"At some point, some group of politicians is going to draw a line somewhere in the Middle East and call one side Palestine and the other side Israel. Maybe it is the group that has gathered in Annapolis. Maybe it will be a group convened at the end of the next American President’s term (this is becoming a pattern). But it will happen."

But when?

It's been 130 years since the Arabs started the Arab-Jewish war in the portions of the Ottoman Empire that later became the British-created "Palestine".

My guess is it will be at least another 130, 260, or 390 years before what you say will happen does happen.

Good luck to all involved in this Sisyphean task.

hopefully the line is at Pison, Gihon, Hiddekel, Euphrates. It shall be called the sides of the world.

Psalms 98
1. O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.
2. The Lord hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.
3. He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
5. Sing unto the Lord with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.
6. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King.
7. Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
8. Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together
9. Before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.

Ezekiel 10
6. And it came to pass, that when he had commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubims; then he went in, and stood beside the wheels.
7. And one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubims unto the fire that was between the cherubims, and took thereof, and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen: who took it, and went out.
8. And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man's hand under their wings.
9. And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the appearance of the wheels was as the colour of a beryl stone.
10. And as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel.
11. When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went.
12. And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had.
13. As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in my hearing, O wheel.
14. And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
15. And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar.
16. And when the cherubims went, the wheels went by them: and when the cherubims lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them.
17. When they stood, these stood; and when they were lifted up, these lifted up themselves also: for the spirit of the living creature was in them.
18. Then the glory of the Lord departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.
19. And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the Lord's house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.

Isaiah 13
9. Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
10. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
11. And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.
12. I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.
13. Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.
14. And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up: they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his own land.
15. Every one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is joined unto them shall fall by the sword.
16. Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished.
17. Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it.
18. Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children.
19. And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
20. It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.
21. But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and Satyrs shall dance there.
22. And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.

Hey Sanjay -

"You can never appease Muslims."

Now why would you say a thing like that?

You preach about religious tolerance and here you are being intolerant yourself...

borther patel-

it seems your links arent working

peace

I don't think this is about 'eliminating flaws,' Concerned.

I think this is about people thinking there's only one way to only one 'perfection' and thus being incapable of even *conceiving* of getting along to the extent they make ridiculous demands of each other.

Good article, Mr. Patel. :)

We already have 50 intolerant Islamic nations. Why is USA and other secular nations hell bent on creating another theocracy with 100% Muslim population? Height of hypocrisy. You can never appease Muslims.

And a group of politicians will decide in wisdom, the fate of the Middle East. That has already been done, 1948, when the state of Israel was 'created.' In the aftermath of one war, another was created...because you claim faith, do not think it's graces include wisdom. I believe in the silent witness from upon high. He/She did not create your problems, kill and then ask forgiveness, better to seek the devil.

The children of Israel seek the wisdom of the old testament. A man was formed in the image and likeness of his creator, a partner for Adam, Eve. Wander in my garden created for you...

The garden of Eden

My best manifestation in the universe you will see

The garden of Eden

The one state. The one state solution.

And the angel Gabriel took to the wing, 'Lord, I have delivered your word.'

Bob Marley says:

Until the philosophy which hold one race superior
And another inferior
Is finally and permanently
Discredited and abandoned -
Everywhere is war -
Me say war.

That until there no longer first class and second class citizens of any nation
Until the colour of a mans skin is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes -
Me say war.

That until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all, without regard to race -
Dis a war.

That until that day
The dream of lasting peace,
World citizenship
Rule of international morality
Will remain in but a fleeting illusion to be pursued,but never attained -
Now everywhere is war - war.

Eboo:

Thanks for the grassroots references.

Unfortunately, I am not optimistic about the middle east. I do not believe there is a single power player acting in good faith. Isreal wants the territories and will never compromise. The USA is not, nor has ever been, an "honest broker". The Arabs want blood.

This is the fruit of religion. This is the holy land. If aliens were to survey the planet what do you think they'd say when they got to the middle east? Do you think they'd say "Hey, look down there. That must be the HOLY land." Hell no. Frankly, I'd put my bets on Denmark or New Zealand (although Denmark might be slipping these days - you know why).

CCNL is right - until both sides are sufficiently cured of religion... WAR.

Eboo,

The easier solution is for Islam, Judaism and Christianity to admit that their religions are significantly flawed. Eliminate these flaws and much if not all the hate will dissipate. You could start the "deflawing" of Islam right now. So why don't you?????

Mr. Patel:

"The Times reported that the Israeli rally “drew an overwhelmingly young crowd, largely teenagers”. My guess is the Palestinian rally did the same."

I am a little more optimistic than you. I have learned that when rallies are largely attended by teenagers, it's just becasue they have nothing better to do. Let's just hope that was the case here.