Yeru,
I don't know if I'd call myself a pacifist any more than I'd call you a war monger. We just don't see eye to eye on a solution to the Middle East. If you wanna call me a pacifist, though, it's cool.
That you and I don't agree is cool, too. Hell, folks way smarter than us (ME, anyway) have disagreed over this problem for a long time. Beyond that, I see various holes in your 'solution.'
For one, saying that the PLO should crack down on extremist groups assumes that they have the power to do so. There is more than a little question whether or not they do, either from a military viewpoint or politically, with enough support from the people. Last *I* heard, Hamas had as much support from the street as did the PLO, if not more. Based on that, maybe it's Hamas that'll be cracking down on the PLO!
You say that nonviolent civil disobedience works in some countries. By that I assume you are confident that it would work in Israeli occupied Palestinian areas. Easy for you to say. It's almost an everyday occurrence where unarmed Palestinians, minding their own business, are shot and killed by Israeli troops.
Just the other day was a report that is probably a common event. A mother and her young son were heading out to pick fruit in a grove of trees (I forget what kind) and where murdered "by mistake" by the military. The Israelis were quick to apologiz. (Nice, eh?) Based on stuff like that happening all the time, do you really think that Palestinians have confidence that non-violent disobedience would work? They'd have to be crazy. Neither do I blame them for NOT sheepishly turning over to the kindly Israeli authorities what weapons they have for self-protection.
Of all things you said, I found your comment about Arafat the most interesting. You said that he is
a man of violence who understands VIOLENCE not PEACE!
Guess what. Replace "Arafat" with "Sharon" and you get an equal truth. They are one in the same: Men of violence, not peace. I think it's sad but probably true that this is the exact thing that keeps them both at the head of their respective parties.
About Sharon: The Discovery Channel had an EXCELLENT three hour documentary on the history of the mess in the Middle East. It told of Sharon's ruthlessness in murdering, or encouraging the murder of, innocent Palestinian civilian men, women, and children on his rise up the ranks. To this day his record in the military is supposedly legendary for his brutality. I think that several of his actions / decisions he's made since being elected clearly shows that he has little regard for the Palestinian people. I can't help but think that if he could, he would embark on his own "Final Solution" and take over *all* of Palestine.
I don't think the solution to the problem is as easy to come by as you try to make it seem. Palestinians have been a brutalized group of people at least since 1947. Hatred is bitter (on both sides) and runs deep. People have lost mothers and fathers; sisters and brothers; children. Putting all those negative feelings aside -- it's sad to say -- just may not be possible for some of them. Sitting over here in the comfort of our homes and thinking that they SHOULD is maybe something we ought not be expecting, either.
