The Difference Between The Israelis And The Palestinians
A commenter, calling himself DoyleLonegan, writes on a Guardian/UK article:
The following are from the HAMAS charter, or covenent:"Initiatives, and so-called peaceful solutions and international conferences, are in contradiction to the principles of the Islamic Resistance Movement."
"There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors."
The HAMAS covenent also features several quotes from the Kuran, like this one:
"The Day of Judgement will not come about until Moslems fight the Jews, when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say O Moslems, O Abdulla, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him."
Now, contrast that with the Israeli Declaration of Independence which says:
"We extend our hand to all neighbouring states and their peoples in an offer of peace and good neighbourliness, and appeal to them to establish bonds of cooperation and mutual help with the sovereign Jewish people settled in its own land. The State of Israel is prepared to do its share in a common effort for the advancement of the entire Middle East."
Is it really so hard to determine the monkey wrench in the Israeli/Palestinian peace process? Peace could be had if the Palestinians were in any way inclined to compromise. Both have ancient claims to that land and it's pointless to debate who has a right to be there, it only matters that one side has been willing to live side-by-side in peace and the other rejects such overtures unconditionally.
Also, let's not forget that the land in question was captured by Isreal during a war that the Arabs brought on themselves.
A translation of the Hamas charter is here. The Israeli Declaration of Independence is here.