Supporting Israel and the Palestinians

Published 9:00 pm Monday, May 20, 2002

So, the hard-line Likud party officially opposes a nation-state for Palestinians. A defeat, I read, for Ariel Sharon, and to a lesser degree a rebuff to the Bush administration.

And, though I am no friend of Israel (honestly, what good thing has Israel ever done for the United States?), I’m not sure I disagree. I think the age of the nation-state is over; far too much harm has been done in the name of nationalism.

On the other hand, if the Palestinians are not to have a nation, neither should Israel. I absolutely support the right of the Jewish people to a secure homeland. I support the same rights for Palestinians. Those things can be secured to them without the perks, privileges and abuses that go with nationhood.

Everett