of course neither Hamas nor the PA repesent the "Palestinians", a fact that Dr Cole needs to emphasize. Likewise, he could point out from time to time that the major Zionist parties and organizations in Israel do not represent the nearly seven million Jews residing in the ex Mandate, most of whom by now are natural born residents, but indeed represent wealthy Jewish individuals in North America, Europe or large donor funded groups that rely on gifts and grants from hi-tech medical, military or ultra religious, antisecular religious groups. Indeed, the PA, Hamas and the major Zionist players in the Israel Cabinets have much in common. If the two state solution is dead, great. Dr Cole, you might now change focus on how the good people of the former Turkish province can unite in their respective interests as residents of a peaceful, tolerant, secular and multinational Palestine. There is no reason muslims should not live in Haifa or Jaffa; no reason Jews who wish to live in peaceful religious communities should not live in Hebron or Shechem. The Abbas/Haniyah/Shas/Jabotinkyite groups are all a dead end. Scholars like Dr Cole need to focus and educate readers and friends of all of Palestine on these common social and humanitarian objectives.
of course neither Hamas nor the PA repesent the "Palestinians", a fact that Dr Cole needs to emphasize. Likewise, he could point out from time to time that the major Zionist parties and organizations in Israel do not represent the nearly seven million Jews residing in the ex Mandate, most of whom by now are natural born residents, but indeed represent wealthy Jewish individuals in North America, Europe or large donor funded groups that rely on gifts and grants from hi-tech medical, military or ultra religious, antisecular religious groups. Indeed, the PA, Hamas and the major Zionist players in the Israel Cabinets have much in common. If the two state solution is dead, great. Dr Cole, you might now change focus on how the good people of the former Turkish province can unite in their respective interests as residents of a peaceful, tolerant, secular and multinational Palestine. There is no reason muslims should not live in Haifa or Jaffa; no reason Jews who wish to live in peaceful religious communities should not live in Hebron or Shechem. The Abbas/Haniyah/Shas/Jabotinkyite groups are all a dead end. Scholars like Dr Cole need to focus and educate readers and friends of all of Palestine on these common social and humanitarian objectives.