Hi GZ, The west bank and Gaza are already under nominal...

Hi GZ,

The west bank and Gaza are already under nominal Palestinian control, nominal because Israel essentially controls the borders, with a newly minted Egyptian govt in the south choking supply into Gaza.

Israel understands it cannot effectively and more to the point, doesn't want to, control either of the territories. The handing back of vast tracts of land after the 6 day war clearly showed this. Using Jerusalem as an example, as this is what I worked on, there are many close links between arab israelis, jewish israelis and even the minority ethnic armenians (oldest surviving true christian sects). a jewish israeli is just as likely to go and visit and ethnic palestinian dentist, then hang out with ethnically arab friends. So an us and them argument does not really do the situation justice.

Hamas was elected in a "fair election" as the representatives of the palestinian cause but really, being a west bank based organisation, have struggled for control of Gaza, a much more militant area. They were initially pushed by the western powers because of that reason with power coming in Gaza only after merging with more populous and militant political groups.

anyway, a one state solution is never going to be on the agenda considering the jewish israelis would be outnumbered. the academics we worked with, in particular the team at the Begin-Sadat centre for strategic studies, see two parties as the only way forward: preserve the jewish majority within Israel and let palestinians have their piece. Unfortunately the pieces the palestinians have are pretty useless pieces of land, with little of raw materials needed and next to nothing in the way of access to services. Being only observers too, and with a terrible track record of controlling their people, and palestinian government would have a very hard time elevating the cause of a palestinian homeland in the UN.

so the outcome - without political capital, and barely able to control their own people, with no cohesive military structure, basically no income and very little prospect of getting their own way, palestine finds itself bent over a barrell and sees conflict - lashing out, as the only way to puff out their chest in the eyes of the world.

unfortunately, having seen it all before, the world largely is jaded on this issue "just more palestinian belly aching" and so forth.