Friday, May 16, 2008

Israel-Much Too Promised Land

In 60 years Israel has become 'too much Promised Land' and Palestine has become the 'Forgotten Land'.

There was a necessitiy for Israel to be established in 1948 but in the last 60 years, Israel itself has also created a necessity for Palestine to be established. It will happen eventually. Israel would do well to enable that process and earn the goodwill of Palestinians who are going to be with the Jews forever.

The sooner they realise that Palestinians are their 'Brothers' (Like Issac and Ishmael were) the better for the development of the Region.
Just look at the similarities in the Jewish and Arab names.

David-Dawood
Solomon-Sulaiman
Abraham-Ibrahim
Joseph-Yusuf
Jacob-Yakoub
Mariam-Miriam
and much more may be

The Bible and the Koran both acknowledge and recognise that Jews and Arabs are brothers, though the Arab identity was established much later than the Jewish identity. So in a way the Jews are the elder brothers to the Arabs and have a duty to take care of the younger ones.
There is no harm in their taking the first step to solve the Israeli-Arab issue once for all.
'Cede some land and extend proper respect and recognition' and the whole region can go forward to living in Peace and realising the 'Promise' of prosperity for both Tribes.

The georgraphy of a Palestine State is a matter of compromise and can be solved by the UN just like that body helped create Israel. The time has come to literally 'bury the hatchet' and join hands.

Israel has to cut its apron strings to USA and learn to live independently in Peace with the Arabs. As the American Political and Economical scenes change, there won't be any guarantee of continued support for Israel at the present level. The rise of the wealth of the Arab Oil producers show that the Region has a strong base to develop in the near future and branch out into other sectors of economic development. When the Arabs get together (which may be soon) then it is only a matter of time before they can pressure the Western World to dilute the support to Israel. The United Nations will have to evolve and recognise the rising powers of China, India, Brazil, South Africa etc and the political climate is bound to change in favour of Arabs.

Then there would be another UN conference to establish Palestine. Israel should expedite this process.

Shalom-Salaam

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Is Obama going to play his trump card-Hillary as Vice President?

Now that Barack Obama has almost won the Democratic Nomination (the remaining primaries are sure to go his way and the Super Delegates are swaying his way already), I have a sneaking suspicion that he will cement his chances of winning the Presidency by offering Hillary Clinton the VP ticket. Both of them have become much nicer to each other during the end-run and both are united in their resolve to snatch the Presidency from the Republicans.

That would be a win-win for Obama, Clinton and the Democrats.

Obama would immediately get the support of Hillary's constituency of White middle-class, women and some cross-over democrats who might otherwise vote for McCain. Which would give him an iron-clad lock on mainstream Americans of all ethnic and racial types. With his huge popularity among Blacks this would be the tipping point for him to go within a striking distance of winning the Presidency in November.

Hillary for her part will still keep alive her dream of becoming President, especially if Obama stumbles in the Office during his first tenure (then she can be the sure bet for the 2012 election) or if Obama were to have a mis-hap while in the office just like JFK. Hillary as VP would be able to influence Obama towards her issues and may also make enough money (like Dick Cheney) to recover her own investments in her campaign. And she can't refuse after promsing that she would do all she could to see a Democrat elected as President. She would be in the envious position of having advised 2 Presidents from close quarters.

The Democrats would have a better chance of beating McCain with the Obama-Clinton slate than with Obama-Someone else slate. If they blow the chance this year (after the disastrous Bush Presidency the Nation is crying out for change) then it is difficult to get such an ideal situation/opportunity to remove the Republican Incumbent. The Super Delegates then will not have to agonise over their decision of whether to support Obama or Hillary.

It would be a nice touch of cleverness for Obama. Having trumped Hillary in the Primaries - then to use her as his Trump Card for winning the Game.

And think of the History they would make and start- A Black and A Woman in the Presidential Team.