and leave the Palestinians without a viable state.

K&R

Even the best case leaves Palestine weak and fragmented with no obvious economic base that is not independent of Israel's economy.

with a narrow highway corridor connecting everything.

an Israeli economy, always. We can pretty much be assured what it will look like if they don't
follow that model.

I would say that one of the best aspects of a peace deal that includes all of
the above you mentioned is to begin the process of healing, it can happen,
people can do this.

But when you consider their crazies are also extremely violent, there is no guarantee peace will win out. There are no moderates (much less progressives) presently challenging groups like Hamas or Islamic Jihad. Why do you think they will magically appear if Palestine becomes a reality?

As for the economy, the do not have much to grow on - no resources, poorly educated population, a strong Israeli economy that would be very hard to compete against.

peace process is to ensure there is no viable state for the Palestinians, period.

Their economy could grow, and take a direction they have never had the
opportunity to advance before.

When have moderates ever had a strong voice in Palestian affairs? Fatah and Hamas - they are the only choices. Corrupt, violent and authoritarian- why do you think they will give up power?

I say this because so many people do not trust academics on either side, and
I feel lazy to persuade people on how to weed through propaganda...they
don't trust what you're telling them anyway. So that is what I mean by the documented record in this context.

I don't think you may be aware how the leadership of this Israeli cabinet works
off of Hamas..they elevated them again, with OPE.

You do realize that Israel keeps electing the Likud party, although I admit, I do not
fully understand their political system..but that's who is in power. Would you
suggest someone outside of Israel determine their elections? They are as
right wing as never seen before, as far as I know.

The Palestinians want their freedom, if they don't receive it, expect more violence,
people do not generally submit and obey to a state that suppresses.

It changes the dynamic but not the players. I think they should have a chance to make statehood work.

That frog's been boiled so long it's starting to fall apart.

There is a very interesting and non-polemical--if depressing--article on this subject by David Remnick in the latest (Nov. 17th) issue of The New Yorker. I found it to be very informative: he interviewed prominent Israelis and Palestinians on the topic, and, to my surprise, there was widespread agreement on both sides that the time when a two-state solution was possible has passed. Of course there was little agreement on where to go from here. I recommend that everyone get a hold of this article; it is well worth reading.

....for a while now potone ....but continue to hope .

Thanks , I've read it ...we put it up on our web page when it was published .
Here for anyone else that wants to read it :

http://www.kibush.co.il/show_file.asp?num=66822