The Bush-Sharon Meeting

How do you win the hearts and minds of Arabs?

Apparently, by telling them all is wonderful in Iraq except for a couple of Islamic Eddie Haskells, and then sending powerful signals both through remarks earlier this week that there can be no Palestinian state so long as there's a terrorist willing to take a life and by seeing Sharon today and giving Sharon a green light on keeping several of the strategic and illegal settlements.

I don't think you even need me Muslim at this point to think that the Bush administration is doing everything wrong on bringing a balance that could ultimately mean peace. Well, unless the peace is supposed to happen by completely eliminating Palestinians altogether.

Let us not forget that everywhere, everyday, new settlements are being built to try to encroach further. And meanwhile, those in Israel not in the passionate settlement movement have more and more reason to fear.

I suspect that by the mere act of removing ALL the settlements built on disputed land - keeping those that are legal - could go a very long way to giving Muslims in general and Palestinians in particular some degree of hope. The Middle East is home to both Muslims and Jews, and both need to be allowed to live, work, prosper, and find happiness.