Announcing my candidacy for president of Palestine

[shira]

I am formally announcing my candidacy to run for president of Palestine in the next election on the "quid pro quo" peace party. I know it could be tough, living here in Chicago, but I figure if I win, I won't have trouble getting a ticket, although it might be rough passing through Israeli security. Nevertheless, I think what Palestine and Israel need is a candidate who is unequivocal on a vision for peace.

So here's my platform.

I support two states, one Israel and one Palestine. As far as I am concerned, I can recognize Israel's "Jewish" character and Israelis should recognize Palestine's "non-Jewish" character. I oppose violence of any kind from and by anyone. I reject Hamas's participation in any Palestinian government without first agreeing to surrender all arms and to accept two states as a "final" peace agreement. But I also reject allowing Israeli settlers to carry any weapons, and believe Israelis must impose the same restrictions on them.

I can support some settlements remaining - given the reality of 42 years of time passing - in a dunam-for-dunam land exchange. If Ariel is 500 dunams with a lifeline from Israel, then Israel gives Palestine 500 dunams in exchange. Jerusalem should be a shared city and Palestinians should have an official presence in east Jerusalem. The Old City should be shared by both, permitting open access to all, with a joint Palestinian-Israeli police presence.

cont'd...
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1258027288534&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[timeforpeace]

1. Where exactly is Palestine? GPS coordinates as I'm looking on GoogleEarth. Isn't it Jordan now?

[LeftishBrit]

4. It doesn't yet exist as a state at all.

The reference, as you probably know if you're interested enough in this topic to post on the forum, is to the Occupied Territories. And if your suggestion is that they should join Jordan as a state, that just isn't going to happen; it's as unrealistic as the 'one-state solution' of integrating Israel with Palestine.

[excess_3]

5. It is somewhere near Atlantis, or maybe Bali Ha'i .nt

[Scurrilous]

7. Or maybe up your bum...

...where your head resides. :thumbsup:

[shaayecanaan]

2. Most of this sounds perfectly reasonable to me (nt)

[LeftishBrit]

3. Sounds pretty reasonable.

[aranthus]

6. More power to him. n/t

[shira]

8. he has my vote!