Let's make it clear: The West is more concerned over the suffering of Arabs than the Arabs' own governments or leaders. The West is desperate to get the Palestinians a state, while both Hamas and Fatah want only an independent country on their own terms, no matter how many dead bodies and material suffering that requires. Hamas wants total victory and Israel's eradication; most of Fatah merely wants an agreement to move that dream closer to reality.
Why is this? Because they:
think they are winning;
fail to comprehend the concept of compromise;
embrace a culture of patience in which steadfastness wins versus what they perceive to be a Western culture of instant gratification;
use militancy as a demagogic substitute for peace or prosperity, a reason why the dictator must be supported and the terrorist is a hero;
understand that he who says no gains bargaining leverage;
hold such extreme goals that they cannot be satisfied by any conceivable deal with Israel, America, or the West.
But why, then, is the West in general so desperate when it is doing pretty well and the other side is basically losing and losing out? There are many reasons for this also.
Some are eager to show their willingness to make a deal in order to keep their allies happy. Thus, Israel's government has to keep the US and Europe satisfied that it is doing its best. The US government wants to show the Europeans, Arab states and its own voting public that it is trying to conciliate enemies and resolve conflicts. THEN THERE is the fact that much of the West is genuinely afraid of war and violence. It has more to lose, after all. And it often does not understand extremism or the role ideology plays, thinking that soft words turn away wrath and you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1191257244341&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull
Why is this? Because they:
think they are winning;
fail to comprehend the concept of compromise;
embrace a culture of patience in which steadfastness wins versus what they perceive to be a Western culture of instant gratification;
use militancy as a demagogic substitute for peace or prosperity, a reason why the dictator must be supported and the terrorist is a hero;
understand that he who says no gains bargaining leverage;
hold such extreme goals that they cannot be satisfied by any conceivable deal with Israel, America, or the West.
But why, then, is the West in general so desperate when it is doing pretty well and the other side is basically losing and losing out? There are many reasons for this also.
Some are eager to show their willingness to make a deal in order to keep their allies happy. Thus, Israel's government has to keep the US and Europe satisfied that it is doing its best. The US government wants to show the Europeans, Arab states and its own voting public that it is trying to conciliate enemies and resolve conflicts. THEN THERE is the fact that much of the West is genuinely afraid of war and violence. It has more to lose, after all. And it often does not understand extremism or the role ideology plays, thinking that soft words turn away wrath and you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1191257244341&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull
