An Idea For Peace In The Middle East

During my stay in Washington, I wrote a thesis about how to solve the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. My main idea was this:

"In order for there to be a successful two-state solution, a major land swapping must take place between the two Palestinian territories: the Gaza Strip and West Bank. The Gaza strip must be given to Israel, while its people are repatriated to the West Bank. Similarity, land of equal mass surrounding the West Bank must be swapped by Israel. There are two main reasons that will make this massive land swap particularly complex. First, there are two different governments in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank that do not get along, partly because of different ideologies. Second, there is the issue of the Israeli settlers living in an array of settlements throughout the West Bank. Not to mention an array of other things that would hinder the process."

I personally think it's an amazing concept, if it could be considered as an option. I know it is a bunch of crap possible. I concluded that:

"If both the Palestinians and Israelis do not come to a compromise of some sort, they will both endure regrettable consequences that cannot be overturned. For the Palestinians, this consists of instability between the two factions, Hamas and Fatah, and continuing bloodshed with the Israelis. For Israel, its stubbornness will pay a price before long due to the issue of a status quo. As a result, it will be undermined as a Jewish democracy. It is important to also consider the fact; time is no longer on either’s side. Having all that in mind, it becomes clear that something must be done immediately in the form of a land-for-peace agreement. 

The Israelis and Palestinians cannot come to terms alone, and will need the support of a key negotiator, the United States as demonstrated in past peace proposals. With the aid of the rest of the Quartet (The European Union, United Nations, and Russia) to reside over the peace process, a two-state solution can be implemented. This requires a strong leadership that can be demonstrated by President Barack Obama along side of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Middle East Envoy George Mitchell. At the negotiating table, President Obama must study the case from both angles without forming a bias on the issue which often becomes dependent on the benefits of various American interest groups.

Despite losing hope, the Palestinians are becoming more malleable in desperation as demonstrated with the transformation of Hamas. With some persuasion from Arab countries through the influence of the United States, a feasible plan can be executed. Ignoring Hamas is no longer an option; the Obama Administration must acknowledge their existence and so should Israel. The United States must deal with both sides head on through the implementation of carrots and sticks. An offering should be made to appease the Israeli government in the form of sticks. On the other hand if it is turned down, the United States must remind Israel of the reality of things through some sticks. Therefore it must look back to its past examples of sticks, such as under former President George Bush when he threatened to cut aid off to Israel. The United States is the only nation that has the ability and power to exert influence over Israel to shape its future. By exerting its influence, the United States would be doing Israel a favor and saving it from its own demise if it gets Israel to negotiate a major land-swap deal. As with every conflict resolution, there will be complications. But if taken into consideration in a serious, organized, and practical matter, peace can be achieved.

Peace in the Middle East seems like an outlandish idea that may never consume the region. Yet, people had similar sentiments about South African apartheid, the Irish Republican Army, the Tamil Tigers of Sri Lanka, and many other conflict zones throughout the world. From these examples we find hope for a change in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict through a two-state solution. However, as long as Israel keeps doing its own thing and the Palestinians retaliate in their own ways, peace will slowly become a problem of the past"

What do you think of this plan?

First iPad Commercial

Last night during the airing of the 82nd annual Academy Awards, the first iPad commercial was revealed. For those of you who missed it, you can watch it above. Its release date is said to be April 3 and will probably sell out fast. The song playing in the background is by the Blue Van, 'There goes my love'. For a list of the Oscar winners, you can find them here.

I think the iPad looks great and all, but is it not a larger version of the iTouch? Not to mention that if you read books on it, your eyes will get sore the same way it would from reading the computer. Regardless, I look forward to testing it out.

What do you think of the new iPad?

Something Tiger Woods Wished He Had!

An application that deleted his text messages, or maybe the common sense to do so! Watch the video on Tiger Text, a new iPhone application. Also coming to a Blackberry near you!

It really does seem like an intelligent way to not get caught spying or cheating. It also calls for a new found feeling of "I'm never going to get caught," which could encourage more people to engage in infidelity. However, if you look at the demo it shows cat paws. If my boyfriend had that on his phone, I would obviously assume that those paws meant he was covering something up. Not to mention if I went through his phone applications. Despite claims of the company that the name of the application had nothing to do with the cheating golfer Tiger Woods, I still feel a lawsuit coming up.

What do you think of this new application?

Thank You, Mrs. Thomas!

Helen Thomas Speaking at the UC Washington Center

Often people are too shy to ask questions, especially controversial ones. It takes a lot of guts and perseverance for someone to ask things people do not want to hear the answer to. Helen Thomas is one of those few people who ask the questions people hate to be asked. Who is Helen Thomas, you might ask? Helen was a reporter for United Press International at the White House from 1961 until 2000. For the past decade, she has been a columnist for the Hearst Newspaper. She has spent time posing questions to every President, from John F. Kennedy to Barack Obama.

Today, Helen is dean of the White House Press Corps. At 89, age is nothing but a number to her. Interestingly enough, Helen and President Obama share the same birthday, August 4th. Last year during a press conference, the President serenaded her with a song and cup cakes. Watch the video, below.



Former CIA agent Ray McGovern wrote on a blog, "Thank God for Helen Thomas, the only person to show any courage at the White House press briefing after President Barack Obama gave a flaccid account of the intelligence screw-up that almost downed an airliner on Christmas Day." You can read the article, here. Helen plainly knew the answer, but wanted to hear it verbatim out of the Obama Administration, blatantly to state the obvious.

Helen Thomas and Me (I've never seen myself happier!)

I was fortunate enough to have met her at the University of California, Washington Center forum discussing her life and career under various administrations. When it comes to the press, Helen Thomas describes that “Presidents all hate us." Like many journalists, she feels that “it is important to let the public know what’s happening.” It is no surprise that she is known for her controversial questions, she wants us all to know what is going on!

In regards to president candidates, “everything is great until they reach the White House. That’s when the iron curtain comes down.” All administrations are secretive, they do not justify why they do it. When asked about leaks coming from the White House, Helen says that a lot of leaking is “strategic and deliberate”. Often it happens when there is a clash between staffers; they get mad at each other and link information. She blatantly remembers that Lyndon Johnson would fire whoever leaked information outside the White House. Compared to today, things are different than they used to be. The amount of secrecy has to do with human nature and comes as a natural impulse to not trust the public.

In regards to President Obama, Helen has an interesting insight. She considers Obama not to be a liberal, but rather a president with mixed ideas on certain subject matters. She also feels that people are not acquainted with Obama’s way of thought; nobody really knows how Obama thinks. Helen explained that Presidents come in with a different aspect on various matters. However, overtime they learn how to handle situations that arise. She’s always surprised that his rhetoric is different than his actions. “No President wants to admit that he changed his mind and his policy,” “His advisors tell him not to admit things, it shows his weakness.” The President is omnipotent and when they do not do what they say, people remember. That is why there is such a strong opposition against President Obama currently. “Obama does not know how to manipulate the congress.” Now in his second year, she finds that President Obama is learning to negotiate and dictate. Hopefully, he will learn how to deal with Congress as well.

Helen has fascinating thoughts on the GOP, as she believes that they are against everything the President does. “I have never seen such polarization before... Such a solid block against everything his does.” They bring out their worst personalities and greed because they do not want Obama to succeed. I asked her if race had something to do with it, Helen said that the Republicans only want the White House back. “The Republican party has no sense of country,” she exclaimed.

On foreign policy, Helen feels that Obama’s policy is war solely. “The United States finds a new enemy every day,” she then goes on to give Iran as an example. If someone feels threatened, of course they are going to go against it more, she exclaims. “Bush got away with murder in Iraq,” yet he never explained Iraq and no one demanded that Bush do so.

Helen brings a history of insight into things that most of us often do not consider or realize. Even for a stark supporter of Obama like myself, she has got me raising questions. It is vital to public interests that people like Helen Thomas exist to report the news to us. Hopefully the next generation of journalists can bring more questions and inform the public as much as she does. She is truly a role model and inspiration to all of us!

Thank you, Mrs. Thomas!

Palestinians Relate To Na'vi Struggles

Avatar, the highest grossing movie in history has hit the seams of people of all walks of life: politically, religiously, ecologically - the list goes on. The Palestinians have even taken a liking to the blue people known as the Na'vi. As they find themselves relating to them and their struggles. In a protest on February 12, Israelis, Palestinians and foreign nationals decided to paint themselves blue and costume themselves with the Palestinian scarf the "kuffiyeh" as loincloths to protest the illegal occupation of the West Bank. The protesters even had the Na'vi tails, ears, and long hair!

A recent Los Angeles Times article reported that when Avatar was released in Jerusalem last month, a moviegoer exclaimed loudly how the Palestinians should learn from the movie on how to handle the Jews. The comment was made by Juliano Mer-Khamis, an Arab-Israeli actor. Mer-Khamis told the Maariv, an Israeli newspaper:

"No one dares to make the real analogy. ‘Avatar’ is one of the bravest films made. It portrays the occupation, but people aren’t making the analogy. Many would like to be like the blue people but don’t understand the meaning. This is why people got angry at the movie theater. It is no secret that I think the Israelis are occupiers and the Palestinians occupied. Israel sits forcefully on lands that belong to others and this is exactly what the movie is talking about."

Even the Israel media is drawing parallels to the political situation. Eretz Nehederet, 'It's a Wonderful Country' an Israeli satire show, mocks Foreign Minister Lieberman's comments about Israel not having any allies. Instead, the Prime Minister of the Na'vi arrives as an ally until he explains the Avatar film is about a group of people resisting a foreign occupation.

For all those Avatar fans, here is a website that will help you learn the Na'vi language! (Though I don't know what the use of that would be.)

When I watched Avatar about a month ago, I felt that the Na'vi made a connection to all sorts of oppressed people struggling, including the Native Americans and Palestinians. I felt the same way when I watched District 9 and the apartheid demonstrated between the prawns and humans. The Palestinians have been fighting oppression for years, I do not think violence is really the answer. If all the Palestinians united and ganged up on Israel, all Israel would need to do is bomb them and that would be the end of the Palestinians. If the Palestinians sit and watch their status quo will hurt Israel. Nevertheless, this is why Israel needs to step up to the peace-making table and get its act together. I wonder if Cameron had that intent when he made the film to draw political parallels? A friend of mine told me that he actually got the idea from the conflicts in Congo, Africa.

What do you think of the Na'vi protesters?