Matthew Bell

Matthew Bell

Matthew Bell is a Jerusalem-based Middle East reporter. He has been with The World since 2001 and has filed stories from cities across the US and abroad.

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Big Issues Face Israelis and Palestinians in 2012

January 2, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment
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Two brutal attacks in a week have made some Israelis worried about the country becoming tolerant of hate crimes. (Photo: hoyasmeg/Flickr)

Two brutal attacks in a week have made some Israelis worried about the country becoming tolerant of hate crimes. (Photo: hoyasmeg/Flickr)

The World’s Matthew Bell looks at the big issues facing Israelis and Palestinians in 2012.

Discussion

3 comments for “Big Issues Face Israelis and Palestinians in 2012”

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Felice-Pace/100000427535888 Felice Pace

    Once again we get a report that allows Israeli Government officials to speak not only for themselves but to define the motivations of Abbas, Hamas, the “Arabs”, Iran and – did you hear it? – the world (in terms of concerns about Iran). What other country in the world would have the Hutzpa to even try to speak for _ i.e to define for the reporter and listener _ other nations’ actions and motivations? And what other nation would be allowed by repoters to get away with that?

    Well- to be fair – the World’s reporters tend to do it with the US too, i.e. to be American-centric.

    Please take a critical self examination and resolve to treat Israeli Government officials like any other government ‘s spokespersons: DON’T LET ANY OF THEM USE YOUR AIRWAYS TO DEFINE OTHER NATIONS’ MOTIVATIONS FOR THE PUBLIC!

    Allowing yourselves to be used that way is very unprofessional.
    .

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Doron-Lubinsky/12818660 Doron Lubinsky

    The comment by Felice Pace is remarkably one-sided.  Bell’s piece was a little less so – but still

    Would it make a difference if there were no “settlements”? Or if the Dalai Lama was Israel’s PM? Or Israel consisted of just Tel Aviv? Of course not – the bottom line remains the same as it was in 1948 when 6 Arab armies invaded – Arab refusal to accept a permanent Jewish state, no matter how small.

    The Palestinians have been given a remarkably free ride by the media and international community. They have refused to compromise on a single issue. They have refused to negotiate without preconditions that effectively make negotiations pointless. They refuse to recognize Israel as a Jewish homeland, while demanding a Judenrein Palestinian state.
    They officially deny any Jewish connections to Jerusalem.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Doron-Lubinsky/12818660 Doron Lubinsky

    The Palestinian demand over refugees is revealing of their flatout rejection of any permanent Israel. They demand resettlement of Arab refugees in pre-1967 Israel (not in the West Bank), which  makes a mockery of a two-state solution.

    How long will it take to report that there were a similar number of JEWISH REFUGEES FROM ARAB COUNTRIES? Their descendants form half of Israel’s populace. Israel uplifted them. In stark contrast, Arab regimes have refused to absorb or uplift a similar number of Arab refugees. This is especially hypocritical as the Arab world started the wars that led to BOTH refugee issues.

    Even when the Arab world controlled the West bank and East Jerusalem and Gaza, they kept (and still keep) descendants of refugees stateless. This is the only refugee issue in the world that has been maintained so long, and for cynical political gain.