflict are minimized by both sides there will never be a lasting peace.
  • Israel is only supporting the creation of an independent Palestine because they are unwilling to give full citizenship and voting rights to Palestinians, and parts of the Israeli government have realized that they must take one of these two actions to prevent being viewed as an occupying or colonial government of the Palestinian Territories.
  • Israel is only an ally of the U.S.A as long as it is convenient. If push comes to shove they would be happy to attack 500 USS Liberties if it furthered their agenda.
  • I support the right of Israel to protect their borders with a wall, or a force field, or whatever they feel is necessary. It is their right as a sovereign nation to do this.
  • Israel has no right to build on lands that are a part of the Palestinian territory, this counts for both the aforementioned wall and any additionally planned settlements. Any arguments that these lands would be ceded to Israel as a part of the agreement creating a Palestinian State are groundless until that agreement is ratified.
  • Israel has no right to restrict the movement of Palestinians between areas of the Palestinians territories. This comes into conflict with Israel’s right to protect its border if the only path between two areas of the Palestinian Territories traverses part Israeli state. This is a tough one, but I feel that Israel should only limit traffic to prevent legitimate threats, not to intimidate people or to disrupt elections.

I am sure I am missing two or three of the thought I had during the survey, but a portion of it. Of course the people who paid for the survey won’t see this and if they do they won’t care, but at least I feel a bit better.