Subject: Re: Now That's a BAD Jobs Report
Albaby spoke up for a two-state solution, a solution that most Jews worldwide support, but is opposed by America's right wing and right-wing Jews in Israel who are intractably opposed to a two-state solution. Some in Netanyahu's coalition are even opposed to the continued existence of Palestinians.

I did. But I think your description above is out of date. It used to be that it was Israel's right-wing Jews that were opposed to a two-state solution. My understanding is that the overwhelming majority of Israeli Jews now oppose it. This is not just a feature of the right-wing coalition over there anymore. It's the mainstream, nay the dominant position.

I have a fair amount of family in Israel. No guarantee they're representative of Israeli Jewish thought - they're not a random sample. But their sense is that if there was a Palestinian state, that wouldn't bring any end to the conflict. That state would still be trying to eliminate Jewish presence in the area. They would just have the resources available to a fully sovereign state, rather than be limited to "insurgency" type attacks. IOW, the equivalent of Hamas - but with an actual air force and tanks.

They do not believe that the Palestinian people, as a group, necessarily reject the idea of peaceful coexistence. But they believe that the most likely outcome of a Palestinian state right now would be for Hamas or its successor members to govern. I mean, how could Hamas not be put in charge? They would have won for the Palestinians the ultimate prize. They would be the Founding Fathers. You think the Palestinian people would choose the Palestinian Authority, or any other group that was ineffectual for decades in getting them a state, over the folks who actually did it?

For them, the two-state solution means trading Hamas cowering in tunnels for Hamas with an army and tanks and an air force. It's not hard to see why they're leaning against that...