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Road to Middle East Peace Blocked by Cliches
Cape Breton Post: October 1, 2010

Those who wonder why a "terrorist" organization like Hamas continues to flourish among the Palestinians need look no further than the following quote and its relation to the illegal and provocative Israeli settlements that continue on Palestinian territory.
According to "Michael," a hawkish American settler in the Palestinian West Bank, "any concessions in pursuit of a peace process with the Arabs is unthinkable" (Ottawa Citizen, Pg C7, Jan. 2).
It is unlikely that the Michaels of the world would be willing to extend a version of Israel's controversial "right of return" to the native Americans who once occupied most of the U.S.A. Support for this type of self-entitled hypocrisy ensures continued strife between the Palestinians and Israelis.
Any oppressed people may earn the subjectivity-driven terrorist designation if they decide to resist a foe unaccustomed to rebellion. The State of Israel and the United States were both founded largely through guerilla action against arrogant British imperialism, and I'm sure the British governments of 1789 and 1947 considered those freedom fighter opponents to be nothing but vicious terrorists.
Perhaps we need to escape the stifling clichÉs of subjectivity and explore the deeper roots of conflict on the road to equity and ultimate peace. Such courage and honesty are well within our means.
Morgan Duchesney
Ottawa (formerly of Baddeck)