ArgumentsForIsraelAndPalestine

Should I get involved in a discussion online about Israel and Palestine, I need a plan. Something like those scripts the telemarketers have. Something that lets me focus.

Basically my strategy should be:

1. Give as few arguments as possible. One is enough.

2. Keep it shorter than your opponent. See DiminishingReplies.

3. Refer to documents that are as impartial as possible: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (HR), the Geneva Conventions (GC), and UN Resolutions (?).

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Geneva Conventions

Some points:

• *Read !** I can’t read every book, so I have to trust sources. It seems we don’t trust the same sources, so I suggest we don’t through books and URLs at each other.

• *Palestinians refused a generous offer**: It was not generous, because refugees were not allowed back home.

• *The original regufees no longer exist**: What happens when the original refugees are not allowed to return to their country, do their kids have the right to return? I think they do. If they don’t, then all you have to do is expatriate people and wait until they die, condemning their children to life as refugees in exile.

• *This is Israeli land**: I don’t care about events millenia ago. The UN determined the boundaries of Israel w1948. Everything beyond that is occupied territory. The Palestinians *may* be willing to trade Land for Peace, but that is a different issue.

• *X said atrocious thing Y**: There are idiots on both sides. It is not right to punish all just because some are being idiots. Palestinians wanting to push Israeli into the sea, as well as Israeli wanting to expatriate all Palestinians to Jordan.

• *X are planning/doing heinous crime Y**: There are idiots on both sides. Suicide-bombers, armed militia on both sides, prison wards, secret service, and armed forces are all violating human rights.

• *the only democracy...** That doesn’t mean you’re allowed to violate human rights.

• *they are worse... ** Two wrongs don’t make a right.

Issues:

1. Return of the refugees – “HR 13. (2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.”

2. Stop torture – “HR 5. No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”

3. Stop degrading border controls – “HR 5. No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”

4. Stop collective punishments – “GC4 33. No protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed. Collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited.”

Solutions:

1. Equal rights for Palestinians: Make them ordinary citizens – “7. All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.”