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Originally Posted by abaya
To expect the Arab countries to ever unconditionally accept Israel, especially without a Palestinian state, is to demand that they signal their own weakness and irrelevance to world politics.
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That's one thing I just don't understand, if that's what the Arabs are (supposedly) concerned about
: Why isn't there already a Palestinian state? That's what the original partition plan offered back in the 1940's. At any time from then up until June, 1967 the Arabs could have established a Palestinian state with the simple stroke of a pen. It's only become an issue when it's been something that's useful for hitting Israel. Before 1967, it seems to me that the Arabs (and practically everyone else) didn't give a damn.
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Originally Posted by willravel
They want a home and a government. They want peace. If given the opportunity, I suspect that they would be willing to stop fighting.
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That works better on the other side of the equation, willravel. The Palestinians have already had at least two "roadmaps" or whatever anyone wants to call them, offering them basically their own government. (Oslo, anyone?) In response to Oslo, the Israelis ended their occupation of many Palestinian communities (for example, Jenin). Look what they got as a result - four years of wondering whether this evening out for dinner and dancing, or this trip to work on their usual bus, would be their last, all courtesy of their friendly neighbourhood "Partners For Peace".
On the other side, what the Israelis offered Egypt was the return of the Sinai in return for peace. Israel kept its side of the bargain. Officially, Egypt has done the same. (Unofficially is another question.)
Given the opportunity, I think the Israelis would be more likely to stop fighting than the Palestinians would, unless you're taking a very long-term view.