After the devastating war in Gaza one wonders what the future of Israel is. There seems to be no prospect of peace. The hatred between the Palestinians and the Israelis is deep rooted and the war in Gaza has made things in this sense yet again worse. Israel's enemies might in the end be the ones who come out stronger from the war in Gaza in spite of not having won it. There is a real prospect of never ending conflict, and the time might not be on Israel's side. The settlements in the West Bank have probably made a two state solution unfeasible. A one state solution would mean an end to a Jewish state, i.e. a state based on ethnic background. Furthermore the much higher fertility rate of the Arabs compared to the Jews would mean that in due course the Jews would become a minority in the area.

Israel politicians probably cannot solve this impasse. If there is a solution it can only be achieved with the determination of the United States. President Obama has lost no time. He named former U.S. Senator George Mitchell as his special envoy to the Middle East. Senator Mitchell negotiated the peace to Northern Ireland. He is widely respected. If there is a possibility for peace in the Middle East he is the right man to give it a try. Peace in the Middle East would be very much in the interest of America and of the West in general. It cannot be left for the Israeli politicians to decide.

Olli Raade

Editor

January 26, 2009